Nominations are open for this year’s AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honorees which recognizes Native elders from across the state for their positive impacts on the country, state and/or Indian Country.
The application deadline for 2023 Native elder nominees is March 31. This is the 15th year AARP Oklahoma has hosted the Native elder honoree program and those selected will be celebrated this fall, according to the nonprofit’s website.
Since 2009, the annual event, previously known as AARP Oklahoma Indian Elder Honors, has recognized nearly 700 elders from Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. In a statement, AARP Oklahoma state director Sean Voskuhl said, “AARP Oklahoma seeks to recognize elders who embody AARP’s mission and vision and inspire others to serve. The Native American elders we recognize demonstrate the difference we can make in others’ lives and our communities.”
In 2022, AARP Oklahoma hosted its honoree celebration at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City with the selected elder honorees and their families and friends in attendance. Three Osages were among 40 Native elders recognized at the October 2022 celebration, which was the first in-person honoree event held in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rules for AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honorees include:
- Nominees must be enrolled members of one of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations and age 50-plus.
- Nominees should demonstrate leadership and will be selected based on impactful contributions to their community, tribal nation and country.
- Only complete applications will be considered.
- Nominees do not have to be AARP members. AARP Oklahoma will select honorees.
Previous honorees include teachers, veterans, artists, tribal leaders, and culture preservationists, according to AARP Oklahoma. Other honorees include business professionals, language teachers, doctors, nurses, attorneys, judges and authors.
To nominate an individual for the 2023 AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honorees, an online application with 11 questions is available at: https://states.aarp.org/oklahoma/nominations-open-for-the-15th-annual-aarp-oklahoma-native-american-elder-honors
For more information or questions, contact Mashell Sourjohn at 405-715-4474 or msourjohn@aarp.org. For more information and news provided by AARP online, visit https://www.aarp.org/home-family/voices/native-origins-community/
