Deaf Native
Americans
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Organizational Structure
Information has been divided into three
Native American affiliations:
 The Intertribal Deaf Council,
 The Circle of Unity, and
 “In Their Own Words”
Several individuals are involved in more
than one affiliation:
• They will be listed under their primary
affiliations
• Their other affiliations will be listed
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Intertribal Deaf Council
Originating in Oklahoma City in 1994, the
Intertribal Deaf Council was formed to serve the
needs of deaf, blind-deaf, hard of hearing, and
late-deafened Native Americans.
IDC provides information about their heritage, traditions, and cultural issues as well
as serving as a support group and advocate for Deaf Native American rights. Many
of these deaf individuals experience poor services and frequent isolation in the
work force. There has been growing recognition of the lack of pride felt by young
Native Americans.
IDC warmly welcomes members who are non-deaf
and non-Native American that share the
organization’s vision to attend meetings and assist
the organization in their accomplishing their
goals.
IDC’s Homepage
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Jerry Hassell, co-founder of IDC
-Born
in Oklahoma City, Jerry attended the Oklahoma and Texas schools
for the Deaf graduating from Texas in 1946, and from Gallaudet University
in 1951 with his BA in education. He received his MA from the University
of Texas in 1959.
-Mentored by, and with the help of Walter Kelley and Tony McGregor, Jerry was encouraged to start a national organization
dealing with Native American affairs. Together in 1993 they began their mission and the National Association of the Native
American Deaf in Oklahoma City was founded in 1994. This was later renamed the Intertribal Deaf Council.
-Jerry was not always proud of his heritage and fell into the stereotypical
image of Native Americans in the 1930’s. Upon meeting his relatives Jerry
was intrigued by his ancestry and became deeply involved in Native
American issues and an advocate their rights.
-Throughout his 30 years of teaching at the Texas School for the Deaf he has received 27 awards for his contribution to
services provided to deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
For more information on Jerry Hassell and his accomplishments see:
Making a Difference, Birth of the IDC, and Bio of Jerry Hassell
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Elder Walter P. Kelley, Ph.D,
co-founder of IDC
Dr. Walter Paul Kelly, co-founder of IDC, is highly regarded as an expert
on Deaf Native Americans, their culture and language. He is himself
Pamunkey/Chickahominy.
Dr. Kelly is known for his presence at various nationwide conferences and conventions, and his presentations on a
variety of Deaf Native Americans culture and issues. Not only is he a well-known presenter but a well-known author of
children’s books.
After waiting five years for his first book Victory Week, a child friendly
version of “Deaf President Now”, Dr. Kelley and Tony McGregor decided
to found a publishing company of their own: BuTo Publishers. Dr.
Kelley’s second book (illustrated by Tony), Deaf Culture A to Z is the
publisher.
BuTo focuses on publishing children’s picture books but plans to expand their scope to include books about people with
hearing loss and disabilities.
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For more information on Dr. Kelly see:
BuTo and Biography of Walter Kelly
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Elder (IDC) Onalee
Cooper
Elder Onalee Cooper was born to Tuscarora Chief Clinton
Rickard and raised on the Tuscarora Reservation. As a deaf
child she attended the Rochester School for the Deaf. Onalee
has spent her life preserving the traditions of the Tuscarora
history and traditions and enjoys giving workshops and
presentations on her tribe in New York.
For more information see:
Onalee Cooper
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Elder LeRoy EagleBear
LeRoy EagleBear was personally affected by the IDC before joining.
LeRoy struggled with his identity growing up as a deaf child on and
off the reservation. While at the residential school, he appreciated
the education he was receiving and yet yearned for the celebrations
and rituals he was only able to partake in while on breaks, a
common problem for deaf Native American children.
Years after graduating LeRoy began attending IDC meetings, where he readily took advantage of the opportunity
to understand and embrace his heritage that he missed while being away at the residential school. LeRoy became
a member by accepting the invitation to join the Board of IDC for two years and has worked closely with them
ever since, currently working as a chairperson.
For more information about LeRoy EagleBear see:
Reclaiming My True Heritage
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Tina Terrance,
IDC Treasurer
Born in 1960, Tina has lived on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation
in Malone, New York all her life.
Growing up in New York, Tina took advantage of the opportunity to be an active member in the deaf community
which lead to her current position as President of the Northern New York Association of the Deaf.
Other activities that are of interest to her and hence actively
involved in are sewing, bowling, and of course, her family. She has
been married for 25 years and in 2005 Tina was blessed to become
a grandmother.
Tina has been someone who is proud of her heritage. She has been a role model to her children and now, her
grandchild.
She takes pride in her eleven years of service to the IDC, and three
years serving as treasurer.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Circle of Unity
The Circle of Unity is a publication designed to improve
rehabilitation services to American Indians and Alaskan
Natives who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing.
Six expert volunteers from the fields of counseling,
vocational rehabilitation, and cultural awareness used their
expertise and experience to discuss various social
expectations Deaf Native Americans face on a daily basis.
Their commitment and desire motivated them to contribute
to this project in order to improve rehabilitation services
offered to American Indians and Alaskan Natives by
educating rehabilitation counselors about their culture.
The following individuals are part of the Circle of Unity
writing team; some are also involved in the IDC.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Damara Goff Paris,
President of IDC
Damara Paris is of Cherokee/ Blackfoot decent.
She is not only a part of the writing team for
Circle of Unity, but also participated as co-editor
on Step Into the Circle.
She has published six books since 1997 and owns her own publishing company, AGO Publications.
Paris received her MA in Rehabilitation Counseling and
graduated in 1994 from Western Oregon University.
She then managed a community based rehabilitation center for the Deaf in Salem, Oregon.
Currently, Paris also is President of the IDC.
For more information see:
IDC and Circle of Unity
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Judy C. Stout,
VP of IDC
Judy Stout is a Native American of the Lumbee tribe.
She is deeply involved in politics which she believes is essential in
achieving greater opportunities and recognition for the deaf and hard of
hearing. Consequently she has participated in a variety of campaigns
including the Kerry/Edwards campaign serving as National co-chair for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Steering committee.
She is also the current president and founder of the Maryland Deaf and Hard of Hearing Democratic Club.
Judy invests a major part of her time in the deaf community working as a full time family educator for the
Laurent Clerc Center, and part-time at Gallaudet teaching political leadership. She also offers political
leadership training in the community.
As Vice-President of the IDC, Judy is knowledgeable of the Native
Americans culture, heritage, and traditions and uses her knowledge to
educate those around her.
For more information on Judy Stout see:
Native American History Month, Circle of Unity, and IDC
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Dr. Howard Busby, Ph.D
Dr. Howard Busby (Mississippi Choctaw/Eastern Cherokee) has
participated in a variety events and activities for Deaf Native
Americans. Not only was he on the writing team for Circle of Unity
but he is also a board member of IDC. Through IDC he served as a media evaluator for
the Captioned Media Program (CMP) screening and evaluating commercially produced video tapes involving
Native Americans.
Dr. Busby has worked with residential schools for the deaf across
the country providing academic and vocational education to deaf
students.
Currently, Dr. Busby is researching educational experiences of Native Americans at Gallaudet University as a
professor in the Counseling Department.
For more information on Dr. Howard Busby see:
Captioning and Circle of Unity
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Alan Cartwright
Alan Cartwright currently serves as the director for The Arc of
Anchorage Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center. DHHC provides a variety
of rehabilitation services focused on assisting Alaskans who are Deaf
and Hard of Hearing in becoming more independent.
Mr. Cartwright previously served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, working with deaf people in Nepal
(1987-1989), Singapore (1990), and Ecuador (1991-1993).
His experiences led him to become the cofounder and director of the
Global Deaf Connection. Developed in 1998, GCD’s vision is to support
Deaf people around the world in using their native sign, especially for
teaching deaf children. This will allow the children to achieve success
in academics, employment, and to make contributions to their deaf
community.
For more information on Alan Cartwright see:
GDC, DHHC, and Circle of Unity
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Linda Carroll, Deaf Interpreter
Linda Carroll (Eastern Band CherokeeWolf Clan) served on the Circle of
Unity writing teams and maintains an
interest in improving the quality of
interpreting services for the Deaf,
Dead-Blind, and Hard of Hearing.
Being Deaf herself, Linda has acquired her Interpreting
Certificate from RID as a Deaf Interpreter.
She was also the first woman to be
president of IDC serving from 19982001.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
In Their Own Words:
Researching Stories About the Lives of Deaf
People of Color
Authored by Glenn Anderson and Katrina Miller, “In Their Own
Words” focuses on the lives and experiences of individuals who
identify themselves as deaf people of color, including professional
interpreters. Information for this book was taken from biographies
found in various resources published in the United States in 1988
or after. The publication is centered around four themes:
- overcoming educational obstacles,
- stories about personal role models that influenced their
lives,
- family experiences, and
- experiences relating to cultural conflicts including prejudice
and discrimination.
The following stories are summaries of people featured in “In
Their Own Words”
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Karen Billie Johnson

Karen Johnson began her life as a Dine’ Navajo deaf infant but
experienced a variety of cultural conflicts between the Deaf
Culture and Native American culture.
She first experienced cultural differences when she was sent to
the New Mexico School for the Deaf at age 6:
 She experienced running water and electricity for the first time.

She began learning ASL and found out how important pointing
was to set up objects or people in conversation.
 However, when she returned home she quickly discovered that
“pointing” was considered to be an insult in the Navajo culture.
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Johnson was forced to learn how to adjust her behaviors when
at home and at school.
As an adult, her passion is to work as a teacher’s aid with
American Indians who are deaf in the Navajo nation. From her
experiences Johnson sees the need for schools and
communities to work together in order “to understand what
makes a culture and how to appreciate its values.”
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Jonathan Hopkins:
one of the three Native
American interpreters in the
country.
- At age 12, Jonathan Hopkins met a young deaf girl while at a summer camp
who taught him fingerspelling and introduced him to other deaf campers; he has
been fluent ever since.
- Hopkins is a Tlingit Indian raised by white parents in Maine, making him very comfortable with ethnic cultures. As
a result he primarily interprets for deaf students who are ethnic minorities at Rochester Institute of Technology, and
is usually their first choice when choosing interpreters.
- Off campus Hopkins also interprets for sports games, Native American events,
on stage at Eastman Theatre, as well as other music venues.
- Hopkins has also organized a committee to help draw more Native Americans to RIT and founded in Intertribal
Deaf Association.
For more information see:
RIT and Fluent Fingers
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Resources
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http://www.deaflinx.com/dna.html
Intertribal Deaf Council
http://www.deafnative.com/
Circle of Unity
http://www.uark.edu/depts/rehabres/AmIndian/AImain.htm
Glenn B. Anderson, Katrina R. Miller. “In Their Own Words: Researching
Stories About the Lives of Deaf People of Color.” Multicultural
Perspectives, 2004, Vol. 6, No. 2, Pages 28-33
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Rochester Institute of technology
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/homes/community/rit/stories16.sh
tml
Hassell, Jerry. “Birth of the Intertribal Deaf Council.”
http://www.drf.org/hearing_health/Archive/2004/fall04_birthofintertribal_
ex.htm
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Additional Deaf Native American
websites:
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For Deaf Native American Children
http://storystones.com/
Deaf Native American Reading List
http://www.uark.edu/depts/rehabres/mcnai.html
Native American Sign Language
http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/native/sign/
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
A special thanks to:

Damara Paris, President of the Intertribal
Deaf Council and Judy Stout, Vice
President: for supporting this project and
for sharing your passions for Deaf Native
Americans.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training