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Oral history interview with Doris Lasley Doris Lasley (Creek), a 1955 graduate of Chilocco Indian Agricultural School, discusses her time at Chilocco and her decision to attend nursing school and join the U.S. Air Force. She talks about her experience being stationed in Arkansas during the Vietnam War as well as some of the other jobs she held over her career. Lasley discusses her involvement in local women veterans organizations and what she enjoys about attending the Chilocco reunions.
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Oral history interview with Marjorie Lasley
Marjorie Lasley discusses her time at Chilocco Indian Agricultural School and her decision to attend nursing school and serve in the U.S. Navy. She talks about the various places she was stationed, including Virginia and New York, and describes why she returns for the Chilocco class reunions
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Oral history interview with Leroy Sakiestewa
Leroy Sakiestewa (Hopi), a 1953 graduate of Chilocco Indian Agricultural School, discusses his childhood growing up in Tuba City, Arizona between the Navajo and Hopi reservations. He describes his family's Hopi heritage and how he didn't get more involved in learning the language and culture until after marrying his wife, who is also Hopi. He talks about his time at Chilocco and fondly recalls teachers, lifelong friends, extracurricular activities, and the impact of his plumbing education on his later career as a plumber and facilities manager at an on-reservation boarding school. Sakiestewa also discusses his experience enlisting in the Army as a paratrooper.
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Oral history interview with Darlene Harjo Darlene Harjo (Ponca), a 1971 graduate of Chilocco Indian Agricultural School, talks about her family's history and connection to the school as well as her own experience attending Chilocco. She describes some of the various activities that she was involved in during her time at Chilocco such as cheerleading, choir, and being named the 1969 Chilocco Powwow Princess. She reflects on the impact of the school on her life and the importance of remembering it for future generations.
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Oral history interview with Norene Durant
Norene Durant (Cherokee and Creek), a graduate of Chilocco Indian Agricultural School, talks about growing up in Sperry, Oklahoma on her mother's original land allotment in the Cherokee Nation. Born into a farming family with a mother who only spoke Shawnee, she describes how she ended up at Chilocco in 1943. Durant recalls the tragic death of her mother after her freshman year, taking a year out of school to take care of her, and how her mother encouraged her to graduate from Chilocco. She talks about adjusting to Chilocco and recalls the dormitories, work opportunities, and gender differences in the roles and coursework available at the school. Durant describes meeting her future husband Albert at Chilocco after he returned from the war in 1947 and eventually getting married and moving to Dallas.
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Chilocco Indian School: A Generational Story Jaya, a Native teen temporarily separated from her mom, accompanies her Grandmother and Aunt to a family reunion. Between chores and activities, the older women lead her through a story about Chilocco Indian Agricultural School, combining history and their own memories of attending the boarding school in northern Oklahoma. Their account arouses a range of emotions in the teen, from tears, to laughter, to anger, to compassion. The result: a new respect for her family and the resilience of Native peoples, along with insights into how Jaya might handle the changes in her own life. This story, set in present-day Oklahoma, was compiled from the experiences of real students who attended Chilocco, and their recollections were shared through oral history interviews, photographs, letters, and other archival sources. It engages students and adults in an often overlooked part of U.S. history and pushes back against stereotypes of Native identity.
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Lloyd Means--Photo 1 Lloyd Means in a button-up and glasses, with a glasses case in his shirt pocket.
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Gregory Rolette, yearbook portrait, 1980 Gregory Rolette in a striped sweatshirt in front of a grey background [The Chilocco Annual, 1980].
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Twyla Beaner, portrait Double photo of Twyla Beaner, one in a white blouse in front of a painting, the other in a flower-printed blouse in front of a grey background.
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Claude Livingston, portrait Claude Livingston wearing a 'John Deere' hat, taken outside.
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Ronnie Horse, portrait, 1980--Photo 1 Ronnie Horse in a collared short-sleeve t-shirt in front of a grey background [The Chilocco Annual, 1980].
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Junior Frank Aspaas, yearbook portrait 1963-1964 Senior Frank Aspaas, Jr. taken for the Chilocco Annual. Back of the photograph reads: 'Mr. McGillbra, To a great advisor whom I have had pleasure knowing for the last two years. Always a friend, Frank Aspaas Jr. 'Sr.' 63-64'.
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James Larney seated with a child Color photo of James Larney next to a small child.
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Thelma Henshau, portrait Close up photo of Thelma Henshau.
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Young boy in Native dress on horseback Young boy labeled '1C' in Native dress and a feathered headdress on horseback.
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Bob Tetreault—Photo 2 Bob Tetreault smiling outside with sunglasses.
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Roberta Lee in nurse's uniform Nurse Roberta Lee in nurse uniform and hat in hallway.
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C Battiest smiling with child C Battiest in a white button-up short sleeve shirt with a young girl in a parking lot.
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Page and Margaret Tesleimen, sitting on a ledge, 1976-1978 Nan Page and Margaret Tesleimen smile as they sit by one another in front of a grated window.
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Joseph Orosco, yearbook portrait, 1979 Joseph Orosco in a white t-shirt and a backwards baseball cap, in front of a white background [The Chilocco Annual, 1979].
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Mabel Jones, portrait Mabel Jones turning around and looking over her shoulder in a hallway.
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Sophomore Dorothy Rhodd in a red collared shirt, 1975 Sophomore Dorothy Rhodd for the 1975 Chilocco Annual. Back of the photograph reads: 'To Mrs. Gilbra from Dorothy Joanne Rhodd Age 17, To a really nice lady at Chilocco Indian School'.
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James Bearskin—Photo 1 James Bearskin in a dark jacket and light button-up speaking at a podium in front of a wooden wall.
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Student Council meeting, 1956-1957--Photo 3 The Student Council (1956-57) is shown in a room with a fireplace. A woman writing on a small table is on the left with two young men sitting at the table base. On the right couch from left to right are seated Brown, Warner, and John. Standing in the back from left to right are Barnes, Barnes, unidentified student, Weley, unidentified student, unidentified student, unidentified student, Cody, and Tommy Lacher (President) who is reading in front of the fireplace, with the right part of the group being unidentified.
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Lab Technician, Yvonne Longoria (White Eagle) in the laboratory, 1980 Lab Technician, Yvonne Longoria (White Eagle) is busy experimenting in the laboratory [The Chilocco Annual, 1980].