Their Fightin'est Indian 4-H Club Called The Most Patriotic Outfit In Oklahoma
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Riverside Indian 4-H Club members rehearsing for one of their dance
numbers. L. to R. Beatrice Tahmalikera, Billie Tonpahhote, Lucy White
Horse, Lee Monett Tsatoke, Myrtle Ann Beaver and David Joinkeen. (National
4-H News June 1943)
This is one of several feature stories in the June 1943 issue of National 4-H News4. "One fourth of the 52,000 youth enrolled in Oklahoma 4-H clubs in 1943, according to State Leader Paul G. Adams, are Indian youth. Some of the finest state winners Oklahoma has sent to the National 4-H Congress have been of Indian descent, he adds. 'Win the war now, smoke the peace pipe later,' is the slogan of 4-H Indians in the Sooner State.
"According to county agent L. I. Bennett, they're the hardest fighting group of warriors in the country. All members of the Indian Riverside 4-H Club – the largest all-Indian 4-H Club in the state – with their 4-H club projects, they're helping Uncle Sam furnish food to the boys on the firing lines. They have a keen interest in seeing that food gets to the front because 18 Club members of their fellow tribesmen have joined the Army, Navy or Marines since Pearl Harbor. "You'll never find a more patriotic group of young people than these 4-H club Indians," contends Bennett. As the older boys join the armed forces their projects have been taken over by younger members of the club and carried to completion. The girls can foods produced in the club's Victory gardens.
"In addition to growing food, members of the Riverside Club are just as active in other 4-H project areas. At the State Round-Up Andrew Pahmahmie placed in the blue ribbon class in the State 4-H Style Dress Revue contest. Bernice Paddlety and Alva Mae Tapdo won a gold medal with their dairy demonstration at the State contest, Ruth Sardongei and Alva Walker won trips to the American Royal at Kansas City for placing first with their paint demonstration, and Luke Tainpeah and Tom Kauley were blue ribbon winners in the poultry demonstration contest. At the Caddo County Fair 53 of the clubs girls made exhibits, winning a total of 82 ribbons.
"'Thanks for America' was the main theme of their Achievement Week last December to climax the year's work. Instead of holding an achievement banquet as many clubs stage at the end of the year, this Indian Club celebrated their 1943 achievements in typical Indian style by setting aside an entire week for their achievement program. Each of the five daily programs staged were centered around one of the "H's" in the club emblem, and one for home. One day the training of the head was stressed, another day, the heart, then the hands, health, and then the home."
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