Indian Nation Chapter

CONTACT INFO:

P.O. Box 908

Gore, Oklahoma 74435

Phone/Fax: 918-489-5027

Email: rbighorse42@yahoo.com

 

Indian Nation Events Schedule

LINKS:

Events Calendar


  •   Equipment Needs: crossbows & accessories, remote control cars, sit-n-ski (youth and adult)
  •   Fort Smith Boat Show- February
  •   Lewis & Clark Outfitters: kayaking, remote control cars, archery, climbing wall - April
  •   Crappie Trip on Arkansas River Camp - April 26
  •   Doodle Socking Day - crappie spawn with long rods - May
  •   Catfish "Noodling" - June/July
  •   Dove Hunt, Webber Falls, OK - Sept 20
  •   Fin-n-Feather Weekend Fundraiser - Sept 26-28
  •   Kayaking & Bar B Q, Greenleaf Lake - Oct 18
  •   Archery Season Hunt - October 
  •   Christmas Dinner - Dec 13 

Indian Nation Director

Rance

RANCE BIGHORSE

  Born March 13, 1964 in Pawnee, Oklahoma, I grew up in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and graduated from Tulsa Memorial High School in 1982. I attended Westark Community College in Ft. Smith, Arkansas on a baseball scholarship and met the woman I would fall in love with and marry. Graduating from Westark I continued playing baseball on scholarship at Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas. On August 3, 1985 I married my wife of 21 years, Linda.  After college I began a career with United Parcel Service where on June 12, 1990 my life changed forever.


   Just shy of five years of marriage I was involved in a work related accident that left me a T4 – T5 paraplegic. While in the hospital in Texas I thought my life was over, it was my stay in rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado that I realized that I would be able to continue my passion of hunting and fishing.  A friend introduced me to an organization that sponsored fishing tournaments across the country for the disabled. In 1996 I fished my first bass tournament since I had been hurt which gave me some focus on what I wanted to do.  Again, my life would be changed forever.


   I began fishing a bass trail and ventured out to other organizations where I was able to hunt. I became a Pro Staff Member for Night and Hale game calls where I was given the opportunity to again travel around the country. I was pursuing both of my passions with my wife right along beside me. During this time I met a man named Michael “Shorty” Powers and was introduced to his organization, Turning Point. Shorty asked me to be a member of the fishing team, Team Challenge, sponsored by Turning Point to help promote outdoor activities for the disabled.


   I have been fortunate enough to travel and meet many people in my situation and have learned from them all. I feel it is time to give back and re-introduce the outdoors to others with disabilities. My wife and I hope the Indian Nation Chapter of Turning Point will help us achieve this goal.

Indian Nation Activities

Day at the Lake

(click to see slide show)

THE GODS SHINED ON TURNING POINT INDIAN NATION unfortunately they left the heater on also. Despite the Sun & Heat, we had a great time on Saturday, August 2nd. TPIN had a "Day at the Lake: on Tenkiller Lake where we skied, kayaked, fished and even managed to peddle a few handcycles around the Snake Creek Recreation area. We had members from as far away as Rogers AR ( Craig Blanchard). We got started about 9AM. Jon Duncan and all of his fishing volunteers that had boats were in the water and the guys that wanted to fish were off and casting. Doug Moore had the ski ropes tied onto his boat and Nance Powers and Joe Parker had a rope tied to quad Roger Sheeley. This is right, a quad was our trailblazer that day, Roger's reasoning being " I have already broken my neck, what else can happen?" He definitely set the pace for the day. Kayakers were paddling around the cove.

The guys seemed to like tubing better than tubing liked us. The inner tube was a failed experiment, though we did have a few successful tube riders but it wasn't a wheelers thing. Craig Blanchard took a turn on the water ski and after a couple of tries, he looked as if he were a master skier. The sun & heat began to take its toll on everyone as the day winded down. Most everyone stopped by the pavilion for a cold drink & a snack for the ride home. The smiles on the faces of everyone after a "Day at the Lake" was a great indication of how the day went.



   

Turning Point-Indian Nation held its first event at Greenleaf State Park



TURNING POINT is a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) organization