From Virginia Eaves on the American Indian Christmas Community Meeting
 

We had a very good attendance at the American Indian Christmas Community Meeting on Saturday, December 7th, 2002, at the North Kansas City Community Center.  This meeting was to provide some information on cancer awareness for Breast and Cervical Cancer to the attendees.  In attendance were representatives from the Cancer Information Systems, Andrea Watson and another lady whose name I don't have.  Missouri BCCCP Bill Gordon from the State of Missouri, Stephany Oyler from Platte City, MO BCCCP Office, Tony Rouen from the Lees' Summit Office, Maggie Brown from the Kansas Free to Know, BCCCP, Brooke Groneman, Project Director of the American Indian Heartland Cancer Network.

The American Indian Council, American Indian Inter-tribal Ministries,  American Indian Heartland Cancer Network and the Heart of America Indian Center jointly organized this event.  Each group provided some input to the dinner.  This was potluck and food was provided by a number of people.

We had a drum provided by the Eagle Talon Brotherhood Group, headed up by Preston Tonepahhote, of the Kiowa Tribe and members of other tribes who sat at the drum.  He and his singers provide some the traditional singing and drumming.  Also, a special song was sung in memory of the men who lost their lives during the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  There were American Indian men in the US Navy on one of the ships that was hit.

The Pastor, Richard Hubbard, Wichita Tribe, also offered prayers in memory of those men whom we lost as well as prayers for the American Indian Community.  The church donated the sacks of candy, nuts, fruit and gifts for Santa to distribute to the children.

Aside from providing information on Cancer, there was a dinner, Santa Claus for the children.  Santa Claus gave each child a sack of candy, nuts, fruit as they came and talked to Santa, letting him know what they wanted for Christmas.  Also, while they were talking and sitting on Santa's lap, each child had a polaroid picture taken and were given a photo to take with them.  After that, gifts were given to each child.  Once these children opened their gifts, they were really happy little babies.

This event created a feeling of joy and happiness.  Especially, the children, they were so excited, they couldn't sit still.  Everyone went away having good feelings about this meeting.
 
We will also have pictures of the event.

Virginia Eaves
Outreacher Worker
Kansas Cancer Institute
tel. 913-588-4739
fax 913-588-4790
 

December 09, 2002