The annual Native American Benefit Concert was founded by Dr. Daryl Tonemah with one goal - to give native children a better Christmas. Tonemah accomplishes this by holding a benefit concert for which the price of admission is a new toy or new article of children's clothing.
“We all are pretty much aware of the statistics about poverty and under employment and lack of educational attainment for natives, not only across the country but here in Oklahoma,” Ron McIntosh (Muscogee Creek) said.
McIntosh is one of the organizers of this year’s Annual Native American Benefit Concert to take place Friday, December 5 at Rose State College.
“One of the things that Daryl Tonemah, who actually started this about 15 years ago in Phoenix - one of the things that he recognized, and that we've tried to carry on - is that it is up to us to take care of our own kids,” McIntosh said.
Tonemah’s initial benefit concert took place in Phoenix, Arizona, where Tonemah lived at the time. After moving to Oklahoma, Tonemah continued the tradition.
Loren Tonemah, Daryl’s brother, remembers this first Oklahoma showcase as one produced "on a dime."
“In true Daryl fashion, he had this last second, ‘hey, let's do a benefit concert!’ I was like, okay,” Loren Tonemah said.“This was probably a week beforehand so I guess you can say we couldn't really tell a whole lot of people in that short of time."
"I remember that first one we had contacted the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic,” Tonemah said. “They came out, they took the toys and I remember there was maybe just an armful of toys but still something to give. So it just kind of started from there here in Oklahoma City.
Daryl Tonemah’s Christmas benefits now occur in various locations across the country where significant numbers of Native Americans live. Tonemah still participates when he can.
This year Tonemah will appear in Phoenix, Arizona; Newtown, North Dakota; and Aberdeen and Sioux Falls, South Dakota before landing in Oklahoma City for the December 5 concert at Rose State College. The year's final benefit concert is December 20 at Tonemah's home reservation, New York's Tuscarora Reservation.
In addition to benefiting native children, the concerts promote native talent.
The Oklahoma event includes a live art demonstration by up and coming Native American painter Nicole Hatfield, who's finished work will be auctioned during the event. Motivational speaker and native community advocate Chance Rush (of the Hidatsa and Arapaho Nations) will emcee. Musical acts include Erick Taylor, Native Praise, Spirit Cry and Terry Tsotigh.
The gifts and clothes collected as admission are given to a variety of tribal entities including the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic.
“We include the Indian Clinic because they have a pretty far reach. They have a lot of tribes that they serve and so we contact them every year,” Loren Tonemah said.
“This year we've contacted the Comanche Nation, the Cheyenne and Arapahos Tribes and the Absentee Shawnee tribe,” Tonemah said. “We have a representative from each tribe’s Indian Child Welfare program come on stage and say a few words about what their programs and where the gifts go."
Tonemah said toys and clothes received will be divided evenly among the tribes and Oklahoma City Indian Clinic.
The concert starts at 7 p.m. in the W.P. Bill Atkinson Student Center on the Rose State College campus.
___________________________________________
KGOU relies on voluntary contributions from readers and listeners to further its mission of public service with arts and culture reporting for Oklahoma and beyond. To contribute to our efforts, make your donation online, or contact our Membership department.
