Sia Eagle!

At our last meeting on November 1, members of the Cleveland County chapter of the OAS had a wonderful time learning about Sia, the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative.  If you ever get a chance, I strongly encourage you to visit their facility and check out their work!  They brought a male one-year old golden eagle that was bred in captivity with them.  Impressive, and for me and others, a great start to a week that also included the Southeastern Archaeological Conference.

We will all miss Dr. George Odell ...

Dr. George Odell, longtime professor in the Anthropology Department at the University of Tulsa, passed away on October 14th.  Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/ourlives/article.aspx?subjectid=58&articleid=20111021_11_A13_CUTLIN436978

Andy Slaucitajs, the OAS Dig Chairman, has put together a Facebook page of photos in remembrance:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2484103070065.2146281.1477277793&type=1&l=48d3168631

Comanche Ethno-Ornithological Initiative to speak in Norman!

On Tuesday, November 1st, a representative from Sia, the Comanche Nation Ethno-Orthithological Initiative will be coming to speak at the OAS Cleveland County chapter meeting.  This is going to be exciting!  They are planning on bringing a live bird to share with us.  Come join us at 7pm at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History to learn about this fascinating program.  To find out more about their organization, visit http://comancheeagle.org/home.html

Waha Thuweeka a.k.a.  William Voelker is a proud member of the Ohnononuh band of Numunuh - Comanche People.  The progeny of a full blood Comanche mother and a raptor researchist father, Mr. Voelker has worked for over four decades to bring the disciplines of ethnology together with ornithology in a holistic manner dedicated to the preservation of the Eagle in history, science and spirit.  Mr. Voelker is the first Native American ever to hold  US Fish & Wildlife Service permits for the care and breeding of Bald and Golden Eagles in captivity and the only individual in America to have succeeded in propagating both species via artificial insemination.  The world's first Bald Eagle to be produced artificially is one of over three hundred native eagles produced in captivity by Mr. Voelker since 1974; most of which have been released to the wild.  In addition to native species, Mr. Voelker's work involves field study, captive behavioral research and propagation with sixty-eight species of eagles and other raptors representing five continents.  Mr. Voelker is chairman of the Comanche Nation NAGPRA & Historic Preservation Board of Directors.

In 1999 Mr. Voelker incorporated his life's work under the Comanche Nation political umbrella and founded Sia: The Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative as an official program of the Tribe.    Through Sia, many first time authorizations pertaining to the traditional, cultural interactions between Native People and our avian resources are addressed.  Most exciting of the newly issued authorizations is that which establishes The Sia Essential Species Repository as the first tribally administered  Native American feather acquisition and dispersal program.  This effort is dedicated to the concept of Native Americans meeting the feather needs of Native Americans in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.   The repository provides the legal and ethical means for non-eagle migratory bird feather acquisition and possession for members of federally recognized tribes  while adhering to sound conservation protocol. 

Dr. Asa Randall - Florida Archaeology

On Tuesday, October 4 at 7pm, Dr. Asa Randall will be presenting at the OAS Cleveland County chapter meeting.  His talk is entitled Florida: the birthplace of American Archaeology? Insights from the Jeffries Wyman Expeditions (1860-1874).  Come join us at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History to learn more about early American archaeology in the sunshine state!

Change in Della Cook location, October OAS events

Dr. Della Cook's talk has been moved to the Associates Room in the student union at OU, due to increased attendance expectations.

October is a busy month for the Oklahoma Anthropological Society!

Dr. Randall's talk in Norman:

First, on Tuesday, October 4th, at 7pm, Dr. Asa Randall will give a talk to the Cleveland County Chapter at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.  The talk is entitled "Florida, the birthplace of American Archaeology? Insights from the Jeffries Wyman Expeditions (1860-1874)".  Dr. Randall is a new Assistant Professor at the OU Anthropology Department.  Come learn from our latest professor!

Fall dig in Hugo:

Second, the OAS fall dig will be, held from Thursday, October 6 to Monday, October 10.  The dig will take place at the Rose Hill Plantation, an antebellum Choctaw plantation near Hugo.  This is a fun opportunity to get involved in archaeology - no previous experience is required!  For more info, visit http://www.ou.edu/cas/archsur/oas/scheduled-digs.html

Fall meeting at Gilcrease:

To wrap up the month, the OAS state society will hold its fall meeting at the Gilcrease Museum on October 29, starting at 10 am.  The meeting is being hosted by the Tulsa Archaeological Society.  

Dr. Della Cook, Biological Anthropologist, September 19 at OU

On Monday, September 19th Dr. Della Cook, a biological anthropologist from Indiana University will visit OU! She will be giving a talk at 5:30pm in the Sooner Room at the student union, titled "Pretos Novis: A Slave Cemetery in Rio de Janeiro".  To learn more about Dr. Cook's work, visit her faculty profile page at http://www.indiana.edu/~anthro/people/faculty/cook.html

Rose Hill talk - September 6 in Norman

On Tuesday, September 6, the Cleveland County chapter of the Oklahoma Anthopological Society is having our first fall meeting.  Dr. Amanda Regnier will be giving a talk titled "Rose Hill: Plantation Archaeology in Oklahoma?"  We will meet at 7pm at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.  All are welcome!

Dr. Regnier is on the staff of the Oklahoma Archeological Survey.  Together with Dr. Scott Hammerstedt, she ran an OAS volunteer excavation at the Rose Hill site last spring, and will be heading out again this fall!  If you're interested, check out this website: http://www.ou.edu/cas/archsur/oas/scheduled-digs.html.

The Cleveland County chapter will be having meetings this fall the first Tuesday of every month.  Other featured speakers will include Dr. Asa Randall on shell middens mounds in the southeastern U.S., William Voelker from the Sia Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative, and Dr. George Sabo on rock art in Arkansas.  Another upcoming speaker in February is Dr. Stephen Perkins from OSU.