American Indian display wins second best at "Diversity Fair"

Two members of the Manataka American Indian Council were recently honored for their long and hard work to create an American Indian display during the "Diversity Fair" held in the atrium of Health Central Hospital in Ocoee, FL.

Chaplain Fred D. Wilcoxson PhD, PC, BCCC, Supervisor of Pastoral Care at Health Central and Scott Fleming, Assistant Chaplain were honored by Health Central for their tremendous contribution to understanding American Indian ways with a second best award. The first place award went to three nursing directors who created a well done display of the cultures of Africa.

Fred Wilcoxson is of Osage descent from Oklahoma and Scott Fleming is of Cherokee heritage.

"We did our best to represent the American Indian and Manataka to health care providers, patients, and visitors. We had about 300 persons come through the exhibit and over 150 of them took away the Manataka Spirituality booklet, said Wilcoxson.

The Wilcoxson - Fleming team won first place at the Diversity Fair in 2008 while competing against eleven other cultural displays.

"We were able to make more people in health care aware that American Indian Spirituality is as important as respecting any other religious or cultural belief and that those beliefs are critical to returning the American Indian patient to wholeness," said Wilcoxson.

Fred and Scott did an excellent job of creating a number of excellent story boards and displays, but it was the American Indian food that made a good impression on the crowds. Scott cooked Iroquois Stew and Fred prepared some of fry bread from a recipe given to Fred by his friend Raymond Redcorn.

In addition to taking second place honors, Scott and Fred were tentatively invited to recreate their display at the big Orlando, FL Powwow in November. According to Wilcoxson, powwow representatives were impressed by their level of professionalism, enthusiasm, and knowledge. In the event the two men accept the invitation, they will utilize Manataka's youth education program to incorporate into the "Youth Education" theme of this year's Orlando Powwow.

"When I left Oklahoma after I graduated from high school, I was naive enough to think everyone knew the American Indian as well as I did. I was shocked at the lack of interest and knowledge. I am so grateful that at this season of my life Creator has given me a way to make others aware of this important need, given me many venues to speak directly to groups that can have an impact, and put me in touch with with so many Manataka friends," said Wilcoxson.

"I believe that Creator, God, Great Spirit received the honor on a much different level. As I look through the pictures I see a huge smile on my face that reflects how I pleased I was doing His work, said Wilcoxson.

Fred Wilcoxson, daughter Christine and granddaughter Amaya.