Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 11, 2007 19:38:35 GMT -5
Creek elder fights for the shelter that once took him in MUSKOGEE -- An
American Indian children's home that is facing financial difficulties
might be saved from closing if a tribal councilor -- and former student
-- gets his wish.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Councilor Duke Harjo is drafting legislation to
seek about $100,000 in tribal appropriations for the Murrow Indian
Children's Home.
It now houses 16 Creek children and five Cheyenne-Arapaho children, ages
7 to 17.
"All these kids, regardless of what tribe they are from, need our help,"
he said.
Harjo found a place there in 1951, after his mother died when he was 8.
He and his five siblings were taken to the home by a father who was
overwhelmed by suddenly being a single parent.
Harjo stayed in the home for five years before he went to live with his
aunt in Okmulgee.
He said he has not forgotten the warm bed and three square meals a day
he received there.
"It's been a long time, but I remember they were good to me and my
brothers," said Harjo, 64. "As I look back, I can see that it (the home)
was a part of who I am."
A continual drain of finances has officials at the home worried that
<http://adserver.tulsaworld.com/?RC=25000181&AI=762&RANDOM=6736618690780\
9> <http://adserver.tulsaworld.com/?SHT=NewsStory_336x280> it might
have to close by February, director Joan Brown said.
Brown said the home, which is subsidized primarily by donations through
American Baptist churches, seldom sees a month that it is not behind
financially.
Only a fraction of its funding comes from tribes, although all of the
school's students are American Indians.
"We just have to get honest with ourselves about how drastic our
situation is," she said.
Harjo hopes to alleviate some of Murrow's shortfall.
His legislation would have to pass tribal committee this month and be
approved by the Creek National Council on Jan. 27 for the home to
receive the funds.
Other area tribes, such as the Cherokee Nation, are steady contributors
because the tribe's jurisdiction and the Creeks' jurisdiction intersect
in Muskogee.
The Cherokee Nation donated $5,000 to the home in 2006, and the Creek
Nation gave about $17,500, officials said.
"Those are nice donations, but our overages each year exceed that,"
Brown said. "Tribes have fewer foster families, and we receive a lot of
referrals from tribes."
Funding from private charitable foundations also is limited because of
the home's affiliation with the Baptists, Brown said. Many do not fund
faith-based organizations such as the Murrow facility.
The home was founded by a missionary, the Rev. J.S. Murrow, shortly
after the Civil War. Monthly expenditures are about $35,000. Estimates
put the budget at about $404,000 this year, with about 75 percent of the
finances coming from churches.
The home's location has changed from the days when Harjo attended, but
Murrow maintains two houses -- one for boys and one for girls -- with
adult supervision.
The young residents come from homes where drug or alcohol abuse is
prevalent. Some are true orphans.
The children attend Muskogee Public Schools, and the average length of
their stay is about three years.
Home officials said its environment establishes regular routines for
children who come from homes where chaos is normal.
Murrow also is culturally sensitive, with children taking language
classes and developing ties with their respective tribes, Brown said.
The home also tries to help when the children need to pay for senior
photos or letter jackets, Brown said.
"We try to encourage them in whatever they do," she said.
American Indian children's home that is facing financial difficulties
might be saved from closing if a tribal councilor -- and former student
-- gets his wish.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Councilor Duke Harjo is drafting legislation to
seek about $100,000 in tribal appropriations for the Murrow Indian
Children's Home.
It now houses 16 Creek children and five Cheyenne-Arapaho children, ages
7 to 17.
"All these kids, regardless of what tribe they are from, need our help,"
he said.
Harjo found a place there in 1951, after his mother died when he was 8.
He and his five siblings were taken to the home by a father who was
overwhelmed by suddenly being a single parent.
Harjo stayed in the home for five years before he went to live with his
aunt in Okmulgee.
He said he has not forgotten the warm bed and three square meals a day
he received there.
"It's been a long time, but I remember they were good to me and my
brothers," said Harjo, 64. "As I look back, I can see that it (the home)
was a part of who I am."
A continual drain of finances has officials at the home worried that
<http://adserver.tulsaworld.com/?RC=25000181&AI=762&RANDOM=6736618690780\
9> <http://adserver.tulsaworld.com/?SHT=NewsStory_336x280> it might
have to close by February, director Joan Brown said.
Brown said the home, which is subsidized primarily by donations through
American Baptist churches, seldom sees a month that it is not behind
financially.
Only a fraction of its funding comes from tribes, although all of the
school's students are American Indians.
"We just have to get honest with ourselves about how drastic our
situation is," she said.
Harjo hopes to alleviate some of Murrow's shortfall.
His legislation would have to pass tribal committee this month and be
approved by the Creek National Council on Jan. 27 for the home to
receive the funds.
Other area tribes, such as the Cherokee Nation, are steady contributors
because the tribe's jurisdiction and the Creeks' jurisdiction intersect
in Muskogee.
The Cherokee Nation donated $5,000 to the home in 2006, and the Creek
Nation gave about $17,500, officials said.
"Those are nice donations, but our overages each year exceed that,"
Brown said. "Tribes have fewer foster families, and we receive a lot of
referrals from tribes."
Funding from private charitable foundations also is limited because of
the home's affiliation with the Baptists, Brown said. Many do not fund
faith-based organizations such as the Murrow facility.
The home was founded by a missionary, the Rev. J.S. Murrow, shortly
after the Civil War. Monthly expenditures are about $35,000. Estimates
put the budget at about $404,000 this year, with about 75 percent of the
finances coming from churches.
The home's location has changed from the days when Harjo attended, but
Murrow maintains two houses -- one for boys and one for girls -- with
adult supervision.
The young residents come from homes where drug or alcohol abuse is
prevalent. Some are true orphans.
The children attend Muskogee Public Schools, and the average length of
their stay is about three years.
Home officials said its environment establishes regular routines for
children who come from homes where chaos is normal.
Murrow also is culturally sensitive, with children taking language
classes and developing ties with their respective tribes, Brown said.
The home also tries to help when the children need to pay for senior
photos or letter jackets, Brown said.
"We try to encourage them in whatever they do," she said.