Representatives from Gov. Mary Fallin’s Cabinet, Oklahoma State University, OSU’s University Multispectral Laboratories, and the Ponca City Development Authority recognized the Council of Confederated Chilocco Tribes at a ceremony today at the Chilocco Indian School.
The five tribes that comprise the council received flags flown by the US Navy during combat missions in Afghanistan. Each tribe also received a certificate, a UML coin and a brass plate with the inscription: “On behalf of the Men and Women of the Armed Forces of the United States, the UML recognizes the Council of Confederated Chilocco Tribes’ contributions to the National Security of the United States through the Chilocco partnership.”
“We are pleased to recognize the contribution the five tribes have played in national security through our partnership with them at Chilocco,” said Dr. Stephen McKeever, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Science and Technology/Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer at OSU. “We look forward to continuing a strong relationship with them in the future focused on providing resources and training opportunities to our armed forces and first responders.”
Special recognition was also given to the tribal members who served in the armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Under an agreement with the tribes, the UML has conducted rural, urban, and aviation operational testing at Chilocco since 2006. The environment at Chilocco has allowed training for elements of the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy, and National Guard Civil Support Teams from multiple states. The facilities at Chilocco provide exercise scenario realism that replicates conditions of actual incidents, resulting in development of the latest tactics, techniques and procedures used by first responders at all levels.
