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OKLAHOMA CITY – Tribal business owners were on hand for the American Indian Chamber of Commerce gala and awards recently at the Crowne Plaza.

The awards went to tribally-owned businesses and civic groups that contribute to the development of Indian commerce, said Bernadette Huber, AICCO executive director.

State winners include Volunteer of the Year Tom Fields of Native Fields and Pam Neilson for Oklahoma Insurance Commission and Adam Proctor of Caddo Solutions, who won the Volunteer Guild Award. The Corporate Partner of the Year honors went to Griffin Foods.

Privately owned companies of the year include the Busey Group of Oklahoma City, Cherokee Data Solutions and Mail Mart, officials said.

In the tribally owned company awards, Kiowa Casino won the Gaming/Hospitality Company of the Year, while Cherokee Nation Businesses won Tribally Owned Company of the Year. Government partner of the year awards went to Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network.

Osage Principal Chief Jim Gray was awarded the organization’s first Tribal Leader Award. Gray is in his second term as the leader of the 10,000-citizen tribe headquartered in Pawhuska. Gray, who attended the gala, told attendees that he was humbled and honored to receive the inaugural tribal leadership award.

“I would say that we take all the blame and a little of the credit,” he said. “I’m thinking that Osage was recognized because of the growth of our economic efforts. This is the first time we’ve been on the map for this kind of thing.”

The Comanche Nation received the tribal diversification award. The 14,000-citizen tribe was credited for using gaming revenues to branch out in its business interests.

This move led to the tribe’s ownership of a golf driving range, water park, printing company, funeral home and T-shirt printing company, Huber said. All of which are funded, in part, by gaming revenues from the Comanche’s southwest Oklahoma gaming sites.

Tribal Chairman Wallace Coffey said the award reflected the tribe’s commitment to expanding its business base in ways that will benefit the tribal members as well as the surrounding community.

He predicted a long-term commitment in its diversification.

“We have to support Indian business,” he said. “There’s a wide range of talent in Indian Country amongst our people.

Coffey said when he wanted to develop a project for a planned $140 million resort/hotel he sought Indian business development expertise.

“I knew they could help me. We are willing to take bids and proposals from Indian businesses,” Coffey said.

Area chapter awards went to the eastern, southwest, Tulsa and Oklahoma City divisions of the AICCO, Huber said.

Among the local winners was the Tulsa Indian Club for a community spirit honor.

Officially founded in 1952, the award lauded the 25-member powwow and civic club for its contribution to the Tulsa Indian community.

Tulsa Indian Club President Rob Anquoe said the award reflected the group’s goal.

“We’re not in it for the money or recognition,” he said. “But we’re glad that we were recognized as we continue the vision our elders had when they founded the club.”