American Web Loan to Host Otoe-Missouria Language and Culture Day Annual Employee Event

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK--(Marketwire - Aug 31, 2012) - American Web Loan, a leading nationally-respected online tribal financial services company wholly owned by the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians and its members, will host its third annual Otoe-Missouria Language and Culture Day on Friday September 28.

Inaugurated in 2010 with the founding of the company, the annual event is designed to share the language and culture of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe to American Web Loan's more than 100 non-Native American employees based in the company's headquarters located near Oklahoma City. A linguist specializing in the Otoe dialect and tribal officials lead the event, which introduces the employee attendees to the Otoe language and rich heritage.

In addition to providing the day-long series of seminars to its management and staff, the annual Otoe-Missouria Language and Culture Day event is also open to the community.

"We look forward to our third annual Otoe-Missouria Language and Culture Day, an event that helps to further unite our tribal and non-Native American management and staff as well as members of the community who join with us for what has become a day of celebration and friendship," said Jamie Schumann, General Manager of American Web Loan.

"In addition to fostering a better understanding of our own tribal history, it is our hope that Otoe-Missouria Language and Culture Day will inspire other Native American-owned and operated companies to take our lead and initiate their own day-long slate to their cultural heritage," said Sky Campbell, Curriculum Materials Developer for the Otoe-Missouria tribe.

The story of the confederated tribe of Otoe and Missouria began centuries ago when a mass of people located near the Great Lakes, withdrew from their parent stock and departed on a quest of their own. By the turn of the 18th century, the Otoe and Missouria had left evidence of their separate and independent villages along the way, as affirmation of their pilgrimage. The Otoe resided near the Platte River in Nebraska, the Missouria were on the Grand River (in what is now the state of Missouri). French, Spanish and British expeditions documented the sites that the Otoe and Missouria occupied.

In 1804, Lewis and Clark visited the Otoe, paving the way for the flood of Americans. With them came a peculiar and lasting relationship between the Otoe-Missouria and the American government. A treaty period began with the treaty of 1817, negotiated to promote peace and friendship between the tribe and its neighbors. In the interest of peace and survival, the Otoes and Missourias reunited about this time, for the Missourias had been severely decreased in numbers due to on-going warfare with neighboring tribes. Numbering a little more than one hundred members, the majority of the remaining Missouria were enfolded by the Otoe. Since that union, the Otoe-Missouria have been recognized by other tribes and by the federal government as one people.

Under the terms of an 1881 act, northern Otoe-Missourias removed to a 129,000-acre reservation north of what is today Stillwater, Oklahoma, near Red Rock Creek. The reservation officially ended in 1904 with the implementation of the Dawes Act wherein the Otoe-Missourias were individually allotted small parcels of land rather than owning a large swath of land communally. It was not long before one-half of the allotted lands were lost from Indian possession due to arbitrary and exploitive practices of so-called guardians. The Otoe-Missourias fought in court for justice and received judgment on their land claims case in the 1960s. Today tribal members perpetuate tribal traditions with feasts, dances, an annual powwow and song leaders continue lineage, clan and tribal ties. The Otoe-Missouria Tribe maintains a tribal library and a museum is in the planning stages.

About American Web Loan:
American Web Loan is a tribal lending company that is wholly owned by the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians and its members, a sovereign nation located within the United States of America. AWL is dedicated to providing short-term financial solutions to Americans in need. Since its formation in 2010, American Web Loan has built a nationwide reputation for spearheading the industry's most innovative financial products backed by a singular commitment to client service excellence. The company combines an unparalleled team of experienced and dedicated financial professionals with state-of-the-art online technologies to successfully meet emergency financial needs. In addition to its sought-after portfolio of loan choices, American Web Loan offers comprehensive customer loyalty and financial education programs expressly designed to help solve money challenges in the short-term and improve clients' lives in the long-term.