Manikiki Nation History for 2008 - 2009
John “Sits by Fire” Waller, Nation Chief
Once again, the Manikiki Nation had a strong year in terms of size, events, fundraising, recruiting and most of all Fun! The Nation ended the year with 101 Big Braves and 135 Little Braves spread across 12 Tribes (for most of the year) including our newest Tribe, the Seneca from the Jackson Area.
Our Council was made up of Nation Chief John “Sits by Fire” Waller (Apache), War Chief Jeff “Last Hawk” Pearce (Comanche), Sachem Kurt “Big Bear” Leibensperger (Apache), Wampum Bearer Jim “Buffalo Wing” Livers (Crow), Talley Keeper Charles “Kicking Buffalo” Campbell (Apache), Medicine Man Jim “Iron Back” Cross (Mohawk), Story Teller(s) Sam “Buffalo Hump” Ewing (Cherokee) & Rick “Running Horse” Crowl (Cherokee), and Web Spinner Jamie “Big Dog” Wiggins (Cherokee).
This was another year of transition where we gained the Seneca Tribe but lost the Courageous Kickapoo also from the Jackson area, a strong Tribe that came our way roughly 5 years ago from the North Canton YMCA. We ended the year with 11 Tribes as a result but were able to hold onto a long-standing Tribe that was on the brink of extinction, the Mandan. Thanks to former Mandan Chief, Troy “Rising Sun” Tietz who moved out of state, moved back into the Green area, rejoined the Nation and is looking to build the Mandan back up for the future.
Our Trailblazers group (ages 10-13 year olds) was bolstered this year and was able to pull off two events (Midnight Laser Tag and Charter Boat Fishing on Lake Erie) as well as coming to the Nation’s two campouts. This was a good year for Trailblazers to build on. The group will be again led by Kurt “Big Bear” Leibensperger with even, more exciting events on the schedule.
Our recruiting efforts were strong but we had a larger than normal Outgoing Little Brave class. We passed out flyers at all of the local schools, K-2 classes, made a presentation for a home schooling group at The Chapel in Green and worked the Try the Y Day at the Green YMCA to supplement our word of mouth recruiting efforts and it paid off. These recruiting efforts over the last couple years have offset the larger outgoing classes and have already added Tribe Chiefs into the mix to keep our Nation strong for a long period of time.
The Nation participated in our annual December Tribal Service Projects where we involve the boys in some type of community service in an effort to teach the importance of helping others and giving during the holiday season. We also served the Green Relay for Life again and raised $300 dollars for the American Cancer Society. Scott “Singing Moose” Summers, Kurt “Big Bear” Leibensperger and me “Sits by Fire” participated in the 14th Annual Polar Bear Swim at Dano’s for the Project St. Nicholas Returns Foundation (founded by Navajo alumnus Jeff “Big Rubba Dubba” Reale). Thanks to our very generous brothers, the Manikiki Nation delivered $1,100 to the cause. Finally, due to our strong relationships with the Green YMCA and Camp Y-Noah, the Nation donated $1000 to each organization and both supported our Annual Fundraiser as well. We definitely rely on each other to keep each of our groups strong.
Our Annual fundraiser was very successful in light of one of the worst economies we have experienced in a very long time. Our membership, alumni, friends and families were extremely generous to the tune of just under $14K for the night. Our annual budget was $14K so again we were able to fund another year of Indian Guides with one to spare in the bank. We sold 287 tickets in advance of the event and the rest that night along with a Silent Auction, side boards, poker, side raffles as well as a Chinese Auction. The Indian Princess Iroquois Nation participated in our event this year with ticket sales and Silent auction items. They raised a lot of money to bolster their Nation’s coffers and we raised a lot more money as a result of their participation. The Council & Chiefs did a great job mobilizing our membership to pull of another fundraising success. It really took a best effort from many and everyone stepped up.
Our mandate this year was to introduce some new, fresh events onto the schedule as well as keeping the costs of all events to a minimum for our membership. Finally we wanted to keep some of our favorite events that we have all had a lot of fun at over the years. Here’s how the year shook out:
October 2008 – Haunted Hayride
Sponsored by the Navajo at Boettler Park in Green. This is always a favorite for all of the braves. We were rained out on Friday so we decided to reschedule for the following weekend which affected attendance but it was still a lot of fun.
October 2008 – Marvin Capps Alumni Golf Outing
The Big Brave only golf outing was held at Chenoweth C.C. and the weather was outstanding as well as the competition. There were great prizes and a steak dinner following the round. There were six foursomes (some alumni, some active) competing.
November 2008 – Punt, Pass and Kick Competition
Sponsored by the Blackhawk at the Green High School Stadium. This was a new event that was a bunch of fun even though it rained most of the time. The brand new turf at the stadium made the event fun and special and made the boys (Dads) feel like professional football players.
December 2008 – Annual Father/Son Banquet
Sponsored by the Arapaho with the help of the Comanche at Camp Y-Noah’s Mess Hall. In an effort to save the Nation’s budget some money this year we decided to hold the event here instead of our usual Guy’s Party Center location. Demand was to shave some time off of the event so we turned it into a 3 hour event from the normal 4 hours with the usual awards, food and entertainment. We managed to do that and saved roughly $1000 but the venue was too small. The Big Medicine Award went to the Comanche. The Outstanding Service Award was given to Scott “Singing Moose” Summers and The Joe Friday Award was given to John “Sits by Fire” Waller, Jeff “Last Hawk” Pearce and Charles “Kicking Buffalo” Campbell. Superior Lifetime Attendance Arrows were awarded to Kyle “Running Bear Murgatroyd (Apache), Kyle “Wild Moose” Summers (Cherokee) and Jeremy “Jumping Carp” Adkins.
January 2009 – Individual Tribe Events
This was new this year. Tribes had asked over the years to have individual tribe events instead of an entire Nation event one month so we did it. It was a good idea. Some tribes went snow tubing, some held FASCar workshops; some went to indoor water parks. In any case each tribe chose whatever they wanted to do together.
February 2009 – FASCar Derby/Winter Campout
Sponsored by the Comanche with the help of the Arapaho at Camp Y-Noah Mess Hall and camping in Kresge Lodge. What was new about this was combining the FASCar Race on Saturday morning, then staying the rest of the day and night into Sunday afternoon camping at Y-Noah. It was awesome. The race was a lot of fun, as usual, and the camping was a great bonus. There was sled riding, snow boarding, snow ball fights, Euchre games, campfires and we cooked all of our own meals. What a blast!
March 2009 – Bowling
Sponsored by the Creek at Bill White’s Akron Bowl Lanes. This is a classic Indian Guides event and didn’t disappoint this year either. There were fun games, prizes, snacks and friendly competition between Tribes.
March 2009 – Annual Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction Fundraiser
Sponsored by the Nation Council. Events chronicled earlier in report.
April 2009 – YMCA Late Nighter
Sponsored by the Mohawk at the Green YMCA. This event has evolved into a “latenighter” from an “overnighter” as it was called in the past mainly because the Y needed us to be out of there by 6AM on Sunday morning so most Dads stayed late and just went home in the middle of the night. It was much easier. Nonetheless, it was still a great event. The Y was closed down for our Nation from 9PM until-??? for swimming, basketball, dodge ball, movie, and all kinds of snacks. We had the run of the place.
May 2009 – Spring Campout
Sponsored by the Crow, co-sponsored by the Kickapoo at Camp Y-Noah. This was a cabin campout at our home campground. The weather was beautiful and the attendance was 210 braves. Over 80% of the Nation was there. The Nation made a pricing accommodation for every family to lower the cost and it was well worth it. At our Fire Ceremony we had the tallest fire I can ever remember. WOW! It is said that the ceremony fire was visible over the tree line from the oncoming tribes in their procession to Fire Ceremony. Nation Chief John “Sits by Fire” Waller swore in new braves and dedicated the newly built Main Fire Pit to Terry Strauss who left the Manikiki Nation $500 in his will. We used that money to enhance Y-Noah’s Main Fire Pit so that we and other Nations, Longhouses, and braves from all over could benefit for years to come in honor of Mr. Strauss. There is a permanent engraved stone placed at the Fire Pit to commemorate this.
May 2009 – Green Memorial Day Parade
This was one of the make-up events for the year. We were well represented and marched with the Indian Princesses also. We did not defend our “Best Float” Award from the previous year but the kids had a blast tossing candy to…at the innocent bystanders along the parade route. No injuries were reported…by the innocent bystanders along the parade route, I mean.
June 2009 – “Trumpet in the Land” Outdoor Drama
Sponsored by the Cherokee at the Schoenbrunn Outdoor Amphitheater in New Philadelphia. This was a new event for most of us, reprised from several years back. Since it was opening night the crowds were massive and the performance sold out. Our ticket price was only $3 per person at the door due to a special promotion the theater was having. The show started late to get everyone inside the theater and was rather long but the entertainment was very cool. This was an event that actually covered some history of Native Indians and Moravian Settlers from the Schoenbrunn Valley and the struggles and eventual massacre that ensued. I think the performance ended at around midnight.
June 2009 – Relay for Life
War Chief Jeff “Last Hawk” Pearce and Medicine Man Jim “Iron Back” Cross took the lead at organizing this service project/make-up event for us this year. Several braves worked the tent, sold wings, popcorn and water until about 11:30PM and came back to tear down in the morning. There was much, much rain this year but another solid effort from dedicated members of this Nation.
July 2009 – Drive-In Movie
Sponsored by our newest Tribe, the Seneca at the Blue Sky Drive-In in Wadsworth. This is always a summer favorite for the entire family or carload. The Seneca set up a snack table for all of our group as well as candy stand discount tickets. The first movie was Ice Age III; the second was National Treasure II. We changed to Friday night this year from Sunday normally and that worked much better.
August 2009 – Akron Aeros Baseball Game with Fireworks
Sponsored by the Kickapoo at Canal Park in Downtown Akron. The event started with a cookout behind the ballpark by the Children’s Hospital staff, continued into Canal Park for a whale of a game and ended with a spectacular display of fireworks following the game.
September – Fall Campout
Sponsored by the Apache, co-sponsored by the Cherokee at Mohican Reservation Campgrounds in Loudonville, Ohio just south of Mansfield. This was the first tent campout in a few years and it was some of the most pleasant weather conditions I can remember at one of our campouts especially a Fall Campout. Our campsites were right on the Mohican River. Each Tribe was responsible for their breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings but the Nation picked up the tab for lunch and dinner on Saturday. There were dogs and chips for lunch and a roasted pig courtesy of former Mohawk alumnus Bob “Big Bear” Mahaney. We took a 9 mile canoe ride and several of us somehow fell into the water during the process. A memorable Fire Ceremony followed with the changing of the guard with new Council and Tribe Chiefs officially being sworn into office. Nation Chief John “Sits by Fire” Waller and his sons Jacob “Mighty Stallion” and Sammy “Firechain Hawk” passed along their big headdresses over to Jeff “Last Hawk” Pearce and his son Tucker “Big Hawk” to lead the Nation into the New Year. New braves were inducted and Outgoing braves were recognized as well.
September 2009 – Marvin Capps Alumni Golf Outing
This year the venue was switched over to Raintree C.C. and again a fun time playing golf with Manikiki Big Braves. Team Waller came in 2nd this year poised for first next year!
Finally, it was an honor and privilege to serve as Nation Chief this year with my sons and we had an incredible time doing it. I hope everyone had as much fun as we did. A big “Thank You” to all of you who helped make 2008-2009 a memorable year for all braves of the Mighty Manikiki Nation.
TONKA HEY!