Tonkawans Attend Cher-OK-KanJune Meet In Ark CityDorothy and Joe Marshall were among those who attended the June 8 meeting of the Cher-Ok-Kan Gateway association.Herbert Marshall, president called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m., at the Cherokee Strip Museum, Arkansas City, Kansas.He then introduced Lloyd Means, Chilocco Indian School instructor who told the history of the school. He related how his grandfather and parents came to Oklahoma and homesteaded the farm where they now live near the school. Before the Cherokee Strip was opened for settlement, Mr. Means’ grandfather leased the rock quarry from a man known as “Bushyhead” and later purchased the quarry. His grandfather practiced riding on his pony for the run and was able to get the farm he wanted where they now live.Chilocco HistoryChilocco Indian School was created by the Indian Appropriations Act of May 17, 1882. The non-reservation boarding school received $25,000 for building on 1.100 acres in Indian Territory adjacent to the Kansas state line.President Chester A. Arthur issued an executive order on July 12, 1884, allotting land bought from the Cherokee Nation to the school bringing Chilocco’s area to 8,640 acres. In 1967 Congress sold 2,688 acres back to the Cherokee Nation leaving the present acreage of 5,972 acres.At first it was an ungraded school and they started to call it Chilocco Industrial School but changed it to Chilocco Indian School. Mr. Means feels it was a mistake to change it from an industrial and vocational school to an academic one and feels that it will be changed to industrial and vocational training. They have placed students in skills with jobs and some in their own businesses throughout this area and as far as Chicago, Kansas City and New York.This is the 88th year for the school. In order for a student to qualify, he must be one-fourth Indian. It is now a qualified high school with some post graduate courses. One of the former students was A. C. McIntosh, a Creek Indian, who later changed his name or used the name of Acie Blue Eagle for his art.Mr. Means’ first job was to teach Navaho students the English names and uses of hand tools.In 1958 there were 1,100 students enrolled and now there are about 300.Three Grades Will Be Taught at Each SchoolThe Tonkawa board of education approved a proposal to have all grade school students in the first, second and third ...
