YellowBird

 

Yellow Bird Council

Chief: Leuwanna Williams
Sub-Chief: Beth Kanihan
Secretary: Sonny Rafael
Treasure: Beth Kanihan
Prayer Keeper: Rodney Presswood
Elder: Jerry Pierson
Elder: Walter Magness

 

 

Chief: 
Leuwanna Willams – Laughing Water

 

 

Born 1934 in Baxter Spring, Kansas Cherokee on my father’s side and Cherokee and Delaware on my mother’s side. Given my name” Laughing Water” at birth by my mother’s grand mother that raised her. I Have 5 children ages 32- 50, and 7 grand children and one great grand daughter. I Joined the Cherokees of Ca in 1976, wasn’t very active until about 1995. Chief Simeroth asks if I would act as her Treasurer in 1996.Voted as Chief of the Yellowbird Council of the Cherokees of CA in 1998.

 

I worked as a volunteer at the Mormon Library for over 29 years. I also teach, Indian Research at the THC seminars (past 20 years). My children, grand children and I have been involved with American Indian Ed over the last 35 years. I serve as an Elder on the advisor board of American Indian Education, in Feb 2002 was honored as an Elder at State Conference in Los Angles. Drummer with the Tsa-gi-li Thunder Drum group. Enjoys genealogy, beading, sewing, make tear dresses and ribbon shirts.

 

 

The following is and article written by LaBelle Webb a charter member of the Yellowbird Chapter. Started meetings in October 1974.

 

Goals, History, Kind of housing ,Way of life To learn the language

 

Most of all to be together and to share stories. We met in Florence Arritts home and Myrtle Olens home. Met just about every week at first. Later every two weeks. Committee formed to get things going. Myrtle Olen and LaBelle Pierson were elected Co-Chairmen.

 

We grew and grew. Needed another meeting place. Tried using a school, didn’ t work. Secured use of Sutter County Library. Siren would go off every time someone opened the door, and then came the police and firemen. We got the Yuba City Women’s club building on Shasta Street, it worked out great.

 

Election of officers in February of 1975.

Chairman: Larry Calvin
Secretary/Treasurer: Jo Ann Landerman
Chaplain: LaBelle Pierson

 

We decided to meet once a month. In April, we had some members from Cherokee’s of California. I believe it was a Mr. Turner who said “The Lords Prayer” in Cherokee. We joined Cherokees of California in May 1975. We had problems, worked them out and become a very close knit group.

 

Chief Wayne Smith and wife Maxine came to most of our meetings. Maxine and Myrtle started teaching Cherokee lessons. Went back to two meetings a month, we had children meetings in the kitchen. At first we took turns with the children, then we had a very lovely lady , non-indian married to Indian who took over, I believe her name was Iris LaRue.

 

Now calling ourselves a Council, some of us started attending Calif. State Cherokees meetings in Elk Grove.

 

We had camp outs and gatherings at Mt Shasta Dam campground, Concow, Angels Camp ground, Sycamore grove, Hammonton Grove, Sacramento, Sophi-Wheeler camp ground. I think the first was on the coast.

 

Yellow Bird Council name was picked after the poet, philosopher, postmaster and writer, John Rollin Ridge “Yellowbird”. Incidently at that time Yuba City was very small and Marysville a bustling city, Yellow Bird predicted Yuba City would grew into a great city and Marysville would decline.

 

Purchased yellow jackets and had a beautiful logo on the back. We wore them to meetings, to parades (we were in quite a few) members funerals. We also wore word beads (I have a string) Eddie Alhertz made and sold to menbers only. Eddie wrote the song “We are Cherokees”, he sent it back East and had it put on tape. Chief Smith had a song writing contest and Eddie won.

 

Past Chiefs:

Larry Calvin, I think Florence Arritt was in a few months, I’m not sure how long. And then a young lady, Charlotte Erington, I believe that was her name
( I was out of State at the time)

 

Yellowbird Charter Members

 

As of Dec 31, 1975 Jo Ann Landerman, Dale E Landerman, Jon Landerman, La Belle Pierson, Vernon R Pierson, Jerry A Pierson, George S Burns, Billie Moyer, Robert Moyer, Marie Hensley, Newton Hensley, Juanita Imogene Byars, Melisssa Ruth Byars, Jackie Moore, Homer Moore, L’Wayne Rowden, Laverne Ray, Martha A Powers, Juanita Powers, Barney Albert Powers, Patricia McDaniels, Norma Higgens, Dola M Palmer, Martha Milligan, Ralph Hoffman, Eldred Hoffman, Florence Arrittt, Edna Harmon, Charles E Reimers,Sr., Dorothy Reimers, Leater L Bird, Lurlene Herber, Norma M Brown, Mabel Jeremiah, Tamira Jeremiah, Myrtle Olen.