 William A. Mehojah was born August 6, 1917 in Washunga,
Oklahoma. He was the son of the late Maggie and Jesse Mehojah, Sr. He was of
the Night Clan and his Indian name was Mikák'ehinga, which means Little
Star.
He graduated from Kaw City High School and received an Associates
degree in Business Administration from Haskell Institute in Lawrence,
Kansas. He also attended Idaho State University.
After his return from the second World War, he worked briefly for the
Veteran's Administrative Regional office in Muskogee, Oklahoma, before
starting his distinguished career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The desire to help Indian people, and not being able to help his own
tribe, because of the circumstances at the time, his career led him to areas
away from Oklahoma. He served in Administrative and Superintendent positions
in Oklahoma, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho and Utah. During his
service with the BIA he was recipient of a Meritorious Award and the
Certificate of Superior Performance. He served in many leadership positions and earned many honors throughout his
life, including a citation from Governor Henry Bellmon in 1989 as a
contributor to the State of Excellence. While Chairman of the Kaw Nation,
many tasks were accomplished. His experience with the BIA enabled him to get
the three lots in Kaw City into trust status, and submit a proposed
constitution and charter to the Pawnee Agency on its first leg up the Bureau
channel to the Assistant Secretary, in Washington, D.C., who would give his
final approval to the documents and thereupon call an election. Tribal debts
were liquidated.
Mr. Mehojah served on many committees and was Chairman of the National
Flame Spirit Council. He was also named Outstanding Haskell Alumnus of 1995.
On the opening day of the Kaw Pow Wow, August 6, 1999, Mr. Mehojah
celebrated his 82nd birthday. The State of Oklahoma joined members of the
Kaw Nation in honoring the last full-blood Kaw and recognized him for his
lifetime of devoted service to the Kaw Nation. On that day a proclamation
was read to him, wherein Governor Frank Keating proclaimed August 6, 1999 as
William A. Mehojah Day in the State of Oklahoma.
Mr. Mehojah passed away on Easter Morning, April 23rd, 2000.
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