muscogee nation news

Transcription

Winner of 9, 2015 National Native Media Awards
June 15, 2016
“Kvcohvse” Blackberry Month
Vol. 46, Issue 12
2016 MCN Scholarship Pageant
story and photos
Pages 11-12
M USCOGEE N ATION N E WS
A Mvskoke Media production - The official tribal newspaper of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Lighthorse
works to improve
relationships,
skills
$2.5 million
approved for
Council House
renovations
Tribal police leadership
mending agreement with
Okmulgee sheriff
Council passes legislation
to form electoral process
review committee
Gary Fife
Radio Specialist
Jessica McBride
Media Coordinator
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
With a change in leadership
at the Muscogee (Creek)
Nation Lighthorse Tribal
Police Department, the law
enforcement agency is working to improve relationships
with other agencies within
the tribal jurisdiction.
During a May 25 interview on ‘Mvskoke Radio,’
LTPD Acting Chief of Police Daniel Wind III and
Acting Deputy Chief of Police Robert Hawkins spoke
about the issue, specifically
involving a cross-jurisdictional agreement with the
Okmulgee County Sheriff’s
Department that was canceled by the sheriff last year.
“We actually had a meeting with the sheriff and the
Okmulgee County district
attorney last week (midMay) where we hashed out a
plan for our Attorney General Kevin Dillenger and
one of the assistant AGs,
Shelly Harrison to sit down
with the (Okmulgee) DA
Rob Barris to kind of ‘hash’
out everything, to come
to an understanding that’s
beneficial and mutually
agreeable to both parties,”
Wind said.
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council held
a regular session May 21 at
the Mound Building in Okmulgee.
The Council addressed
the following legislation,
the interpretation of which
is attributed to language in
the bills:
• NCR 16-003 Selecting
Glen Michael Bunney to
the Board of Directors of
Onefire Holding Company
LLC. Rep. David Hill sponsored the resolution, which
passed 14-1 with Rep. Joyce
Deere voting against it.
Per the operating agreement between MCN and
Onefire, the Council will
choose a person who meets
the selection criteria.
Bunney would fill the remaining term of Kay Bills,
who recently resigned. The
term ends Sept. 28.
Deere said she voted
against the resolution because Bunney is not a Muscogee (Creek) citizen.
“I just believe that those
opportunities ought to go to
our citizens because we have
a vested interest,” she said.
• NCR 16-004 Select-
Lighthorse - 7
Sterling Cosper_MNN File Art
In reference to the reported health deficit, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council addressed the MCN Department
of Health Governing Board at the March 15 planning session held at the MCN Mound Building in Okmulgee, Okla.
Fractured Finances: Health Governing Board
discusses lack of financial transparency
Council questions
employees receiving
significant amounts of
overtime pay
Jessica McBride
Media Coordinator
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
In reference to the reported
health deficit, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National
Council addressed the MCN
Department of Health Governing Board at the March 15
planning session.
The ‘Muscogee Nation
News’ requested the planning
session audio recording from
the Council. The recording
can be reviewed at: http://tinyurl.com/z67xx22.
‘MNN’ cannot independently verify the identities
Internet image
Children and Family Services
looking for foster homes
377 children awaiting
temporary care
Sterling Cosper
MNN Editor
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Children and Family
Services Administration is
looking for foster homes to
accommodate a reported 377
Muscogee (Creek) children
awaiting care in Oklahoma.
“We have 12 resource
homes that are non-relative
placements. Out of those 12,
there are only three that are
open for placement, meaning
of individuals referred to as
Floyd commented on the
board members who made structure of the governing
statements in the recording.
board.
“I know very little of the
Governing Board
health board. Having walked
in a little over 90 days ago, I
‘MNN’ requested infor- know that there is a health
mation regarding how many board,” he said. “I think it’s
individuals serve on the gov- more of an internal manageerning board, how they are ment board.”
chosen, as well as interviews
Former MCN Principal
with MCN health and finan- Chief George Tiger discussed
cial officials for clarification the reported health deficit in
about information obtained an April 27 interview with
through documents, meet- Mvskoke Media.
ings and interviews.
He spoke about the health
‘MNN’ was granted an in- governing board.
terview with MCN Principal
“The Nation doesn’t have
Chief James Floyd.
a health board. It does have
The Public Relations De- senior management that the
partment requested a list of Council met with,” George
questions be sent for review
prior to the interview.
Health - 4
the rest of them are completely full,” Holly Dunn, CFSA
Resource Home Recruitment
and Training Manager said.
According to the National
Adoption Center, foster care
is a temporary arrangement
in which adults provide for
care of a child or children
whose birthparent is unable
to care for them for a variety
of reasons.
“We have adoptive placements,” Dunn said. “Adoption seems like the way that
everyone wants to go when
they do make that commitment but we do need foster
homes.”
The federal Indian Child
Welfare Act gives guidelines
for adoption and foster care
of Native American minors
intended to facilitate placement of these children with
Native homes to help preserve their culture.
Foster - 9
Council - 6
Emvpanyv: ‘One who tells a story’
Graduation attire, John
Wayne reject, commodity
cheese
Gary Fife
Radio Specialist
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
It’s been the time for school
graduations and it’s nice to
see so many Mvskoke students receiving diplomas.
What Indian students
wear to those graduations
has been raising some eyebrows around our state and
even the East Coast.
First of all, congratulations to Liseanne Yazzie
and her mother Michelle
Bear Robe for standing up
to the school officials in
Sapulpa for Yazzie’s right to
wear Navajo moccasins at
her graduation. The young
woman did the right thing
by informing the Sapulpa
Mv s k o k e Me d i a • P. O. B ox 5 8 0 - O k m u l g e e , OK 7 4 4 4 7 • 9 1 8 - 7 3 2 - 7 7 2 0
education folks of a desire to
include traditional footwear
as an expression of pride in
her heritage.
But at first, the Sapulpa
Public Schools (home of
the Chieftains) denied the
request saying they didn’t
allow boots. BOOTS? Her
mom did a June 1 interview
with ‘Mvskoke Radio’ and
said they were both shocked
at this reasoning and decided to make a case of it.
NARF — the Native American Rights Fund weighed in
for them and to their credit,
Sapulpa Public School District Superintendent Kevin
Burr issued a statement reversing their stance.
‘After careful consideration and reflection, Sapulpa
Public Schools has decided
Emvpanyv - 9
HOKKÔLEN
MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
PAGE 2
Event to show Nation’s Tulsa history
through bikes
Internet image
Obama announces rule affecting
overtime regulations
MCN was set to discuss
effect with other tribes
June 14
MNN File Photo
Council Oak Park will be included in a June 25 bike tour of Muscogee (Creek) history in Tulsa, Okla.
Tour will include
Council Oak, Perryman
Ranch
the current infrastructure in
Tulsa and wondered what it
was like in the past.
“I would see a lot of bikes
but no bike paths,” she said.
“I am also a person that loves
history and would like to
know more of what use to be
in this city before the built in
environment.”
Herrera said she has learned
about the town through research, interviews and informal discussions since February.
“I have interviewed several people and I have to get
a couple more people,” Her-
for a small donation.
“This could not happen
without Tulsa Hub,” Herrera
said. “They are going to be
Darren DeLaune
providing bicycle training
Radio Specialist
and safety and helping to
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
lead the riders throughout
The city of Tulsa has an
the city.”
enormous amount of hisHerrera hopes this will
tory with the oil boom, race
spawn a series of tours.
riots, Great Depression and
“This is just the beginof course the tribe that proning,” Herrera said. “It is a
vided its name, the Muscoliving document. It is a livgee (Creek) Nation.
ing tour.”
MCN
history
spans
The tour will last about
throughout the tribal juristwo-and-a-half hours and
diction but there is a lot just
Herrera said that this is only
in the city itself.
scratching the surface on
And
one
MCN histolady wants to
This is combining my love bicycling and ry in Tulsa.
combine
it
“I've been
Tulsa’s love for bicycling with history.
with her hobthinking a
It pays a respect for people that have come lot
by of cycling.
about
before us.”
Allison Herthat as I read
rera is a proand
have
—
Allison
Herrera
ducer/reportbeen listener on a project
ing to a lot of
with KOSU Radio called ‘In- rera said. “Some of it, you do interviews that I have done,”
visible Nations.’
intentionally but some of it is Herrera said.
According to www.kosu. conversations you have over
Water, snacks and bike esorg, the project is a collabo- dinner or socializing and corts will be provided along
ration between the station, learning about the history the way to ensure safety.
Herrera and the Association that way.”
“This is combining my
of Independence in Radio,
According to an article on love of bicycling and Tulsa’s
which focuses on Native the KOSU website, the tour love for bicycling with hisAmerican nations within is scheduled June 25 from 10 tory,” Herrera said. “It pays a
the state of Oklahoma.
a.m.–3 p.m. and starts at the respect for people that have
“This is basically to build a edge of the Brady Arts Dis- come before us.”
type of reporting model for trict on 3rd North Lawton
To sign up or for more inpeople to follow when they Ave.
formation visit: http://kosu.
report on Native communiParticipants will need a bi- org/post/creek-town-tulsaties,” Herrera said.
cycle and those who do not town-bicycle-tour-creekWith the tour, Herrera have one will be outfitted by sites-tulsa or email: allison@
said she was intrigued by event sponsor the Tulsa Hub kosu.org.
“
NEWS
MUSCOGEE NATION
Staff
Interim Manager
Jason Salsman
Editor
Sterling Cosper
Media Coordinator
Jessica McBride
Project Specialist
Chelsie Rich
Reporter
Darren DeLaune
Radio Specialist
Gary Fife
jsalsman@mvskokemedia.com
jmcbride@mvskokemedia.com
ddelaune@mvskokemedia.com
scosper@mvskokemedia.com
crich@mvskokemedia.com
gfife@mvskokemedia.com
Circulation
Wilma Murphy
wmurphy@mvskokemedia.com
Jessica McBride
Media Coordinator
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
U.S. President Barack Obama
made an announcement May
18 to change overtime regulations.
The rule changes the exempt
salary level from $23,660 to
$47,476, and requires overtime pay of time-and-a-half
for employees earning less
than $47,476. Automatic updates will occur every three
years beginning Jan. 1, 2020.
According to the overview
and summary of the final
rule, ‘The rule will entitle
most salaried white collar
workers earning less than
$913 a week ($47,476 a year)
to overtime pay. This longawaited update will provide
a meaningful boost to workers, and it will go a long way
toward realizing President
Obama’s commitment to ensuring every worker is compensated fairly for their hard
work.’
Mvskoke Media requested
an interview May 18 with
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Human Resources on how
the current overtime policy
works and what changes
would need to be made to
meet the new requirements
by Dec. 1, as well as an MCN
official on how the rule would
affect the 2017 budget.
Mvskoke Media was given a
written statement from MCN
Assistant Controller Kathy
Guthrie through MCN Public
Relations:
‘The MCN at this time are
in negotiations on how the
MCN will be affected by
President Obama’s legislation
on overtime regulations. This
federal legislation will not be
affective until December 1st
allowing the MCN to prepare and contact other tribes
to procure a system that best
works for us. Meetings have
been scheduled on June 14th
to discuss with other tribes
on how to best handle these
new overtime terms and
brainstorm on these matters.’
The MCN Human Resource
Management Services Policies and Procedures Manual,
states, ‘All employees who are
non-exempt based on the Fair
Labor Standards Act shall be
given Compensatory time at a
rate of one and one half hours
for each hour worked in excess of 40 hours per week.’
It also states that employees classified as exempt are
not eligible for compensatory
time.
The section states that the
Fair Labor Standards Act defines exempt employees as,
‘any employee employed in a
bona fide executive, administrative or professional capacity.’
The manual states that flex
time can be earned by, ‘job
related time worked in excess
of the eight hour work day.’
The manual outlines other
requirements for compensatory and flex time earned.
The manual, dated Aug. 7,
2014 can be found at: www.
mcn-nsn.gov/Pages/Personnel/pdf/PoliciesandProcedures2014.pdf.
For information regarding
Obama’s announcement of
the rule regarding overtime,
visit: www.dol.gov/whd/overtime/final2016/.
The Muscogee Nation News is the official publication of the Muscogee (Creek)
Nation. Its purpose is to meet the needs of the tribe and its citizens through
the dissemination of information. Reprint permission is granted with credit to
The Muscogee Nation News unless other copyrights are shown.
Editorial statements appearing in The Muscogee Nation News, guest columns
and readers’ letters reflect the opinion of the individual writer and not those
of The Muscogee Nation News, its advisors or the tribal administration and
are subject to editorial discretion.
Editorials and letters must be signed by the individual writer and include a
traceable address or phone number to be considered for publication.
Please contact our office for deadline of submissions to be considered for
inclusion. The Muscogee Nation News reserves the right to edit all submissions
for space, style and grammar. Receipt of submissions does not obligate The
Muscogee Nation News in any regard.
The Muscogee Nation News is mailed from Stigler, Okla., to all enrolled
Muscogee (Creek) citizens’ households upon request. Inquiries should be directed
to Mvskoke Media. Please include your tribal enrollment number or last four
digits of your social security number accompanied by your date of birth with
all correspondence.
To submit a change of address or a letter to the editor, call: 918 - 732 - 7720
or e-mail: wmurphy@mvskokemedia.com.
Like the MNN on Facebook:
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Follow the MNN on Twitter: @the_MNN
Visit the MNN online at: www.mvskokemedia.com
Native American Journalist Association
Members of the Native American
Journalists Association
PAGE 3
Tulsa mayoral
primary election
set for June 28
“When we have similar interests, we all work together
for economic development
and it works better for everybody. When the City of Tulsa
does well, that provides peoFive candidates to
ple that want to go to Marappear on the ballot garitaville and vice versa…
We have very similar self-inJessica McBride
terests and for one to exclude
Media Coordinator
the other, we understand that
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Five that’s not a good approach
candidates will be on the bal- and we don’t do that. We suplot for the June 28 Tulsa may- port each other.”
oral election. Candidates are
Why would you be the
listed in alphabetical order.
best mayor for Tulsa and
Dewey Bartlett
Muscogee (Creek) citizens?
Why are you running for
mayor?
“I feel it’s very important
for somebody who has a significant amount of business
experience to be in elected
office. But I also feel that because of the successes that
we’ve had, it’s a very, very
good way for us to continue
to broaden those successes
and make our city even that
much more relevant.”
What three words would you
use to describe yourself?
“A regular guy.”
What are your thoughts
on the current relationship
between the City of Tulsa
and the Muscogee (Creek)
Nation, and what do you
feel you would bring to the
relationship?
“I think it’s an extremely
good relationship and I really mean that very seriously.
We have an extremely good
relationship. When I became
mayor, there was absolutely
no relationship other than
a bad one. That’s changed.
That’s changed dramatically
and I’m very, very proud of
that.”
“I think they’ll change for
the better. We really do have
a very, very solid relationship. It’s going to be good and
I think it’ll be extraordinarily
good… because we each have
very similar needs. We each
have a strong need for economic development. We have
a strong need to work together. We have a strong need to
strongly consider what our
own needs are, and then as
best we can work with others
to accomplish those goals.”
“I’ve seen too many times
when people will assume, they
take the relationship with the
Creek Nation for granted and
I have never done that and
will never do that.”
relationship?
“I think that, that relationship has completely changed
in the time that I have been
on the city council. I first
came on the city council in
2008 and virtually the only
communication that existed between the city and the
Muscogee (Creek) Nation at
the time were conflicts over
land use and parcels of land
potentially being put into
trust. We were not working
together in a collaborative
way… We view the Muscogee
(Creek) Nation as a partner,
as a government that we want
“Without question, it’s my to be working with in a proexperience. The success that active way.”
we’ve had because of my exMCN has placed a lot of
perience in economic development, in job creation, money in the Tulsa and Jenks
working with not only the area along the Arkansas River.
Creek Nation and other gov- How do you plan to partner
ernments, both tribal gov- with MCN to make the area
better for residents?
ernments and city, county
governments etc. Those rela“As far as how we move
tionships are extremely im- forward, I think that’s one of
portant.”
those things that as mayor I
“I’ve owned my own busi- believe we have to harness the
ness, been in the oil and assets that we have as a comgas business for several de- munity and that we need to
cades, have been able to cre- be partnering together betate business relationship as ter… We also need to be partwell as political relationships nering with the Muscogee
throughout the country. And (Creek) Nation better than
those have been very helpful we do today. There are many
to the City of Tulsa. With the Tulsans that are members of
relationships that we’ve had, the Nation. It’s also a tremenwe’ve helped create almost dous economic engine for us
30,000 jobs in the Tulsa area in Tulsa. So I’m excited for
and that’s pretty significant.”
the potential for us to work
Do you have any Native
American citizenship?
“No, I do not.”
Closing comments.
“I would like to respectfully
ask the Creek citizens that are
registered to vote in the City
of Tulsa for the City of Tulsa
elections, I would respectfully
ask for their vote on June 28.
I do not focus on whatever
bad news might be stated by
some of the other candidates.
I focus on the success that
we’ve had, the growth that
this city has had and the very
strong future that this city is
experiencing now. That is my
focus and it’s a very, very successful focus. And we’re going
to continue that with my reelection.”
For more information
about Bartlett, visit: www.
deweybartlett.com.
G.T. Bynum
mayor?
“I’m running for mayor because I think we have signifiMCN has placed a lot of
money in the Tulsa and Jenks cant challenges in front of us
area along the Arkansas River. as a city if we want to return
How do you plan to partner to being a city that is growing
with MCN to make the area and that is nationally competitive… I think we need to
have somebody in that office
“One thing we’ve done is, that is willing to do the work
we’ve worked very well in that is going to be required
supporting the Creek Nation’s over the next four years to
needs both at Margaritaville make an impact on these maas well as the RiverWalk. Our jor challenges we face.”
ability to provide a fire service for example. We have What three words would you
very specific equipment that
would have to be used in a
“Focused. Collaborative.
high rise building for exam- Passionate.”
ple. Well, we’ve made an arWhat are your thoughts
rangement, we can provide
on
the current relationship
that. Ambulance service, pobetween the City of Tulsa
licing service, we supplement
the Lighthorse when necessary. And we’re always there
with a phone call.”
together and better the lives
of people in both of our governments.”
“I have a track record of
reaching out and working to
partner with the Muscogee
(Creek) Nation… The work
that we did on the river continues that, but the Muscogee
(Creek) Nation is making
tremendous investments and
doing really exciting things in
the City of Tulsa. I think that
those investments, that type
of economic commitment
to the City of Tulsa makes it
so that citizens of the Nation
should want a mayor in Tulsa
who’s focused on making our
city better and on growing it,
not being content to coast on
the accomplishments of the
past.”
TUCCÊNEN
running for any other office. can tell the feds to get out of
I come from a family that be- our business.”
lieves that service as the mayMCN has placed a lot of
or of the City of Tulsa is the
money in the Tulsa and Jenks
highest elected office that one
area along the Arkansas River.
can serve in that allows you
How do you plan to partner
to make a day-to-day impact
with MCN to make the area
in the lives of the people that
you love. So, I just want to be
“I am not in favor of a cona good mayor. I don’t want to
use it to run for anything else. centration of power. I believe
I have no interest in running that what made America great
was a division of power… I
for anything else.”
don’t like the fact that they
are mixing and concentrating
the power. That’s how you get
“I am the fifth generation to tyranny. We’re not looking for
live here in Tulsa, but I do not total efficiency, we’re looking
have any Native American for the principals of liberty.
So, what I would do to help
ancestry.”
that out in a partnering way is
Closing comments.
to make clear the distinction
“I would just say outside of between the Tulsa city, the
all this, the campaign, I’m just Muscogee (Creek) Nation,
so thankful for the leadership the City of Jenks. Here’s what
of the Muscogee (Creek) Na- I would say, I would speak
tion that I’ve had a chance to clearly and not give mixed
work with that they have been signals. This has been your
accessible and eager to work problem in the past.”
“Get Tulsa out of your way
with us at the City of Tulsa.
And it’s exciting to think is what I would do. I’d keep
about what we can accom- the City of Tulsa out of your
plish together in the next four way.”
years.”
about Bynum, visit: www.gtMuscogee (Creek) citizens?
bynum.com.
“I’m not a professional poliLawrence Kirkpatrick
tician… And the reason I’d do
The ‘Muscogee Nation News’ best is because what they’ve
was unable to locate a phone been doing is not good. It’s
going in the wrong direction.
number, website or social
We don’t want the city to try
media page for Lawrence
Kirkpatrick. Due to deadline to grow again.”
“We need to chew what
constraints, the candidate was
we’ve got now and not grow
unable to be contacted.
the city. We need to get the
Tom McCay
city out of education, out of
health care. We don’t have
time…”
mayor?
“Probably the top five reasons are to offer Tulsa a truly
alternative choice for mayor.
I’m the candidate that’s different than the previous
eight-10 year status quo… My
main concept to save the city
is to lower the cost for Tulsa
businesses by extending the
life span of cyclical municipal regulations… You see, it’s
small business that creates
jobs, it’s not government.”
“I am the man to animate
the unregistered citizen, the
apathetic registered voter.
Most people who register
don’t vote because they don’t
think it matters. They don’t
think that their vote counts,
“I am working to pull all and it really doesn’t unless
parts of our city together, not you vote for me. I’m not a
to divide people, but to iden- professional politician.”
tify very clear things that we
need to do as a community
for Tulsa to grow and be na“American. Constitutionaltionally competitive again.
I’ve identified what these ism. Capitalist.”
things are. I’m very clear on
What are your thoughts
what we need to do to acon the current relationship
complish them and I have a
between the City of Tulsa
track record of setting high
goals, pulling people together
and working to achieve them.
Whether it was passing the
relationship?
largest street improvement
“The Creek Nation probprograms in Tulsa history or
putting our police helicopters ably suffers from the similar
back in the air after they’ve problems of the Cherokee
been grounded due to bud- Nation… You do not grow a
get cuts, or passing this most city. A city is grown when you
recent Vision initiative af- grow its citizens.”
“I believe the city governter people have been talking
about building lakes in the ment should come up unriver for over half a century.” derneath in a supporting role
“I don’t think that every- for the county… so that the
thing is just fine. I think that county can come up underwe could be doing a lot bet- neath the state in a supportter. I also have no interest in ing role… so that the state
Cherokee Nation citizen.
Closing comments.
“I’m 30 years married to the
same woman. I have five children, 28 to eight. My background is in small business...
all of my 21 elements that are
tactics are on the website, my
three strategic principals.”
For more information about
McCay, visit: www.tommccay.
com.
Paul Tay
mayor?
“I think we need to have
new voices in charge of city
hall… I think that we need to
have a more closer relationship with the Nation and to
do that, if I’m elected I’ll go
ahead and hire a secretary of
Native affairs to coordinate
the city’s cooperation, coordination of projects with the
Nation.”
“Persistent. Consistent. Respectful.”
What are your thoughts on
the current relationship between the City of Tulsa and the
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and
what do you feel you would
bring to the relationship?
“I believe that they’re really
treating the Nation like they
treat minorities… if you guys
don’t line up and get behind
Mayoral - 7
ÔSTEN
Health
Continued from page 1
Tiger said.
He said under his administration, the senior management was chosen through the
health department and was
not appointed by him.
MCN Code Annotated
Title 22, Chapter 4 on the
MCN Supreme Court website
discusses MCNDH. The sections can be viewed at: www.
creeksupremecourt.com/images/code/webver/title22.pdf.
Section 4-104 discusses a
board of directors composed
of five citizens that establish
policies and procedures, as
well as have oversight over
the department.
Section 4-116 outlines the
MCN Okemah Community
Hospital board of directors.
During
the
planning
session, members of the
MCNDH Governing Board
introduced themselves, and
included:
• Chief Medical Officer Dr.
Lawrence Vark
• Chief Financial Officer
Tyler McIntosh
• Behavioral Health Services
Director Dr. Tamara
Newcomb
• Chief Hospital Operations
Officer Angela Daugherty
• Chief Nursing Officer
Annette James
• Legislative Officer John
Beaver
• Chief Performance Officer
Shoneen Alexander-Ross
• Chief Facility Management
Officer Tim Woolsey
• Chief Information Officer
Robert Coffey
• Human Resources Director
Russell Torbet
Chief Operating Officer Rhonda Beaver and Syd
Daniel of the MCN Physical
Rehabilitation Center were
absent from the March 15
session. From the discussions
during the session, one board
position has not been filled,
and another position remains
vacant for the secretary of
health.
Transparency
In the recording, Rep.
David Hill asked if the deficit was ever brought to the
board’s attention.
A board member responded, “Financial reports were
pretty scant the last six to
eight months at governing
board meetings… Mr. McIntosh did make the board
aware that we were running
in a deficit. Didn’t really, I
certainly didn’t know the
magnitude of the deficit as it
was.”
Council Speaker Lucian
Tiger asked how the financial
status reached this point.
“I would just say that when
questions were asked of the
board, it wasn’t in an environment where we could
speak openly and ask. I know
Tyler made efforts to bring
some of the reports forward.
Those were not always discussed.
“The chair obviously facilitates the meeting and
there were times when we
were asked to give a brief report and that we may discuss
some of those items in an officer meeting following. That
didn’t always happen and I
know some of us were not always comfortable asking and
pushing the issue,” a board
member responded.
One individual stated they
were unsure how long the
deficit would have gone unreported if administrative
changes had not occurred,
but that they met with Floyd
the first week of his term as
principal chief regarding the
topic.
Another individual stated
their “jaws dropped probably
like yours did,” when they
became aware of the deficit
amount.
Lucian Tiger also discussed
the governing board.
“The one thing also that I
see on here, there has to be
some restructuring of this
governing board,” he said.
“From what you’re telling
me, obviously Seneca (Smith)
wasn’t forthcoming with information. Is that what I’m
understanding y’all are saying?”
An unverified board member responded with the statement, “Yes sir.”
‘MNN’ reached out to
former MCN Secretary of
Health Seneca Smith for
comment March 30, April 7
and April 20, and left voicemails requesting a call back.
Smith has not returned any
calls as of May 4.
George Tiger said he has
been in contact with Smith
and that Smith is unable to
comment on the situation
due to his federal employment status.
The full interview can be
viewed at: www.mvskokemedia.com/tiger-speaks-formerchief-addresses-reportedhealth-deficit/.
“But I don’t know of, no
one’s ever came to me at any
time to say that there was no
transparency in the health
administration,” George Tiger said. “I do think that
there may have been some
miscommunications. Again,
sometimes it’s how the question is asked.”
He said he believes this was
the case for this issue.
“I think if the question
would have been or could
have been conveyed is, is
there some transparency issues that may be forthcoming
instead of point blank just
point fingers at someone,”
George Tiger said.
George Tiger said he commissioned a survey prior to
his administration that revealed health as a citizen priority.
“Whether it meant allowing for more quality health
care to be done or having
more resources available to
them, that was the emphasis of addressing the health
needs that our citizens were
wanting to have addressed,”
George Tiger said.
MCNDH had on the financials was discussed during
the planning session.
According to legislation reviewed by ‘MNN,’ $3 million
was approved to purchase the
software Jan. 29, 2014. Council approved the contract June
21, 2014.
“Cerner is the inpatient
electronic medical record
that’s used for the Okmulgee
hospital, Okemah hospital
and I think the rehabilitation
center,” Floyd said.
A board member commented on the software.
“At the same time we did
the hospital operations, we
also changed our Cerner to
our EHR, and with Cerner
we have had many, many
problems with actually being able to code… we are just
now getting to a spot where
we can actually see a growth
in our income from there,”
the individual said.
In a March 22 interview
with ‘MNN,’ Lucian Tiger
said that Cerner slowed billing down, and was presented
to Council as a reason for the
deficit near the end of 2015.
“…But then we find out
there’s only a $6-$7 million
that we were short on collections on bill-outs because of
the transition. And obviously
that wasn’t going to make up
for the deficit. So there was
always an explanation of why
we were in this red part and
what was going to offset it.
“So, we were never told, ‘no
we don’t have the income revenue coming in to offset the
deficit.’ That’s something that
we as a HEW committee and
the Council as a whole were
never informed of,” Lucian
Tiger said.
Lucian Tiger was on the
Health, Education and Welfare Committee during the
Council 18th session, which
ended at the beginning of
2016.
An unverified board member commented on some of
the issues with the software
company.
“We let them know about
our frustration in August
of last year and during that
meeting, we told them we
weren’t going to pay them
anymore… but ever since
then, we haven’t paid any of
our invoices up to that point.
“We’ve had talks with our
attorney general, with their
attorneys as well in trying to
mediate some kind of agreement on our invoices and
maybe any future payments
we may owe them that I don’t
think we’ve come to a conclusion on that as of yet,” a board
member said.
Legislation reviewed by
‘MNN’ shows that the contract for Cerner was renewed
Oct. 31, 2015 and updated
Feb. 27.
‘MNN’ asked Floyd why
the contract was renewed if
the software had caused billing issues.
“I’m not sure why the contract was renewed. I think
that was before I came on
board… We do have a claim
against Cerner and that’s
about the extent that I’m
Cerner
aware of it,” Floyd said.
He said the health departThe impact that Cern- ment would choose other
er software purchased by software if the relationship
PAGE 4
with Cerner were to be dissolved, and that they were
currently reviewing several
other systems.
A health board member
said the system would be
beneficial in fixing the deficit.
“As soon as we can get
Cerner turned over to where
we can actually see a return
in our investment for Cerner,
then we will be able to have
that financial impact,” they
said.
Overtime
During the planning session, Lucian Tiger asked a
question regarding health
department employees’ overtime pay.
“When you see the list of
the overtime, you see the first
employee on there, salary’s
$59,000 and some change,
and they made $65,000$66,000 overtime in addition
to that. That’s common, normal practice?” he asked.
A board member stated the
occurrence was not normal
practice, to which Lucian Tiger responded with another
statement regarding overtime
pay.
“But there’s nurses, there’s
directors, there’s all kinds of,
there’s $120,000 employees
making $70,000 in overtime,”
Lucian Tiger said.
An unverified health board
member said some facilities
were understaffed and shifts
were filled with existing staff
from other facilities.
“But if you’re looking at
that over a 15-year period,
wouldn’t you stop and think,
‘hey, it’s cheaper for me to
hire somebody full-time
than to pay somebody all
this overtime,’ ” Rep. Randall
Hicks said.
A board member responded, “I would say numbers like
that probably didn’t show up
in the last year or maybe two.”
Financial Understanding
George Tiger said he was
unaware of a deficit within
the health department when
he left office.
“We did a lot of new, innovative ideas that were
implemented. And if there
was a deficit, certainly I and
the members of the National
Council would have known
about it way back when,”
George Tiger said.
Lucian Tiger said during
the planning session that
Council would be held responsible for the reported
health deficit.
“When this all comes out,
it’s going to come back on
Council because, ‘you voted
for it, you passed it,’ ” he said.
“Well the numbers presented
to us, are not what were presented to us just now.”
Rep. Adam Jones said he
had concerns about the Nation’s ability to pay for building new facilities.
“You know, I griped about
the Okemah hospital… I
didn’t want to build it until
we paid something else and
I had that conversation with
Seneca over and over about
we couldn’t afford that until
we paid something off.
“And he said he could provide the numbers that would
pay for it… And then he
brought us the information
that said that we could afford
that and that we would pay
for it out of third party (account). Well, none of those
monies are there,” Jones said.
He said there is a difference
between needing new facilities and wanting to build
them.
“And the proof’s not there
that on the needs analysis that
we really need that… There’s
needs and wants. We want a
new hospital over there.
“But did we need a hospital? Can we pay for a hospital?
No we can’t,” Jones said.
A board member commented on the funding for
new projects.
“I was asking if we could
work out some kind of distribution reallocation to fund
that project prior to it ever
coming to forefront because I
didn’t foresee us being able to
pay for it,” they said.
The individual also commented on providing financial reports.
“I was asked not to speak
on them towards the end of
the summer and early part
of the fall. I think there were
those type of environment
where election take effect,”
they said.
Lucian Tiger said Smith
presented a deficit to the
Council with explanations
around fall 2015.
“Weren’t we informed that
it was third party revenue was
going to offset that so on and
so forth having issues with
Cerner, that was the issue.
That number wasn’t a real
number because the Cerner
issue was causing a lot of that
and Cerner when that came
through correctly, it would
offset that as well as the rest
of the third party revenue,”
he said.
A board member responded, “I didn’t present that to
you.”
According to TR 16-045
approving a $65.68 million
loan to restore funds to the
health department, the executive branch informed the
Council of the reported deficit Feb. 18.
In further coverage of
the reported health deficit,
‘MNN’ will review other
documents and interviews
obtained regarding MCN
budgets, loans, audits and
discussion of the issue by
MCN officials.
Fractured Finances
May 1
$65 million loan
approved to resuscitate
health department
May 15
MCNDH budget
increases 46 percent since
2013
June 1
Audit shows decrease of
health department net
position
Coming July 1
MCN considers options
to restructure health
department
PAGE 5
CAHKÊPEN
EPÂKEN
Council
ing Terra Branson to the
Board of Directors of Onefire Holding Company. Rep.
James Jennings sponsored
the resolution, which passed
15-0.
Per the operating agreement, the Council will choose
a person who meets the selection criteria.
The term for the board position ends May 21, 2019.
According to her LinkedIn
profile, Branson has a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth
College and a Master’s in
public policy from Georgetown University. She is currently the director for Self
Governance Communication
and Education, and previously worked for the National
Congress of American Indians.
According to www.tribalselfgov.org, she is a Muscogee
(Creek) citizen.
• TR 16-080 Confirming
the nomination of Kathleen Supernaw to serve as an
MCN Supreme Court justice. Hill sponsored the resolution, which passed 15-0.
Supernaw currently serves
on the MCN Supreme Court,
and her last term expired
May 22. The resolution would
nominate her for an additional six-year term.
According to her bio available at: http://tinyurl.com/
zw4bj3c, she was confirmed
to the MCN Supreme Court
May 2010 and served as chief
justice for the 2012 term.
She graduated with honors
from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, and
worked in roles involving Indian affairs.
• TR 16-061 Authorizing
and establishing a review
committee for the process
of reviewing and recommending improvements to
the MCN electoral process
through MCN Code Annotated Title 19, titled, ‘Election Code.’ Jennings sponsored the resolution, which
passed 13-2 with Reps. Dode
Barnett and Deere voting
against it.
The ‘Muscogee Nation
News’ received a copy of the
substitute legislation passed
during the session.
The review committee will
provide recommendations to
the Nation to streamline and
improve the electoral process
prior to the next election.
The committee would consist of five Muscogee (Creek)
citizens, two selected by the
principal chief, two by the
Council and one by the Election Board. The members
would not require confirmation by tribal resolution.
The original legislation assigned the fifth board member as a Carter Center Democracy Program designee.
The committee would be
required to have monthly
meetings open to Muscogee (Creek) citizens, make
monthly reports to the Council, principal chief, second
chief, Election Board and the
Attorney General’s Office every 30 days. A report would
also be given to the Council’s
Health, Education and Wel-
fare Committee every quarter.
The committee would be
required to submit their final
recommendations by Jan. 1,
2017.
Barnett said she felt that
the legislation infringed upon
the independent status of the
Election Board.
“I feel that since the Election Board is a board that’s
given its authority through
the Constitution, in other
words given its authority by
the people, I felt like since
we’re all sworn officials, we
swear in to uphold the constitution of the Muscogee
(Creek) Nation to set apart a
board other than the Election
Board to me is not upholding
the Constitution.
“The Election Board all
the ones who are over all of
the election matters and so if
there are changes to be made,
the proper process would be
to go through the Election
Board,” she said.
Deere echoed Barnett’s
sentiments in that the Election Board should review the
election process.
“Our
Election
Board
should have the responsibility to ensure that they’re in
compliance with our codes,
our electoral codes and I just
feel like we have to have faith
that they’re doing that,” she
said.
Deere said she would like
to see reports from the Election Board so that Council
can better assist with citizen
questions and concerns.
Both representatives stated
that monthly Election Board
meetings are open to Muscogee (Creek) citizens.
The number for the board
office is: 918-732-7631.
the principal chief to execute
an end stage renal disease
application with the Oklahoma Department of Health
and Human Services. Barnett sponsored the resolution, which passed 15-0.
The MCN Department of
Health needs approval to apply for an end stage renal disease survey and certification
for the Koweta Dialysis Clinic
under the Medicare Program.
• TR 16-069 Authorizing the secretary of health
to execute an attestation required pursuant to the Federal Deficit Reduction Act.
Barnett sponsored the resolution, which passed 15-0.
The agreement is required
in order to receive Oklahoma
Health Care Authority payments. The agreement states
that MCNDH will comply
with the Federal False Claims
Act and Oklahoma laws regarding false claims and false
claim reporting.
the principal chief to execute an AT&T incumbent
local exchange carrier service agreement with AT&T
for the MCN Wetumka Indian Health Center. Barnett
sponsored the resolution,
which passed 15-0.
ILEC is a telephone company that provided local service
prior to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 according to
www.sctelcom.net.
• TR 16-071 Authorizing the principal chief to
execute a U.S. Department
of the Interior of Indian
Affairs business lease between the Nation and Big
Time Billboards LLC. for
the placement of a billboard
on the Nation’s property
utilized by the Tulsa Creek
Indian Community. Rep.
Mark Randolph sponsored
15-0.
Big Time Billboards would
lease .0925 acres of tribal
trust property for a five-year
period.
the principal chief to submit
an Indian Community Development Block Grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development for rehabilitation of rental properties
for the Muscogee (Creek)
citizens. Barnett sponsored
15-0.
If MCN receives the
$800,000 in funds, it would
be used for a low-rent rehabilitation project involving
current MCN properties. The
Nation would be required to
match $200,000 in funds for
the project.
• TR 16-074 Confirming
the nomination of Chris
Ray to serve on the Gaming Operation Authority
Board. Reps. Robert Hufft
and Adam Jones sponsored
15-0.
The term will begin once
the individual obtains the licensing required.
According to his LinkedIn
profile, Ray has served on
GOAB since 2008 and works
for Henryetta Public Schools.
He has a bachelor’s degree
from East Central University
and a Juris Doctrate from the
University of Tulsa.
• TR 16-075 Authorizing GOAB to execute a
master services agreement
and any related agreements
with Sceptre Hospitality
Resources LLC. Hufft sponsored the resolution, which
passed 15-0.
Sceptre would provide reservation services for the new
hotel at the MargaritavilleRiver Spirit resort.
GOAB to execute agreements with Gallagher Benefit Services and Scott McCoy
Insurance Agency. Hufft
sponsored the resolution,
which passed 15-0.
GOAB wishes to utilize the
companies to provide health
benefit program brokerage
and consulting services.
GOAB to execute a project
agreement for building environmental systems with
Donohue Commercial Service. Hufft sponsored the
resolution, which passed 150.
GOAB wishes to utilize
the company to provide and
install three 10-ton cooling
systems at One Fire Casino in
Okmulgee.
• TR 16-078 Authorizing GOAB to execute a
master services equipment
purchase agreement with
Playnetwork. Hufft sponsored the resolution, which
passed 15-0.
GOAB wishes to utilize the
PAGE 6
company to provide a playback device and software.
• NCA 16-061 Appropriating $70,236.85 to Watts
Partners for consulting and
advisory services provided
on behalf of MCN. Barnett
sponsored the amendment,
which passed 11-2-2 with
Reps. Mitch Jack and Randolph voting against it and
Reps. Del Beaver and Randall Hicks abstaining.
TR 12-056 authorized the
principal chief to sign an
agreement with Watts Partners of Washington, D.C. The
principal chief terminated
the agreement Jan. 13, and requested that invoices for final
payment be sent to MCN.
$70,236.85 is the amount
due to Watts Partners from
MCN for services rendered.
‘MNN’ contacted Jack the
morning of May 23 and was
told he would call back for
comment. No response was
received as of press time.
‘MNN’ contacted Randolph the morning of May
23 and left a message. He returned the call that afternoon
and left a message for a return
call. ‘MNN’ called Randolph
again the same afternoon and
left a message. No response
was received as of press time
A letter from Watts Partners addressed to Council
Speaker Lucian Tiger, stated
in the forward that the correspondence had enclosed,
information requested by
Tiger regarding the scope of
services the firm provided for
the tribe on its federal affairs
from Jan. 1, 2015 – Jan. 31,
2016.
View the letter stamped
received by the Council May
23 at: http://tinyurl.com/jqgeoxw.
• NCA 16-064 Authorizing a $22,250 supplemental
appropriation to the Higher
Education Post-Graduate
Program fiscal year 2016
budget. Barnett sponsored
the amendment, which
passed 15-0.
The department is requesting funds in order to fulfill
the estimated awards for
summer 2016.
• NCA 16-066 Authorizing a $14,400 special appropriation to the Weleetka
Indian Community. Jack
and Hicks sponsored the
amendment, which passed
14-1 with Rep. Rufus Scott
voting against it.
Weleetka High School and
the community are scheduled to host the sixth annual
Spirit of Oklahoma Football
Camp, which teaches athletic,
academic and life skills. The
funds will be used to host the
camp.
Scott said he asked the high
school and community during the HEW committee session about other fundraisers
to offset costs and was told no
fundraisers had been held.
“And although it was for
the kids and stuff, you know,
I think we should teach kids
too that there’s things that
they have to work for sometimes, not everything is a give
me… I just felt like the other
communities had fundraisers
and stuff and didn’t depend
on the special appropriation
to fund their football camp,”
he said.
• NCA 16-067 Authorizing a $254,100 supplemental
appropriation to the Higher
Education Incentive Grants
Program fiscal year 2016
budget. Barnett sponsored
passed 15-0.
The funds would be used to
give incentive grants to 363
Muscogee (Creek) students
that have met the 3.0 grade
point average requirement
through the program.
• NCA 16-068 Authorizing a $26,673.14 supplemental appropriation to the
Higher Education Doctorate Degree Program fiscal
year 2016 budget. Barnett
which passed 15-0.
The department is requesting funds in order to fulfill
the estimated awards for
summer 2016.
• NCA 16-071 Amending
MCNCA Title 19, Chapter 13
to add a new section 13-103,
titled, ‘Miscellaneous Provisions.’ Barnett sponsored
the amendment, which was
postponed indefinitely.
The amendment would
make the use of the Election
Board’s name, logo, telephone number or mark without their permission a misdemeanor.
Barnett made the motion
to postpone indefinitely citing attorneys’ concerns, and
that the Election Board would
bring a modified version of
the amendment for review at
a later date.
“They are going to rework
it and bring it back, but they
didn’t want a time constraint,
so they suggested that we
postpone it indefinitely,” she
said.
• NCA 16-073 Approving
the 2017 Indian Housing
Plan. Randolph sponsored
the amendment, which was
postponed one month.
HUD requires the housing
plan to be submitted for approval of compliance at least
75 days prior to the end of the
fiscal year.
‘MNN’ contacted Randolph the morning of May 23
and left a message.
He returned the call that
afternoon and left a message for a return call. ‘MNN’
called Randolph again the
same afternoon and left a
message. No response was received as of press time.
• NCA 16-074 Amending NCA 15-049 (Authorizing a special appropriation
to the MCN Tribal Transit
Program for the purchase
of one 18-seat bus and one
Americans with Disabilities
Act compatible mini-van).
Randolph sponsored the
15-0.
The original amendment
allows the program to purchase vehicles from the State
Contractors Buying Cooperative. The amendment for
consideration adds the option
to purchase other equipment
as well.
• NCA 16-075 Authorizing a $2.575 million appropriation for the restoration
of the MCN Council House.
Rep. Del Beaver sponsored
Council - 7
PAGE 7
Council
passed 15-0.
The Council House, located in Okmulgee, is designated by the National Park
Service as a National Historic
Landmark and is eligible for
tax credits from NPS and the
state.
It is estimated that the Nation will recapture around $1
million for the cost of restoration.
• NCA 16-076 Authorizing a $7,000 donation to the
United Tribes for Christ Fellowship. Hill sponsored the
15-0.
The organization was created in 1978 and has been
holding camp meetings for
over 30 years. They requested
funds to be used for the May
31-June 7 meeting in Wewoka.
• NCA 16-077 Authorizing a $6,439.98 special appropriation to Weleetka
United Methodist Fellowship. Rep. Darrell Proctor
which passed 15-0.
The church is requesting
funds to assist with the purchase of a lawn mower.
• NCA 16-078 Authorizing a $5,000 donation to
Dog Soldiers 4 Jesus Christ.
Rep. Del Beaver sponsored
passed 13-1-1 with Scott voting against it and Barnett
abstaining.
The organization has traveled around the U.S. for
sporting events. The organization is requesting funds for
repairs to its minibus so they
can travel to local and national destinations.
Scott explained his vote.
“The information that I
read on that, that I was given,
I didn’t see where any Mvskoke citizens were involved
and stuff,” Scott said.
He said he felt his duty is
to provide for the Muscogee
(Creek) people first.
• NCA 16-079 Amending
NCA 14-196 (Appropriating
funds to be used toward the
purchase of real property
located in Okmulgee County). Jennings sponsored the
15-0.
NCA 14-196 authorized
$440,000 for the purchase of
30 acres of land in Okmulgee
County; $15,000 for incidental costs associated with the
purchase and $203,052 for
improvements, ‘in order to
make the facility Americans
with Disabilities Act compatible.’
The amendment changes
the wording to, ‘as well as to
make the facility ADA compatible.’
The legislation states that
ADA renovations were completed, and the remaining
funds were requested for use
to fund non-ADA renovations.
• NCA 16-080 Creating a new Chapter 9 under
MCNCA Title 17, titled,
‘Mvskoke Loan Fund Board.’
Hill sponsored the amendment, which passed 15-0.
An oversight board is re-
quired in order to receive
funds from different sources.
The board will be made up of
five members, two chosen by
the principal chief and three
by the Council. All members
must receive Council confirmation.
The amendment also establishes requirements to hold a
board position.
MLF was established by
MCN as a Community Development and Financial Institution in order to promote
economic development.
• NCA 16-081 Authorizing the execution of an
agreement with HHS Administration of Children
and Families Office of Child
Support Enforcement and
appropriating $1,000 in relation to the agreement.
Hicks sponsored the amendment, which passed 15-0.
The MCN Office of Child
Support Enforcement wishes
to utilize the HHS Federal
Parent Locator Service to assist in locating participants in
child support cases.
The amendment would approve the agreement and the
cost associated with its use.
The upcoming regular session is scheduled June 18.
Typically, eligible entities
who received appropriated
funds and are not MCN tribal
programs, departments or other subsidiaries, are required to
submit receipts to the MCN
Office of the Controller within
30 days after said funds are
expended or approved.
Also, legislation that begins
by reading, ‘authorizing’ often grants a waiver of MCN
sovereignty to incorporate the
services of or to perform some
other business with an external entity.
The summary of each bill
is attributed to the planning
session or committee agendas
available on: www.mcnnc.
com, and the MCNCA is used
as reference material, an occasionally updated version
of which is available on the
MCN Supreme Court website
at: www.creeksupremecourt.
com.
It is also based on ‘MNN:’
staff interpretation, research
and interviews possible: on
our production schedule,
through our resources and
based on our experience and
ability.
According to the MCN Constitution, every bill passed by
the Council must be presented
to the principal chief for approval before it becomes law.
The principal chief has 10
business days to sign it or return it as a veto with objections to the Council.
The Council may override
the veto by a two-thirds vote
of the total representatives in
favor of the action. If the chief
neither signs it nor vetoes it,
the bill becomes law after the
10-day period.
The votes for each bill are
crosschecked with the agenda
posted on the Council site after each session.
For questions or more information contact the Council
office at: 918-758-1410.
Lighthorse
Wind said an agreement
will be forthcoming.
“Yesterday (May 24), they
set up a meeting and I just
spoke with our AG and
Kevin said things went very
well,” he said.
Hawkins gave a basic description on the limits of
each agency’s authority.
“Our jurisdiction is based
on restricted or trust properties. Whenever we deal
with, let’s say, Indian-onIndian crime that is ultimately our jurisdiction,” he
said. “We will handle that,
whether it’s tribal or federal,
on arrests.”
The title of trust land is
held by the U.S. first, for the
benefit of the individual or
entity listed on the title document.
Most trust land within
the MCN jurisdiction is assigned to the Nation.
Restricted land is the
original allotment owned
by citizens who meet the requirements.
Trust and restricted land
are not taxed.
“When it comes to nonIndian violations on tribal
property on trust, restricted
lands, what our process is, is
we respond to it. And once
we realize that we’re dealing with a non-Indian, we
Mayoral
what we say, there’s going to
be consequences. And if you
don’t participate the way
we want you to participate,
there will be consequences.
What consequences are you
talking about? The Nation is
a sovereign Nation and we
need to be at the table sitting
as equals.”
MCN has placed a lot
of money in the Tulsa
and Jenks area along the
Arkansas River. How do you
plan to partner with MCN
to make the area better for
residents?
“The Arkansas River to
me, is Tulsa’s main drain.
I think that we need to be
respectful of the traditional
Native respect for the land.
We need to be very, very
careful where we put the
concrete for example. If
we’re going to do development on the river, all shareholders need to be listened
to carefully.”
“I would like to sit down
with the Nation. I would
like to have my people sit
down with the Nation at
some point and review what
your plans are. And I’m going to place a lot of trust in
the Nation to be respectful
of land, to be respectful of
traditional Native practices
regarding land and respectful of traditional Native
views toward what it is to be
good stewards of the land. I
appreciate what the Nation
has done with the casino,
the hotels and development
going up, but I do have some
concerns relative to the very
KÔLVPÂKEN
contact that other jurisdictional agency, which would
be whatever county or municipality we may be in and
they will come and take the
situation with it being nonIndian,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins shared other adjustments they are making at
the department.
“I know we’ve been running shorthanded but we
have been getting people
hired in and we have built
our progress,” he said. “We
are implementing new things
into our department, being
more proactive. We’re stepping up to the plate and providing better protection for
our citizens and getting a
better status with the communities and other agencies.
Just building on things.”
He said Lighthorse is also
getting ready to debut a new
vehicle fleet of black patrol
cars.
With a recent highly publicized case involving the Tulsa
County Sheriff’s Department
that involved confusion over
the intended use of a Taser,
Wind said their officers have
been undergoing training
with the weapon.
“First and foremost, we
make sure that all our officers
are certified to carry that Taser. Like Chief Hawkins said,
anything that we have, any
munitions, weapons and so
forth, we make sure that we
have the proper training. But
what we also have in-house,
we have 11 CLEET (Council
on Law Enforcement Education and Training) certified
instructors,” he said.
During times when traditional ceremonial activities
are being conducted, Wind
said their officers have been
instructed to be respectful
of the ways that ceremonial
grounds use to deal with
various situations.
“I spoke with one of our
officers, who is a sergeant
now, I spoke with him
and I spoke with a couple
of other officers that were
more traditional and one
of the things that they said
was, ‘You have to understand that, that grounds is
pretty much their own jurisdiction. They will handle
things in the way that they
need to, whether it be a traditional way of someone’s
being ‘hace’ (drunk) or under the influence.’ What I
was instructed and what all
our officers are instructed is
you let them deal with that,”
he said.
Listen to this show, which
will also take you to the
‘Mvskoke Radio’ archives at:
http://tinyurl.com/ja6uwv3.
The show is broadcast every Wednesday at 10 a.m. on
1240AM, KOKL The Brew
Okmulgee and a live stream
of every broadcast can be
found at: http://tinyurl.com/
gmek4cb.
large parking lots.”
“I look at the Nation as being receptive to those ideas.
I look toward the Nation to
meet my administration halfway on those issues. I’ll most
certainly meet the Nation
halfway on whatever new development plans they have
along the Arkansas River to
increase business into the casino, the hotels, etc.”
ground on the things that
are really important to us,
but somewhere along the
way we are going to meet
halfway.”
“I feel a kinship. I feel a
common DNA. I don’t know
how to say this without tearing up… I feel that the trauma in past history memories
are passed down through the
DNA… I don’t really understand what’s going on, but
when I’m around a Native, I
feel some sort of a metaphysical connection. And if that
sounds really, really weird out
there so be it.”
“I don’t really know what
your plans are. I’m not that
close to those discussions,
the blue prints, etc., etc. But
my approach is well, I will
sit down with you and I will
layout what I think should be
done in it’s natural state, respect the land for what it is.
It’s a prairie river. But I will
treat you as an equal. I will
treat you with a lot of respect.
I will respect your traditions.
I’m not familiar with them,
but I will respect your traditions and I will respect your
point of view.”
“That’s really what a lot of
my campaign is about, to
bring together peoples with
two wildly different extreme
point of view together and at
least meet halfway. We’re going to go home standing our
“My wife is Cherokee.”
Closing comments.
“If there’s any disagreement with me, I would like
to know, through my website or through the phone.
Any members of the Nation are welcome to contact
me… and if you have any
disagreements, if you like
what I said, if you like my
approach to it, if you don’t
like my approach to it, if you
think I have absolutely no
clue whatsoever, I’m good
with it. I want to know. And
that’s the kind of approach
that I’ll take.”
“Obviously I’m not very
familiar with particular issues that the Nation has.
I’m certainly not privy to
the Nation’s business plans
along the river. And my
strength is connecting dots
from missing information
and what I’m seeing of the
efforts of the Nation along
the river is there’s intensive
development that the Nation wants to do for the benefits of its members. But I
also see some amount of respect for the land and Native
traditions. I also see some
amount of respect for new
ideas that could improve the
approach of development of
the land.”
“I welcome any criticism,
complements, comments.”
about Tay, visit: www.facebook.com/iamwithpt.
CENVPÂKEN
Arbor Care seeking
citizens to take
wood chips
MCN Arbor Care/Release
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
The Muscogee (Creek)
Nation Arbor Care Department is looking for
citizens in need of woodchips at their homes for
flowerbeds, gardens, etc.
These chips are from a
variety of different trees
that have been cut down
and ran through a commercial chipper.
If you or someone you
know might be interested,
please contact one of the
numbers below.
Please note that we must
have a good access point
to deliver and dump the
chips.
Roads, driveways, etc.
must be accessible for our
trucks to get in and out of
safely and without getting
stuck.
For more information,
one of the following can
assist you: Oscar Hicks
at: 918-752-8577, James
Hicks at: 918-752-8014 or
Phil Booker at: 918-7327794.
Reporter job open at Mvskoke Media
Mvskoke Media/Release
Essential Duties and
Responsibilities
Includes the following
and other duties as
assigned.
Receives assignment or
evaluates news leads and
news tips to develop story
ideas. Gathers and verifies
factual information regarding story lead through interview, observation and
research.
Organizes material, determines slant or emphasis
and writes story according
to prescribed editorial style
and format standards.
Edits or assists in editing for publications of the
Muscogee Nation News
(MNN).
Assists editor with news
stories and updates for the
newspaper by establishing Mvskoke Media within
all tribal departments of
(MCN) as well as communication with community
centers, tribal towns and
tribal churches within the
MCN jurisdiction regarding content retrieval.
Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree from
a four-year college or university or five years of experience in newspaper production.
Writes clearly, concisely
and informatively. Edits
work for spelling, grammar
and Associated Press (AP)
style. Presents numerical
data clearly and accurately.
Is able to read and interpret
written information.
To perform this job successfully, an individual
should have a basic knowledge of or a base knowledge
to learn Macintosh computers and the Mac operating system (OS), Google
platforms, mobile OSs,
Acrobat, WordPress, InDesign, Photoshop, Microsoft
Word, Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram and LinkedIn.
Preference for Muscogee
(Creek) citizens and then
citizens of federally recognized tribes.
Contact
‘Muscogee Nation News’
Editor Sterling Cosper at:
scosper@mvskokemedia.
com or 918-732-7697.
MVTO
I would like to thank the
Transit Program employees for being very kind,
respectful and helpful.
I especially want to
thank the driver in Wetumka named Hart who
always says hello.
You all deserve a raise.
Muscogee (Creek) citizen
Jeannie Harjo, Okmulgee
Child Care Office public hearing set June 21
MCN OCC/Release
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Office of Child Care
has set a public hearing 6
p.m., June 21 for the Child
Care Development Fund
administered by OCC, at
their office located in the
MCN Child Development
Center on the MCN Tribal
Complex, U.S. Highway
75 and Loop 56. The fund
is a program that provides
financial assistance for income eligible Muscogee
(Creek) and other Native
American citizens toward
their monthly child care
obligations within the
MCN service area.
PAGE 8
Bigfoot: To be or not to be
Highland Park Manor
Non-citizen submission
OKMULGEE, Okla. —
Now that the weather is
warming up, I imagine
more of us will be out in
the woods camping, etc.
My husband was a huge fan
of Bigfoot so my interest
was piqued as to how other
seniors might feel about the
big, hairy fellow. Just for
fun, I found the following:
There have been 3,313
sightings of Bigfoot in the
U.S. over the past 92 years,
92 of them in Oklahoma
and thousands worldwide.
Bigfoot
is
commonly
thought to be a bi-pedal,
undocumented
primate
species, anywhere from six10 feet tall and weighing
400-1000 pounds, having
long hair varying in color
and a Sagittal Crest type
head with no neck.
The
number
of
eyewitness sightings are too
numerous to be dismissed,
many being from credible
sources such as law
enforcement, military and
even U.S. President, Teddy
Roosevelt.
Washington,
D.C.,
passed a law in 1969
forbidding the killing of
this creature, citing, ‘there
is evidence to indicate
the possible existence of
an undiscovered species
of primate mammal.’ The
penalty carries a felony
charge with fine of $100,000
or 10 years imprisonment.
MNN submission
deadlines
July 1 — June 23
July 15 — July 7
Aug. 1 — July 22
Aug. 15 — Aug. 8
Sept. 1 — Aug. 24
Sept. 15 — Sept. 7
Oct. 1 —
Sept. 22
If captured, it is to be
immediately donated to
the state college. In 1984,
the bill was amended
to preclude an insanity
defense for killing the
creature.
The world seems to be
full of yet-to-be discovered
species. Until October
1902,
the
Mountain
Gorillas were thought to
be a myth. It is estimated
that there are some 2
million species identified
on earth but in 2015
alone, scientists identified
thousands of new species
including wildlife, insects,
amphibians and even some
mammals including the
African Golden Wolf.
Mysterious
DNA
showed bear species in the
Himalayas related to an
ancient polar bear.
Most hardcore nonbelievers say it will take a
body to prove the existence
of this creature, tangible,
hands-on
scientific
evidence. Science readily
accepts ‘the wind’ and ‘the
mind’ as being scientifically
sound but you can’t see
them either. Just saying! So
as one of my dear friends
relayed after a weekend
outing in the woods of
Tahlequah with a group of
scouts; when you’re out in
the dark woods and you
hear noises that are totally
unexplainable, I’ll keep an
open mind, but my flight or
fight response will be RUN.
Benefit Powwow set
for Oct. 1
MUSKOGEE, Okla. — The
fifth annual Murrow Indian Children's Home Benefit
Powwow is set for Oct. 1 at
the Student Life Center, 2412
E. Shawnee Bypass, Muskogee OK.
Admission is free and attendees are encouraged to
bring seating.
For event information call:
918-682-2586.
Oct. 15 — Oct. 6
Nov. 1 —Oct. 24
Nov. 15 — Nov. 7
Editor
Dec. 1 — Nov. 22
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
DIVISION
STERLING
COSPER
DIVISION
EDITORIAL
EDITOR
STERLING
COSPER
918.732.7697
DIVISION
EDITOR
SCOSPER@MCN-NSN.GOV
STERLING
COSPER
918.732.7697
EDITOR
SCOSPER@MCN-NSN.GOV
918.732.7697
SCOSPER@MCN-NSN.GOV
• Leading in the quality of Tribal newspapers
Bimonthly
fornewspapers
all Enrolled Creek Citizens
••Leading
in publications
the quality offree
Tribal
•• Bimonthly
for newspapers
all Enrolled Creek Citizens
Leading inpublications
the quality offree
Tribal
• Bimonthly publications free for all Enrolled Creek Citizens
VIDEO
VIDEO
DIVISION
JASON
SALSMAN
DIVISION
VIDEO
MULTIMEDIA SUPERVISOR
JASON
SALSMAN
918.732.7644
DIVISION
JSALSMAN@MCN-NSN.GOV
JASON
SALSMAN
918.732.7644
918.732.7644
• All-Indian news telecast airing each Saturday at 1:00pm on Tulsa’s CW 12/19
“Mvskokenews
Radio”
radio program
on Saturday
KOKL 1240
AM–Wednesdays
10:00am
••All-Indian
telecast
airing each
at 1:00pm
on Tulsa’s at
CW
12/19
•“Mvskoke
Remote and
independent
video on
production
Radio”
radio program
KOKL
1240
10:00am
•• All-Indian
news
telecast
airing each
Saturday
at AM–Wednesdays
1:00pm on Tulsa’satCW
12/19
Remote and
independent
video production
•• “Mvskoke
Radio”
radio program
on KOKL 1240 AM–Wednesdays at 10:00am
• Remote and independent video production
• Posters
GRAPHIC
GRAPHIC
DESIGN
DESIGN
GRAPHIC
DIVISION
JENNIFER
TARYOLE
DIVISION
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GRAPHICS SUPERVISOR
JENNIFER
TARYOLE
918.732.7640
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••Posters
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Wedding Invitations
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•••Wedding
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•••Programs
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TARYOLE • Programs
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WMURPHY@MCN-NSN.GOV
PAGE 9
Emvpanyv
to make an exception to previous restrictions regarding
footwear. Native American
clothing, especially ceremonial attire (as in this case) can
and should be considered appropriate for inclusion in our
graduation exercises.’
Yazzie said it made her
proud to include the moccasins in her commencement
ensemble. Bear Robe thinks
when NARF reminded school
officials that their logo was the
Chieftains, it made the school
folks realize they had egg on
their face and maybe a change
of heart was appropriate.
But wait—there’s more.
Change.org reported another case just like this one.
Dylan McCabe, a graduating senior at North Point
High School in Waldorf, Md.,
is Comanche, Fort Sill Apache
and Navajo. To celebrate her
roots, she wanted to wear a
traditional Navajo dress, leggings and moccasins to her
June 2 graduation.
The school approved her request to wear the dress, since
it will not be visible under her
graduation robes. But since
school administrators require
flat or low-heeled black shoes,
she was told she could not
wear the moccasins or leggings.
What is it? Does the world
have a thing about Dine’ footwear or what?
Change reported, McCabe
as saying, “My Navajo clothing is a reflection of my religious and cultural identity.
My grandparents sent me this
ceremonial dress and indicat-
ed that it was also appropriate
for this occasion. My leggings
and moccasins are what complete this ceremonial attire.
They are essential to one another and sacred to me.”
After Dylan's request was
denied, her mom submitted an appeal to the Charles
County School District superintendent and their board
of education.
Dylan’s request was approved and the latest reports
indicate that McCabe was
able to walk at graduation
wearing the dress, moccasins
and leggings from her grandparents.
So proud of these young
women for standing up for
their heritage.
There is another beautiful
Native woman who will be
walking across a prominent
stage this summer. The ‘Ruidoso News’ ran an article about
Vanessa Hernandez, a member of the Mescalero Apache
Tribe. She is set to compete
for the Aug. 4 Miss United
States National Pageant. Hernandez already holds the title
of Miss New Mexico.
‘Indian Country Today’ reports that the Florida State
University student government association—home of
the Fighting Seminoles, has
passed a resolution request
against the wearing of costume headdresses that are so
often found at athletic events
where the mascot is some sort
of Native character.
The reason why? The student group stated that headdresses are not, ‘accurately
representing the Seminole
Tribe of Florida.’ The tribe
has long approved the use
of their name and a mascot
dressed like a Seminole warrior. Nope, they don’t wear
plains style headdresses.
First lady Michelle Obama
spoke at the graduation commencement for the Institute
of American Indian Arts in
Santa Fe, N.M.
In her speech, Obama referred to the misguided
founding of the school and
how that thinking has been
overcome.
“As we all know, this school
was founded as part of a deliberate, systematic effort to
extinguish your cultures – to
literally annihilate who you
were and what you believed
in. But today, the Native languages that were once strictly forbidden here now echo
through the hallways and in
your dorm room conversations at night.
“The traditions that this
school was designed to destroy are now expressed in
every square foot of this place
– in the art on your walls, in
the statue in your MSC building, in the Po Pay Day song
and dance performances in
your plaza, in the prayers and
blessings that you offer in
your heart room.”
Nice thoughts. Mvto, Mrs.
Obama.
Now to burst the bubble of
John Wayne.
The deceased actor has not
really been a favorite of many
Native people but recently in
California, a state legislative
tribute to Wayne was shot
down on the basis of ‘racist’
comments he made in an interview years ago.
The ‘Washington Post’ reported that a resolution for
John Wayne Day was voted
down, even after a legislator
gave a passionate review of
Wayne’s personal convictions.
The objection came when
one representative reminded
the group that not everything
that Wayne supported was so
shiny.
In 1971, Wayne spoke to
‘Playboy Magazine’ about
minorities. On the subject of
African-Americans the actor
ÔSTVPÂKEN
said, “I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are
educated to a point of responsibility.”
On the subject of our peoples Wayne said, “I don’t feel
we did wrong in taking this
great country away from
them, if that’s what you’re
asking. Our so-called stealing of this country from them
was just a matter of survival.
There were great numbers of
people who needed new land,
and the Indians were selfishly
trying to keep it for themselves.”
Take that, Pilgrim.
On to a more tasty subject.
Clara Caufield, a columnist
at the ‘Cheyenne Voice’ wrote
about the Cheyenne people’s
love of commodity cheese.
She called it “the gold standard of cheese” and that it
was a very popular ingredient with tribal chefs. That’s
“chefs” not “chiefs,” although
it is most likely popular with
them too.
Caufield writes that the
blocks of cheese are also a
part of an underground commerce and can sell for $20.
When one cheese recipient
was questioned on how they
keep this precious ‘commod’
from being swiped by some
unscrupulous cheese addict,
Caufield wrote that the lucky
Cheyenne said, “We hide the
cheese.” When asked where,
the cheese owner said, “Oh
no. If I tell you, you will put
it in the newspaper and they
will find out.”
I know the feeling. Every
time I’m assigned to do a story on Food Distribution, I’m
tempted to stash a block in
my recorder bag.
Oh, such fond memories of
grilled cheese sammiches.
- Hvtvm cehecares, I’ll see
you again.
Foster
“The thing is, we don’t
only certify Creek homes.
We certify all tribal nations,” Dunn said. “If you
have a tribal citizenship
card, we would hook you
up and certify you.”
Dunn said her program
understands the apprehension many people have
with opening their homes.
“But we’re there to help
them,” she said. “We are
very proactive in being in
the home with our foster
families. They have our
numbers. They can call us
anytime.”
Dunn said they have
asked existing foster families for help with finding
more homes.
“That when you see families that are on the soccer
field or at church to kind
of do some recruitment
for us as well,” she said. “If
you see that they are doing
great, awesome parents,
that we would love to talk
to them.”
CFSA hosted a drive
with Muscogee Nation
Business Enterprise at the
MCN Travel Plazas May
23-30, to collect basic needs
items for foster children in
recognition of foster care
awareness month.
“They can definitely
come into our offices and
donate throughout the
whole year,” Dunn said.
CFSA is looking for items
such as toiletries, duffle
bags as well as clothes and
asks that everything is new.
“Just like for our own
children, we would want
great items for them so
that’s what we are asking
for,” Dunn said.
about donations or becoming a foster parent call: 918732-7869.
This interview was
brought to you by ‘Native
News Today,’ which airs
every Saturday at 1 p.m.
on Tulsa CW19 or online at: http://tinyurl.com/
hpomqc5
June 1 word search solution
PALEN
PAGE 10
OKMULGEE, Okla. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Historic and Cultural Preservation
Department held traditional arts classes May 9-13 at the MCN Council House in Okmulgee.
Participants had the opportunity to learn finger weaving, cane basket weaving and how to
make stompdance cans. For more information about the classes, including upcoming dates
call: 918-732-7758.
Photos and Spread by: Chelsie Rich/Project Specialist
PAGE 11
PALEN HVMKÔNTVLÂKEN
2016 Miss and Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation crowned
“I was shocked… It feels
amazing now having getting
over that initial shock. I’m
just really excited and happy
for this opportunity.” McKane
said.
Madeline
Lamb
was
crowned Jr. Miss MCN and
received a $1,500 scholarship,
among other prizes.
“I feel ecstatic. I’m so excited that I was chosen to be
Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek)
Nation and it’s just an honor,”
Lamb said.
Beaver spoke of different
strategies they had for this
year’s pageant.
“What we did different was
go around to different comChelsie Rich/MNN
munities. We promote other
2016 Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Brittany McKane (left) and Jr. Miss Madeline Lamb (right) with MCN Principal Chief
pageants, talked about our
James Floyd (far left) Second Chief Louis Hicks (middle right) and MCN National Council Speaker Lucian Tiger (far right)
guidelines and recruiting
during this year’s MCN Scholarship Pageant held June 4 at the Mvskoke Dome in Okmulgee, Okla.
contestants,” Beaver said. “We
just want to reach out beyond
cogee (Creek) Nation Schol- stop planning for this big day,” our jurisdiction… looking for
McKane, Lamb
arship Pageant was held June Pageant Committee chairper- girls who want this opportu4 in the Mvskoke Dome at the son Terra Beaver said.
capture titles
nity.”
Claude Cox Omniplex in OkAfter hours of competition,
Beaver said that by reachChelsie Rich
mulgee.
Brittany
McKane
was
crowed
ing
out to the community, the
Project Specialist
“It’s a big process. Actually, Miss MCN and received a committee was able to inspire
OKMULGEE, Okla. — The our pageant committee work $5,000 scholarship, among 13 young ladies to come forth
2016 Miss and Jr. Miss Mus- year around. We don’t ever other prizes.
to compete.
Five contestants ages 17-24
competed to be Miss MCN,
Bailee Allen, ShawnDea Dunzy, Amberly Proctor, Baileigh
Roberts and McKane.
Eight contestants ages 1417 competed for the title of Jr.
Miss, Angel Hartley, Claudia
McHenry, Olivia Kinsey, Kierra Monawee, Tesha-LaShay
Phillips, Kayla Broncho, Danielle LaSarge and Lamb.
Family, friends, citizens and
visiting royalty gathered in
support to witness the crowning and the pageant committee also invited former MCN
royalty to attend a retreat and
the pageant.
According to the event program, each contestant had to
write an essay, give a personal
interview with the judges,
prepare a self-introduction,
wear traditional dress, give a
traditional presentation and
answer an impromptu question.
It states MCN royalty serve
as representatives of the Nation and positive role models
for Muscogee (Creek) citizens.
PALEN HÔKKÔLÔHKÂKEN
Former Miss MCN competes for
Miss Indian World
MNN File Photo
2012-2013 Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Nancy Deere competed in the 20162017 Miss Indian World Pageant during the Gathering of Nations Powwow held
April 28-30 in Albuquerque, N.M.
Deere discusses
work with US energy
department, democratic
convention
Sterling Cosper
MNN Editor
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Former Miss Muscogee (Creek)
Nation Nancy Deere took her
royalty experience to the national level by competing in
the 2016-2017 Miss Indian
World Pageant held during
the 2016 Gathering of Indian
Nations Powwow April 28-30
in Albuquerque, N.M.
“I meet a lot of different
people from, in this case I
met people from all over
the world,” Deere said. “I’ve
had the opportunity to meet
women from different tribes.
People that I still keep in
touch with today.”
She said tribal royalty positions have more to them than
the aesthetic appeal most
people see in pictures.
“We serve as goodwill
ambassadors,” Deere said.
“That’s what we call ourselves
and we serve throughout the
country going to different
events but a lot of people look
at it as we’re just kind of going and smiling but behind
the scenes, we’re educating
people all over the country
about who we are.”
Deere has also pursued
this mission of education at
home by helping coordinate a
camp for the Mvskoke Nation
Youth Council.
The MNYC mission statement is, ‘to empower Mvskoke
Youth by listening and taking
action, to enhance their voice
by promoting positive change
and informed decisions and
to affect all generations and
sustain the way of life.’
She said the camp was modeled after conferences hosted
by her grandfather, the late
Native activist Phillip Deere
and held on their family allotment in Okemah.
PAGE 12
“Well it started with my
grandpa Phillip Deere,” she
said. “He started the youth
and elder conferences and
he had started it at his house
on his mother’s original allotment and he had built a
roundhouse for it and the
roundhouse was historically
used as historical gathering
places.”
A roundhouse was funded
and recreated there by MCN
in 2014.
“We stayed inside the
roundhouse for the night
and we kept the fire going all
night and just fellowshipped
with each other and grew culturally together and I think
that was the main part of it,”
Deere said.
She said members of her
family helped with the culturally immersive experience.
“My uncle came down and
spoke about, not only history
of the roundhouse but also
our history at the ceremonial grounds and how to be
respectful,” Deere said. “And
my dad came out and spoke
about stickball and telling us
you know, it is a game but
how to be respectful of each
other while playing.”
Beyond the pageant, she
has built networking opportunities through a Hope Fellowship with the Democratic
National Convention.
“I’m a political science major, so I knew what I was applying for but I wasn’t sure
I was going to get it,” Deere
said.
According to the Democratic National Convention
website, the fellowship is a
crash course in politics where
selected participants have
the opportunity to hear from
campaign officials and DNC
leadership.
“I met some amazing people headed to law school, already in law school and just
leaders in their states,” she
said. “Being able to network
with them, in building those
relationships now, they are
our future leaders. I say they,
but we are our future leaders
and I totally see myself in that
capacity one day.”
She has already made inroads through an internship
with the U.S. Department of
Energy focusing on Native
American energy policy and
programs.
“I think it’s going to be
great because I see the future of Creek Nation moving
forward in today’s world,”
Deere said. “We need to better match policies and procedures with the federal
government as well. We are
sovereign but being able to
match it in a way that we can
run more smoothly.”

muscogee nation news

Transcription

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