Beverly Brownfield, former Assistant Principal Chief Raymond Red Corn and William “Kugee” Supernaw recognized at annual event, held this year at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City.
|
| John passed from this life Friday evening, January 12, 2024, in Tulsa, Okla., surrounded by his family. Courtesy Photo/Ryan RedCorn |
Three Osage Nation elders were recognized for 2023 at the 15th annual AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors at the First Americans Museum.
Beverly Brownfield, former Assistant Principal Chief Raymond Red Corn and former Osage Congressman William “Kugee” Supernaw are this year’s honorees who attended the Nov. 1 event banquet in Oklahoma City. Each honoree received a medallion as each individual was recognized by AARP Oklahoma officials and their bio statements were read out loud to attendees.
This year, the AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors event recognized a total of 47 Native American elders from 23 Oklahoma tribal nations for their achievements, community service and impact. Since 2009, AARP Oklahoma has honored nearly 700 Native American elders from Oklahoma’s 39 federally recognized tribal nations.
According to the AARP website: “AARP Oklahoma State Director Sean Voskuhl welcomed the 300 attendees and said the Native American Elder Honors was established to memorialize the work and contributions of elders who inspire future generations. Voskuhl thanked the honorees for answering the calling to contribute and lift communities. ‘Whether they are well known or exhibit quiet devotion to family and community, all our honorees represent the love of family, dedication to culture and respect for all,’ Voskuhl said. ‘We are overwhelmed and inspired by the work you do.’”
Dr. Steven Pratt (Osage), a 2012 AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honoree, delivered the ceremony invocation. The medallions were presented to the honorees by AARP State President Jim Randall; AARP Oklahoma Senior Associate State Director Mashell Sourjohn (Muscogee Creek Nation); former AARP Oklahoma Executive Council Member Tewanna Edwards; and June Kao, AARP Audience Strategy Manager.
2023 Honorees and bios
| Beverly Brownfield was recognized as a 2023 AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honoree on Nov. 1 at a banquet held in the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. Courtesy Photo |
Beverly Brownfield is a member of the Osage Nation and Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe. She is from the Governor Joe of Pah Sue Lee and Eagle Clan.
Brownfield (Grayhorse District) grew up in Fairfax, then after graduating, she attended Pittman Business College in Dallas. She then took real estate courses at Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City. She worked for Conoco Oil Company for 24 years as a senior title assistant in real property administration. It included oversight of petroleum legal documentation along with legal oil and gas contracts and accounting for the Bulk Plants divisions.
Currently, Brownfield is serving on the Osage Nation Tax Commission Board as vice-chairman. She has been a dedicated member to the Tax Commission Board for more than 20 years.
Brownfield is also serving on the United Community Action Program in the Pawnee District and is part of the Osage County region. She is the president of the Pah Sue Lee Women’s Club, member of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas and a member of the Osage Shareholders Association. She is married, with three children, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
 |
| Former Assistant Principal Chief Raymond W. Red Corn was recognized as a 2023 AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honoree on Nov. 1 at a banquet held in the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. Courtesy Photo |
Raymond W. Red Corn served as Assistant Principal Chief of the Osage Nation from 2014 to 2022. He was personally responsible for specific property development projects within the Osage Nation such as Bird Creek Farms, now Harvest Land, the first Osage tribal agricultural effort now in its sixth year.
Red Corn (Pawhuska District) also handled direct communications in a $74 million acquisition of a 43,000-acre ranch in Osage County while coordinating efforts with the Osage Nation Congress. Red Corn facilitated negotiations with Indian Health Service officials as the Osage Nation assumed control of the Pawhuska IHS Clinic. He provided direct negotiation as necessary during successful effort to reclaim a former railroad depot right-of-way in Pawhuska. Red Corn also worked cooperatively with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to designate an Osage County Census Tract as an Opportunity Zone. And, he led a cooperative effort with Oklahoma State University to establish Skyway36, the rebranding and repurposing of the Tulsa Airpark with a focus on Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Along with serving more than 80 days as Acting Principal Chief by order of Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Red Corn also served in the Osage Nation Congress from 2006 to 2014. During that time, he wrote and sponsored foundational legislation including codes for elections, open records, employee freedom of speech, tribal corporations, administrative procedures and key chapters of the Osage Uniform Commercial Code. Redcorn held the position of Second Speaker from 2010 to 2012 and Speaker of the Congress from 2012 to 2014.
Prior to serving the Osage Nation, he was a commercial property developer in Pawhuska from 2002 to 2006, buying and renovating historic buildings and helping to establish investment in adaptive reuse that continues today.
 |
| William “Kugee” Supernaw was recognized as a 2023 AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honoree on Nov. 1 at a banquet held in the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. Courtesy Photo |
William “Kugee” Supernaw has been the owner and operator of Supernaw Indian Supply in Skiatook for almost 50 years. Thousands of Indigenous people have purchased supplies for their tribal regalia from Supernaw, keeping their Native culture alive and thriving.
Through his business, Supernaw (Hominy District) has traveled extensively. Starting in the 1970s, for nearly 20 years, every year, he traveled to New Mexico, Arizona, Philadelphia, Mississippi and Florida. He visited reservations, tribal headquarters, attended dances and powwows.
Supernaw served three terms as an Osage Nation Congress member and helped shape the current Osage Constitution. He was the youngest Skiatook Chamber of Commerce member and served as Osage County Democratic Party Chair.
Supernaw serves as one of three Quapaw Nation Grievance Committee members charged with oversight of Quapaw Nation elected Business Committee members. He is also a talented Native painter, silversmith, potter and woodworker. He served his country in the National Guard, was treasurer of the Tulsa Powwow Club, charter member of the Ki He Keh Steh Powwow Club and invited member of the Kiowa Gourd Clan.
Supernaw’s Quapaw name is Ga.Neesh.E.Gah, which translates to Little Thunder. But he never used that name in his artwork because there was a well-established Cheyenne artist named Little Thunder and he didn’t want people to think he was copying him.
Supernaw has three surviving children, many grandchildren as well as great-grandchildren. He and his wife Phyllis reside in Skiatook.
Nominations for the 2024 AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors will open in January 2024.
Past Osage AARP Indian Elder honorees include:
Darrell Boulanger, deceased
Jerri Jean Branstetter
Anita Fields
Margo Gray
Mary Gray-Bighorse, deceased
Charles Eugene “Chuck” Hessert
Denise Keene
Nancy Keil
Charles Lookout, deceased
H. Mongraine Lookout
Anita Lookout-West, deceased
Capt. Richard Luttrell Sr., deceased
Sheri Mashburn
Bill Mashunkashey, deceased
Cpl. John Henry Mashunkashey
Archie Mason
Franklin McKinley
Cmdr. James Norris
Dr. Steven Pratt
Charles Harold Red Corn, deceased
Kathryn Redcorn
Nicki Revard-Lorenzo
Mary Elizabeth Ricketts
Romaine Shackelford, deceased
George A. Shannon
Jerry Shaw, deceased
Dr. Ronald Blaine Shaw, deceased
Roberta Sue Slinkard
Martha Spotted Bear
Marvin Stepson Jr.
Cecelia Irene Tallchief
George E. Tallchief, deceased
Tim Tall Chief
Candy Thomas
Judith “Judy” Mary Tiger
John Williams, deceased
Julia Wilson
Rosemary Wood