The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and the Elderly Complex Board members hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at Eastman Hall on Saturday, September 12th. The ribbon cutting ceremony officially named the apartments Tatewin Apartments. Invited guests were given tours of the newly constructed facilities. Tribal Elders, community members and Dakota Tribes were invited to come and view the project that has two handicapped units and eleven standard units for independent living quarters for Tribal elders over the age of 62 years.
This is Phase I of two phases of construction for the completion of 22 units that will be available to Tribal elders. Phase II is projected to be completed by spring of 2010. The project was started with economic development grants from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in 2007. The FSST Executive Committees both past and present had a goal & vision to provide adequate and comfortable housing for the elders within the tribal community.
The units are two bedroom, carpeted and two units with laminated flooring. Each apartment has a garage with remote garage door openers. There is an exercise room with donated exercise equipment from the FSST Wellness Center and a beautifully decorated Commons Room in the front area with a fireplace and furnished with sofas, chairs, game tables & chairs, accent tables. The furnishings were selected by William Beane and Beverly Wakeman (Great job!).
 |
 |
Commons Room |
Commons Room |
 |
 |
Kitchen Counter & Living Room |
Kitchen |
President Joshua Weston and Carol Robertson were the emcees for the event. William Beane designed and wrote up the pamphlet for the event. The elderly complex board members met regularly since November of 2008 and were asked by the FSST Executive Committee to work with the Project Superintendent Ed Breck and Tribal Attorney Rolly Samp throughout the construction and to write up the leases, rules, regulations and application process. The board also made some change orders and discussed design issues and concerns that were answered and taken care of by the Project Superintendent.
The FSST Economic Development Department staff, mainly Amber Allen worked with the Department of Energy to use the “Going Green” grant of $72,000 to purchase washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves and refrigerators for each unit and special orders for the two handicapped apartments. Amber searched the net and yellow pages and came up with a Sioux Falls vendor for all the appliances that were delivered by September 22nd.
The board also held a naming contest for the complex, Commons Room and future Small Park with a water fountain and benches located nearby the corner of Board Avenue and Center Street. Charlene Bell-Kokesh’s name for the complexes won first place-”Tatewin Apartments” in memory of Darlene Allen-Bernard, 2nd place to Ida Redwing Hasvold for the Commons Room, in memory of her grandparents Amos and Sophie Wells Weston. Carol Robertson won 3rd place for the future park near the complexes, “Wakpaipaksan”-Bend in the River, in memory of our Dakota ancestors who settled on the Bend of the River here in Flandreau.
Pidaunyapi ‘We Thank You’
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Executive Committee, Tatewin Apartments Board, and especially the Tribal elders thank their sister Tribe, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Prior Lake, Minnesota, for the grants that have allowed the Flandreau Tribe to construct a wonderful Independent Living Housing Complex for their elders.
“Tribal elders are the wisdom keepers, the guardians of tradition. Their knowledge and insight provides guidance for leaders to remember where they came from in planning for the future…The project will give tribal elders a safe and comfortable place to live on the reservation, and it also provides jobs for tribal members.” – Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Donations 2008-2009
Executive Committee: Joshua Weston, President; Cyndi Weddell, Vice President; Eloise Drapeau, Secretary; Gordon Jones, Jr., Treasurer, Christine Payer, Trustee I; Richard Allen, Trustee II; Gina Williams, Trustee III; Sam Allen, Trustee IV.
Tatewin Apartments Board: Carol Robertson, Chairperson; Beverly Wakeman, Judy Allen, Fannie Armstrong, William Beane.
Agenda for Event
Smudging-Blessing: Gordon Weston Indian Veterans Post
Prayer: Richard Allen, Jr. – Trustee II, Sid Byrd – Tribal Elder
Introductions: Joshua Weston – Tribal President & Carol Robertson – Elderly Complex Board Chairperson. Gift presentation by Tribal President Joshua Weston & Vice President Cyndi Weddell of a star quilt to Project Manager – Thomas Ranfranz, General Contractor- Richard Rangel Construction Company, Rapid City, SD, Project Superintendant – Ed Breck.
Ernest and Vernell Wabasha accepted on behalf of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community a buffalo designed pipestone peace pipe from the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe in appreciation for providing grant funding for the elderly units construction.
Recognition of Dignitaries: Chief Ernest Wabasha & Vernell Wabasha, Jeannie Faber-Congressional staff, Senator John Thune, letter from Representative Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, Freddie Boyd-City Council and Mrs. Richard (Toni)Rangel for her painting and gift for the Commons Room.
Remarks: Gina Williams – Trustee III and daughter to the late Darlene Allen Bernard; Raymond Redwing and Ida Redwing Hasvold, grandson and granddaughter to the late Amos and Sophie Wells Weston.
 In Memory of Darlene Allen Bernard
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s new Independent Living Elderly Housing Project has been named Tatewin Apartments in memory of Darlene Allen Bernard, Tatewin ’Wind Woman’. Darlene Grace Allen Bernard journeyed to the spirit world on October 17, 2007, at the age of 66 years, 5 months. She was serving on the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Council as Trustee III and was elected in August of 2006.
In Memory of Amos and Sophie Wells Weston
The Tatewin Apartments Lobby/Commons Room has been dedicated in memory of Amos and Sophie (Wells) Weston. This location was their original home site.
The Grace Moore Senior Citizens Center staff, Sara DeClerk and Sally Allen and volunteers Sharon Maras and Helena Thompson catered wonderful canopies and hors d’deuvres for the event.
Eastman Hall was set up, cleaned, and decorated by Amber Allen, Dawn Serrano, Carol Robertson, Ida Hasvold, Charlene Bell-Kokesh, Myrna Weston-Lewis, William Beane, Beverly Wakeman and Judy Allen.
The Elderly Complex Board members plan on hosting a Grand Opening for all 24 units early in the spring of 2010 since road construction and lighting both by the City of Flandreau and the general contractor Richard Rangel Construction Company on Center Street and around the complexes has to be finished first.
The tribal community, Flandreau Community, Dakota Tribes and regional Tribal Chairman and their councils will be invited at that time.
The Elderly Complex Board members are hoping to hire a resident manager to assist the elders living in the apartments as soon as possible.-Editor
|
