Our Elder Mentors
Ah-hoh day baht haw (accept our gratitude) – we are eternally grateful to our Elder Mentors. This work would not be possible without the wisdom, guidance, and support of our fluent Kiowa speakers, our Elders, our Mentors.
Píhótgyàmà
“She lives by the bend in the river”
Mrs. Delores Toyebo Harragarra
Delores Toyebo Harragarra stands as a beacon of cultural and educational excellence within the Kiowa Tribe. Her journey began in the vicinity of Carnegie, Oklahoma, where she was born and raised on allotted Indian land. Her academic pursuits led her to become one of the first Kiowa graduates from the University of Oklahoma in 1951, where she earned a degree in Library Science.
Her professional life was marked by a dedication to education and literacy. Delores served as a librarian at several key institutions, including Fort Sill, Chilocco, Concho, and Riverside Indian Schools, and she contributed her expertise to the library at the Oklahoma Capitol. Through her work, she has been instrumental in preserving and disseminating knowledge for both her community and the state.
Delores’s life is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage. She was married to Kenneth Harragarra, a respected World War II veteran and Tribal Chairman of the Otoe-Missouria tribe, and is the mother of Lester Harragarra, a renowned powwow photographer. Together, they embody a family legacy intertwined with service and tradition.
In her unwavering commitment to the Kiowa language and traditions, Delores serves on the Kiowa Language Credentialing Board, which plays a crucial role in certifying language educators to teach and preserve the Kiowa language. Her participation in the Kiowa Language and Cultural Revitalization Program further highlights her active role in cultural education and advocacy.
Delores Toyebo Harragarra’s life work epitomizes the significance of preserving indigenous languages and cultures, the value of education, and the importance of serving one’s community with dedication and pride.
Dàu:tsáigyàán:t’á:gyámà
“She comes from good prayers”
Mrs. Dorothy Whitehorse DeLaune
Dorothy Whitehorse DeLaune, born in 1933, is a distinguished Kiowa elder, linguist, and educator, whose life’s work has been dedicated to the preservation of the Kiowa language and culture. As a full-blood member of the Kiowa Tribe, Dorothy grew up speaking her native tongue and was later taught English, a transition that marked the beginning of her lifelong advocacy for language preservation.
Her father, a significant figure in her early life, ensured that the Kiowa language was her first means of communication, a gift that she has carried forward into her work. Recognized as one of the last fluent native Kiowa speakers, Dorothy’s expertise is a rare and invaluable treasure to her community.
Dorothy’s contributions extend beyond the Kiowa Tribe; she has touched lives cross-culturally, as exemplified by her friendship with individuals from around the world, including the bond she formed with a young German actress while on a movie set. This connection reflects her inherent ability to cross cultural divides and her warm, inclusive spirit.
At the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Dorothy co-teaches the Kiowa Clemente Course, aiming to instill a strong foundation in liberal arts education while preserving Kiowa linguistic and cultural knowledge. Her teaching philosophy is underscored by an urgent call to action: “We have to hurry up,” a sentiment that captures her acute awareness of the pressing need to safeguard her culture.
Furthermore, Dorothy serves on the Kiowa Language Credentialing Board, a role that underscores her commitment to maintaining linguistic standards and ensuring the transmission of the Kiowa language to new generations. Her dedication to her people is also evident in her availability to those seeking wisdom on Kiowa linguistics and genealogy, often providing insights and answers to the community’s inquiries.
Dorothy Whitehorse DeLaune’s legacy is characterized by her passion for education, her unwavering commitment to cultural preservation, and her pivotal role as a keeper of the Kiowa language. Her life is a testament to the power of cultural continuity and the importance of passing on a living language.