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| Volume XXIII Number 14 | October 18, 2002 |
4th Annual American Indian Elders Conference
By Elrod BowersOKLAHOMA CITY - On Sept. 25-27, 20 Tribal members, including President/Acting Chairman Mitchell Cypress, Big Cypress Councilman David Cypress and Immokalee Council Representative Elaine Aguilar, participated in the 4th Annual American Indian Elders Conference, entitled "Native America: A Community For All Ages." The conference’s stated purpose was to celebrate and honor the Indian family, focusing on Indian Elders, community based care and traditional values. The conference offered workshop, sessions focusing on Native American elders, on Social Security, Ta’i Chi, Home Safety, Pain Management, and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Conference attendees also participated in arts and crafts demonstrations and received foot and body massages at the "renewal stations," which were staffed by students from the Central State School of Massage. Members of the Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society Color Guard opened the conference with the presenting of the colors and a prayer. In "Social Security Administration and its Importance in the Lives of American Indians," SSA representative Larry Jones answered questions about retirement, disability and the future of Social Security. According to Jones, if Social Security is not changed, in 15 years it will start paying out more than it is taking in. "Right now Social Security has a trillion dollar surplus," said Jones, "but in 2017 it will be paying out 75 cents on the dollar." This reversal would have begun 2-3 years earlier, but recent calculations, based on the latest figures and studies, delayed it to 2017. Jones stressed that this will happen only if Social Security system is not changed in the next 15 years. There are already proposals to face this coming problem. However, none of the proposals, which include cutting benefits and raising taxes, are very popular. Another popular session was "Ta’i Chi." Taught by Madeline Rugh, who studies Yang style Ta’i Chi and Tae Kwon Do, the room was packed with interested seniors and health educators. Rugh started by listing Ta’i Chi’s benefits. "It’s overall impact is on stress management," said Rugh. "It’s very good for cardio and the digestive system, it’s also good for circulation of breath." She then displayed the short form for the audience. She then showed how to perform some of the preliminary movements. Rugh gave some pointers on how to get the maximum benefits out of the movements. "The body is a conduit between heaven and earth," said Rugh, "wear shoes with soles made of a natural material, such as leather, so the power can come up through the soles." A few of the audience members were surprised at the effects that the short demonstration had on their bodies. Many felt heat, identified by Rugh as chi, the body’s energy, in their hands and feet. Others said that the exercises had increased their appetite. At the final banquet, the guests were treated to a special keynote speaker, Oklahoma state senator Kelly Haney. Recently, Haney ran for Governor of Oklahoma, but was beaten by former U.S. Senator Steve Largent. Haney thanked the Oklahoma Tribal citizens for supporting him and was optimistic about his future.
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