[MUSIC PLAYING] There’s a obligation and obligation to guard our individuals and this land. And my cousin Angela— I might name Angela a warrior. Me and Angela are first cousins. And in our Kiowa method, it’s extra akin to being a brother and a sister. Angela, her dad and mom had been nonetheless collectively. And they also lived in their very own home in Washington state. They made their dwelling as artists. Once they moved again to Oklahoma, Angela should have been about 12. It was a poor neighborhood. Native individuals— many instances we discover ourselves in conditions the place we’re outnumbered. And the issues that we face appear nearly insurmountable. Angela took on the position of a pacesetter inside her household from the time she was younger. In all probability comes from the Kiowa teachings that she was raised with. We’re a warrior society. We’re a warrior individuals. It’s our obligation to go ahead and battle. The Ton’konga, which implies the Kiowa Black Leggings, a society of warriors supporting the veterans of our tribe. Her father was a part of that, as a result of he was within the Vietnam Conflict. And so she was concerned as properly. They’re known as the Black Legs as a result of the opposite aspect tried to make them retreat by beginning a prairie fireplace so the fireplace would wash over them and transfer them again. The Kiowa individuals, they ran by way of the fireplace to proceed to battle. And after they ran by way of, their legs had been coated in ash and soot— black legs. Plenty of the important thing choices had been really made by the ladies in our households, the matriarchs. She bought pregnant in highschool. Synthea— Angela had fairly huge odds stacked in opposition to her, however was in a position to make college, make her grades, and graduate on time, after which, go to school. She went to highschool on the College of Oklahoma. There was battle between a fraternity and the Native American Membership. Effectively, what occurred was it was a tepee. A teepee was erected. And any person urinated on the teepee. And I can keep in mind her being actually activated by that. It’s not proper. Her title was talked about within the information, abruptly. We had been, oh, take a look at Angela. She’s up within the college like elevating hell. And he or she grew to become an increasing number of engaged. Angela was actually motivated by her need to assist her individuals. I used to be listening to about her going to those completely different gatherings completely different Pow Wows, assembly individuals, assembly new mates across the state. She didn’t used to do this sort of stuff earlier than. Then within the early 2000s, there was an enormous push in our tribe to start out a tribal on line casino. However there have been some individuals who didn’t really need it to occur. So she took on the position of selling and selling the on line casino earlier than it was really even constructed. It simply got here out of a necessity for an financial basis for our tribe. How will we make life higher for our individuals. We needed to method it as a marketing campaign. Angela— Kiowa Black Leg— she wasn’t going to again out of it. “It’s official, the Kiowa On line casino in Devol is open.” [MUSIC PLAYING] It was an enormous day. It was an enormous day for the Kiowa individuals to have our personal constructing that was constructed from scratch by us. Round that point, her well being began to say no. She bought hospitalized. And he or she ended up in a wheelchair. She wasn’t one to complain about her struggles and points. I simply marveled generally at her means to maintain going. Doesn’t appear to cease. And doesn’t appear to take setbacks for very lengthy. Our tribe went by way of this turmoil. We didn’t have functioning tribal authorities for 2 years. It was a time of a whole lot of hardship for our individuals. Angela was very a lot conscious that it needed to start with us, as a result of no one was coming to do it for us. And so she traveled round, in her van along with her wheelchair, to those completely different communities and talked in regards to the situation of the state we’re in, and why individuals wanted to do one thing. And he or she was elected district one legislative consultant. “Effectively-known Kiowa legislator Angela Chaddlesone McCarthy has died of COVID-19.” “The Native American neighborhood in Caddo County and past in mourning.” [MUSIC PLAYING] [RAIN AND THUNDER] After she handed away, she was introduced again to the Black Leggings dance floor. She got here there as a toddler and as a younger girl to bop in that enviornment along with her dad. And the people who find themselves nonetheless right here had been in a position to come again there and honor her, and honor them one final time. [MUSIC PLAYING] A warrior. The story by no means ends. The story retains going, similar to the story of us. And so long as we’re right here, our story retains persevering with. [THUNDER] [MUSIC PLAYING] [NATIVE AMERICAN DRUMMING AND SINGING]