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"Baron O'Field (center) poses with State Representative Mike Brown (left) and Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith (right) in front of Sequoyah's portrait in the Oklahoma State Capitol." TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Baron O’Field and Caleb Whitekiller, seniors at Sequoyah Schools, recently served as legislative pages at the Oklahoma State Capitol, and each earned the honor of “page of the week” during their time of service. “I’m not sure that any other school has ever had ‘page of the week’ two weeks in a row,” said Gerald Livingston, Sequoyah social studies teacher who helps arrange the page program at Sequoyah. “That says a lot about the type of kids that we have representing our school.” O’Field, 18, served as a page for Representative Gus Blackwell and Whitekiller, 18, served as a page for Representative Mike Brown. “It was an unforgettable experience,” Whitekiller said. “I would recommend it to others, even if you are not interested in government.” O’Field was elected by other pages to serve as “Governor” during a mock legislation session while in Oklahoma City. He is the son of Mike and Veronica O’Field. Whitekiller is the son of George and Twila Whitekiller. Both students are from Tahlequah and are Cherokee Nation citizens. The Senate Page Program is for Oklahoma high school students in grades 9 through 12 who are at least 14 years of age. A page must be sponsored by a State Senator, and each Senator has a limited number of page appointments for the legislative session. Each Senator’s office has its own criteria and often selects their own pages. Sequoyah School, a boarding school for Native American students, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans who came out of the Civil War. It has since served as the Sequoyah Orphan Training School and the Sequoyah Vocational School. Now known as Sequoyah Schools, it is named for Sequoyah, a scholar who developed the Cherokee syllabary. In November 1985, the Cherokee Nation resumed the operation of Sequoyah. It is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 students every year. For more information about Sequoyah call 918-453-5400 or visit the Sequoyah School web site.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org