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Y F I RMUSCOGEE
S T A M EN D M EN
T & T H ENEWS
N A J A , ELI A S B O U D I N OT F R EE P R E S S A W A R DS
TUCCÊNEN W I N N ER O F T H E O K SP J , C A RT ER B R A D LETHE
NATION
THE
J A N . 1, 2 0 17 | “ R V F O C U S E ” W I N T E R ’ S YO U N G E R B R O T H E R | V O L . 4 7, I S S U E 1
MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
THE OFFICIAL TRIBAL NEWSPAPER OF THE MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION • PRODUCED BY
CONSENSUS ON myON READING,
LANGUAGE PROGRAM FAILS
EDUCATIONAL GRANT FUNDS REMAIN
by HONEY CARANZO
REPORTER
MyON, a literacy program, was reintroduced at the Dec. 5, 2016 National Council HEW
committee meeting and failed to receive funding. (Shutterstock Image)
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Funding for a literacy program was
postponed indefinitely for the
fourth time during the Dec. 5,
2016 Muscogee (Creek) Nation
National Council Health, Education and Welfare Committee meeting at the MCN Mound
Building in Okmulgee.
What is myON?
According to their website,
MyON is a digital literacy ecosystem that provides students with
an online library to access books.
Former myON Project Manager Randi Narcomey-Watson,
who worked with MCN to market
the program, said myON offers
audio books, and its library consists of 70 percent non-fiction
books.
MyON was introduced to the
Nation through former MCN Secretary of Education and Training
Dr. Wayne Johnson.
According to an email sent by
Johnson to former MCN Principal
Chief George Tiger, he wanted to
improve the Nation’s educational
foundation for Muscogee (Creek)
children by strengthening literacy
skills through myON.
The
‘Muscogee
Nation
News’ received this email from
MCN National Council Office
when requesting copies of contracts and proposals that were
myON – 4
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tulsa Head Start Center was burglarized between Dec. 1-2,
2016. (Honey Caranzo/Reporter)
ITEMS STOLEN FROM MCN TULSA HEAD START
PLANS TO REPLACE STOLEN ITEMS
(MNN File Photo)
by HONEY CARANZO
REPORTER
TOP NATIVE GROUP WATCHES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FORM
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Several items were stolen from the
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tulsa
Head Start Center in the evening
hours between Dec. 1-2, 2016.
According to a statement
from the MCN Head Start Manager Cora Camren, teachers and
children used several of the
items that were stolen.
“It’s just sad that someone
would come into the Head Start
and take the children’s stuff that
they use to learn and to gain
knowledge,” she said.
Camren declined to comment on what the items were
since the case is still open.
Camren said they plan on
replacing the stolen items.
“The items helped our Head
Start meet our school readiness
goals, program goals, requirements to get the children school
ready, so we will replace these
items,” she said.
Camren said they are gathering quotes and receipts on how
much the items cost so they can
turn it in to their insurance.
“I’m hoping that we can plan
on maybe getting a security
system there and try to prevent
this from happening again,” she
said.
If anyone has any information concerning the theft, call
the MCN Lighthorse Tribal Police
Department at: 918-732-7800.
EMVPONAYV: ONE WHO TELLS THE STORY
STOMPDANCE CONTROL, SAME SEX MARRIAGES, INDIAN ARTISTS
by GARY FIFE
RADIO SPECIALIST
LARGEST NATIVE LOBBYING GROUP HOPES TO WORK WITH INCOMING PRESIDENT
by GARY FIFE
RADIO SPECIALIST
tions from ‘Mvskoke Radio’ host
Gary Fife.
Okmulgee, Okla. — With the
new administration and policies
of U.S. President-elect Donald
Trump being formed and discussed, Native American tribal
governments are watching the
process and people being put forward as the incoming president’s
choices.
The National Congress of American Indians is the nation’s oldest
and largest Native lobbying organization and its Executive Director,
Jacqueline Pata answered ques-
MR: During an appearance on
Capitol Hill years ago, the President-Elect Donald Trump made
some statements about his gaming
competitors. He made some discouraging remarks about East
Coast tribes physically and things
like that. So his track record didn’t
look real favorable in Native America. Do you hear any echoes of that
either in the incoming administration or Native America?
nitely one of the concerns from
Indian Country during the campaign era of this election process.
But, I’ve been comforted by hearing several times from people that
have had conversations, either
with Trump himself or the transition team that there’s a different
role that the president-elect will
be serving now.
At that moment in time, during
those hearings, he was a competitor, a competitor of Indian gaming
that was costing him money. As a
president, he will now be look-
JP: I know that that was defi-
NCAI – 5
OKMULGEE, Okla. — There
are rumblings throughout the
Muscogee (Creek) Nation over
the issue of stompdances and
where they should be performed.
Several questions come up
in the discussions: Is there or is
there not a policy over who controls stompdances on tribal property — that is, outside of the traditional stompdance grounds;
why would such a policy statement be issued; and who controls them anyway?
MCN has issued a statement
in late November through Attorney General Kevin Dellinger’s
office regarding the issue of
stompdances on tribal properties.
Dellinger said, “At the
moment, there is not a consensus within the Nation on whether
to allow Stomp Dances on Tribal
properties. Until there is a consensus, a policy decision has
been made to halt all Stomp
Dances on Tribal properties. After
further dialogue and review, a
final policy will be established.”
That statement says, “tribal
properties.” Does that include
traditional stompgrounds, or just
lands owned by the tribe such as
inside the Mvskoke Dome, or the
grounds of the tribal complex?
At the time of this writing,
Relations to address the matter
after social media commentary
by Muscogee (Creek) citizens
indicated differing views on the
policy or if, in fact, there was a
current policy in place.
‘Mvskoke Media received an
email containing the official statement from Dellinger, again stating, “At the moment, there is not
a consensus within the Nation on
“At the moment, there is not a consensus
within the Nation on whether to allow
Stomp Dances on Tribal properties”
- MCN ATTORNEY GENERAL KEVIN DELLINGER
(mid-Rvfo Rakko—December)
Dellinger was not answering
questions, especially the big one,
why is such a policy necessary?
The Mvskoke Media website says, ‘Mvskoke Media made
a request through MCN Public
• P.O. B O X 5 8 0 - O K M U LG E E , O K 74 4 4 7 • 918 .7 3 2 .7 7 2 0 • M V S KO K E M E D I A .CO M • @ M V S KO K E M E D I A
whether to allow Stomp Dances
on Tribal properties. Until there
is a consensus, a policy decision
has been made to halt all Stomp
Dances on Tribal properties. After
EMVPONAYV – 4
PAGE 2
THE MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
Labrador retriever Riley, helps his owner and PTSD sufferer, Diane Burris retrieve her cane.
This is one of the many things Riley does as a service dog. (Darren DeLaune/Reporter)
LOCAL WOMAN GIVES SUPPORT THROUGH
MAN’S BEST FRIEND
SERVICE DOGS HELPS WITH DISABILITIES
by DARREN DELAUNE
REPORTER
TULSA, Okla. — Numerous people have dogs throughout the world. They take care of
the animal and provide food and
shelter, and in return the dog
expresses their love.
However, there are some
dogs that do work for their
owners. Those dogs are called
service dogs.
What is a service dog?
A service dog is an assistance
dog who is specifically trained to
help people who have disabilities. Some disabilities that dogs
help with are post-traumatic
stress disorder, seizures, diabetes and people who are mobility
impaired.
A Choctaw woman by the
name of Diane Burris, out of
Bixby, is one of many people
who has a service dog. She suf-
Eventually she was sent to
Marjorie Satterfield, or also
known as, ‘Marj The Dog Trainer.’
“My dog had all these problems because I have been doing
everything wrong for about 18
months,” Burris said.
Burris said Satterfield undid
the damage in six months and
helped him become a better service dog.
“He became a functionally in
public service dog,” Burris said.
Burris said panic attacks are
associated with PTSD. At times
with the panic attacks the person
can fall to the ground.
She said if those happen her
legs cannot move.
“When you fall to the ground,
you cannot get back up,” Burris
said. “Your legs don’t move,
nothing moves.”
Burris said Riley would bring
her medicine and a bottle of
water to her from the icebox.
“Service dogs are a commitment. If you
make a commitment and are willing to do
it, you will have a great help from your dog.”
– DIANE BURRIS
fers from PTSD.
“With PTSD, you eventually
develop other medical conditions,” Burris said. “Which, I also
have.”
Burris was a consultant to
small businesses as a net profit
specialist.
“I miss it but now I do other
things and one is help train service dogs,” Burris said.
Her doctor told her about service dogs and what they can do
for her.
It was a big change for Burris.
“I have never owned a dog
so let’s start there,” Burris said.
“It’s like jumping into a creek and
learning to swim.”
Her service dog is a Labrador
retriever who is named Riley.
“He will lay on top of me until
I calm down,” Burris said. “He
will stay with me and mess with
me until I come out of it.”
He also cares for her when
she has night terrors. He wakes
her up and stays with her until
she is better, then he will let her
go back to sleep.
There are times when she
gets nervous out in public
around people and her service
dog will sense it.
“He will stand in front of me
when people get to close,” Burris
said. “I call it front and center
and it is the command for him.”
There are other things that her
dog helps her with, if and when
she needs it. Sometimes people
who suffer from PTSD and have
had head injuries do develop
vertigo. Dizziness is associated
with vertigo, and a person who
suffers from that can fall.
Because of that, Riley has a
balance harness.
“He helps me there,” Burris
said. “If I fall I can get picked up
easy. He also is taught to steady
me so I don’t fall.”
Burris specializes in helping
train PTSD dogs for veterans.
“There is a special place for
me working with veterans,”
Burris said. “I sit with them and
work with them to help them
with their service dogs.”
Through the help of Satterfield and her company, ‘Glad
Wags Service Dogs,’ she wants to
help others because she understands what they go through.
Satterfield has been training
dogs professionally since 1974.
“I always had an interest in
dogs working,” Satterfield said.
Satterfield has a unique way
of selecting canines when it
comes to service dogs. She has
rescued dogs from kill shelters,
rescue groups and strays.
“We are different from a large
number of service dog training
facilities because we take all of
our dogs from shelters,” Satterfield said.
Satterfield also said she gets
so many dogs from shelters that
there is no reason for her to
breed dogs and raise them to be
service dogs.
Satterfield said she has a formula that she goes by to look for
a service dog at these shelters.
“I test 35 dogs to get one service dog,” Satterfield said. “Service dogs come in any size or
shape.”
Satterfield explained the
importance of having service
dogs.
“It’s life changing,” she said.
“There’s now documentation on
psychiatric service dogs, which
include PTSD dogs. Any type of
mental illness there is a decrease
in taking medication, sometimes
it goes away completely.”
She believes with the help
of the service dogs there is a
decrease in suicides.
“It has been well documented
probably the last 10 years, about
how valuable psychiatric service
dogs are,” Satterfield said.
She said she sees the changes
in her clients.
Each dog will take about a
year to train, and sometimes two
years to get ready for her clients
with certain disorders.
“Service dogs are a commitment,” Burris said. “If you make
a commitment and are willing to
do it, you will have a great help
from your dog.”
For more information on service dogs, contact Diane Burris
at: 918-904-7466, or Marjorie
Satterfield at: 918-504-1764.
THE MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
Sterling Cosper, Manager | [email protected]
Jessica McBride, Media Coordinator | [email protected]
Honey Caranzo, Reporter | [email protected]
Darren DeLaune, Reporter | [email protected]
Chelsie Rich, Contributor | [email protected]
Gary Fife, Contributor | [email protected]
Like the MNN on Facebook:
Facebook.com/MuscogeeNationNews
Follow the MNN on Twitter:
@the_MNN
Visit the MNN online at:
MvskokeMedia.com
Jason Salsman, Contributor | [email protected]
Wilma Murphy, Circulation | [email protected]
Mark Hill, Layout & Design | [email protected]
Native American Journalist Association
Members of the Native American
Journalists Association
HOKKÔLEN
MOJO Grappling Team Head Wrestling Coach Jeremy Tecumseh goes through fundamentals
with his wrestlers. (Darren DeLaune/Reporter)
CITIZEN HELPS CHILDREN SEE SUCCESS
THROUGH WRESTLING
SPORT MAKES POSITIVE IMPACT
by DARREN DELAUNE
REPORTER
HENRYETTA, Okla. — MOJO
Grappling Team Head Wrestling
coach and Muscogee (Creek)
citizen Jeremy Tecumseh has
always been around wrestling. To him, it belonged in the
family.
“I grew up around it,” Jeremy
said. “It has been in my family
forever so we felt like we should
keep wrestling or grappling
going.”
The MOJO Grappling Team
began last year when some of
Tecumseh’s family members
would put in extra practice
time together. Before this team
began, all the children belonged
to other teams throughout the
county.
“My nephew and my cousin
were going to Morris to wrestle,” Jeremy said. “I wanted to
keep helping them and that is
how we began our own team.”
The name MOJO came from
the late Geronimo Tecumseh,
who is Jeremy’s father. Jeremy
said his father would use that
name for any athletic teams that
he would put in a tournament,
regardless of the sport.
Jeremy said at first, he only
taught his family members how
to wrestle. They went to wrestling tournaments and were
successful which caught the eye
of other families and children.
“We were being asked about
our team from kids of other
clubs and their parents,” Jeremy
said. “Before this season started
this year, I was being asked if
any of their kids could come
wrestle with us.”
Jeremy said one thing led to
another and now he has a little
over 20 grapplers for MOJO. He
has one child on his team who
is three and the oldest is 13.
“We go to age 15 for kids that
want to be on our team,” Jeremy
said.
They are not affiliated with
any schools in their district or
county. He said the children
come from areas in and around
Okmulgee.
The team works out at the
Wilson Creek Indian Community multi-purpose building.
Jeremy said although their
season is not year-round, it
takes up a lot of time in the
second half of the year and the
beginning of the following year.
“We begin training the week
after the Fourth of July,” he said.
“We keep going until February
after wrestling season.”
While Jeremy and the MOJO
Grappling Team love winning,
he said there are other positive
moments that catch his eye such
as what he hears from parents.
“One parent came up to me
and was telling me that her
son’s attitude has improved,”
he said. “Our children have a
better respect for everyone and
that does get instilled into our
team. We want our children to
show respect to everyone while
wrestling and when they aren’t
wrestling.”
Jeremy said wrestling is not
for everybody, but the ones that
want to keep working at it know
what they have to do to keep
getting better.
“Our kids know this is not
an easy sport, it is very hard,”
Jeremy said. “I am happy to say
that all the kids that have came
out, none of them have quit the
team. They keep working to get
better.”
Jeremy remembers his father
always telling him the things
that he could do to improve
and be better at wrestling, but
he said his father was always
proud of him.
He also said if he was around
he would be right beside him
pushing this team and doing
what he could to help them.
“He would be very proud that
we are carrying on this legacy,
his legacy,” Jeremy said. “Just to
know that it is bigger than what
it use to be and more people
know about MOJO, he would be
happy about that.”
Jeremy said WCIC has been
a big help to the team. He said
they have welcomed them with
open arms.
“They have been great,”
Jeremy said. “They have ordered
us mats for our wrestlers, and
without them, I don’t think we
would have a place to workout.”
MOJO Grappling Team practices Monday-Thursday from 6
– 7:30 p.m. To inquire about
the grappling team, contact
Jeremy Tecumseh at: 918-7524204.
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: 918-7327720 or e-mail: [email protected].
• P.O. B O X 5 8 0 - O K M U LG E E , O K 74 4 4 7 • 918 .7 3 2 .7 7 2 0 • M V S KO K E M E D I A .CO M • @ M V S KO K E M E D I A
TUCCÊNEN
PAGE 3
THE MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
(Native News Today)
#REALTALK
FALLIN - FRIEND, FOE, BOTH?
by JASON SALSMAN
MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Political journalist and
author Elizabeth Drew said, “It takes two to write a
letter as much as it takes two to make a quarrel.”
What about five?
Surely by now most have seen the letter from
the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes
endorsing Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin as President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to head the U.S.
Department of the Interior.
It contains the signatures of each of the five chiefs
of the ITC. You may not have seen the letter circulating on social media, or published by your tribal news
outlets (it wasn’t provided), but you must have seen
the big headline in the ‘Tulsa World.’ “Oklahoma
Tribes join oil and gas industry in support of Gov.
Mary Fallin for interior secretary.”
It’s not our job to tell you how to feel as tribal citizens about this letter, that’s up to you as readers.
However, for the sake of some #RealTalk, let’s break
this letter down with some key points.
First, the timing is odd. It’s now known that Fallin
was not chosen for the Cabinet position, and according to an article in ‘The Wall Street Journal,’ the meeting with Trump was described as “awkward” with the
governor stumbling over questions about the sale of
federal lands under Interior Department control.
My question is, why not wait until you know how
the interview went or she is named to the position
for such a risky move? If you release a letter after she
is confirmed to the Cabinet, you look like an organization that is willing to make the best out of the situation that you are being given to work with. Drafting the letter and giving the interview to the ‘Tulsa
World’ at the time they did, looks exactly like what it
was, an endorsement.
Speaking of timing, go out and ask anyone
DELAUNE’S CORNER:
BRING ON NEW YEAR
FUN, EXCITEMENT, SCARY,
OR WHATEVER YOU WANT
by DARREN DELAUNE
REPORTER
nationally right now with no ties to Native Americans
or tribes whatsoever about the biggest issue facing
Indians today. I suspect you’ll get a steady dose of
Standing Rock and pipeline talk.
We even have the threat of the Diamond Pipeline coming through our very own Muscogee Nation
land. Everyone knows about the atrocities that have
reportedly happened at Standing Rock.
There have been benefits, gatherings, letters of
support and trucks and trucks of goods and supplies that have made the trip to North Dakota. Even
from these Five Tribes. So we know Indian people
are passionate about and have strong convictions
regarding these issues.
Imagine then a tribal citizen picking up the ‘Tulsa
World’ and seeing that headline….”Oklahoma Tribes
join oil and gas industry…” You can stop reading it
there because that’s probably where most of them
stopped as well, and started seeing red.
Granted, there are decisions made politically
that involve compromise, but this is a hard sell to
the people. Not to demonize an industry, but we’re
talking about timing here, and right now big oil is
not a friend of the Native community. It’s just not a
good look.
Also, in the article Cherokee Nation Principal
Chief Bill John Baker is quoted as saying that Fallin
has a “history of working with us.” I realize that Baker
is being diplomatic and has many factors that he has
to evaluate before making decisions, but I wonder if
this is too soon for those still feeling the emotional
toll the Baby Veronica Case took on the Cherokee
Nation and the citizens involved.
It was Fallin, who one day after agreeing with
Baker that the girl’s Cherokee father Dusten Brown
deserved his due process and day in court, reversed
her stance and threatened to order an extradition
warrant for Brown.
There are many Native Americans in Oklahoma
who haven’t forgotten that. Those like Choctaw
Nation citizen David Townsend, who according to an
‘Indian Country Media Network’ article, confronted
the governor during her visit to the Choctaw Festival.
According to a witness, “David approached Mary
OKMULGEE, Okla. — HAPPY
NEW YEAR!! 2016 went by quick.
Out with the old, in with the new
right?
The one thing I am not looking
forward to this year is turning 37.
Arrrrggggghhh!!
I know there are some people
that say you get wiser with age,
and hopefully that is true. I don’t
think I am wiser yet, but I definitely
notice that I am starting to move
like Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz
in the morning.
Instead of saying ‘oil’ like he
does, I yell, ‘ibuprofen.’
What did 2016 bring for you?
Fun, not so much fun, happy, sad
or all of the above?
For me, in the professional
world, it brought a lot of excitement. I was able to be attacked by
dogs (again), I interviewed numerous people that could warm your
heart, shed a tear or both. I was
also able to interview a Pulitzer
Prize winner (I am still in shock
Fallin and let her know that she was not welcomed
at our camp grounds, she was not welcomed at the
pow wow, and there was going to be a protest if she
made the Grand Entry.”
The chilly reception was reportedly due to Fallin’s disregard for tribal rights in the Baby Veronica
case, a final indignation for some of those Choctaw
citizens. Makes you wonder what they think of this
letter.
Endorsing a governor of Oklahoma for “a history
of working with Indian tribes” is almost like giving
credit to human beings for converting oxygen to
CO2. As if she has a choice? That feel’s like a hollow
compliment.
This is Indian Territory, home to 39 federally recognized tribes that provide billions of dollars to the
state government and are some of the top employers of our state. You better be working with them,
if not you’re doing an incredible disservice to your
position.
Native voices are loud now at the state level, that
wasn’t always the case. There hasn’t always been a
Native American caucus of tribal citizen Oklahoma
legislators. But there is now, and there is a place at
the table.
As an Oklahoma governor, your decisions regarding Native issues will now be looked at with a finetoothed comb. For example, many lauded the water
rights deals with the Chickasaws and Choctaws, but
many saw it as a weakening of tribal sovereignty.
At best this letter is a united front from the ITC to
show that they are ready to work with a new administration, at its worse it is a little tone deaf and could
have waited.
Mvskoke Media has an interview scheduled and
we’ll have a chance to ask MCN Principal Chief James
Floyd his thoughts on the letter and the process in
which it was drafted. Judging by the reaction of tribal
citizens on social media, it hasn’t been well received.
There is definitely a disconnect when it comes to the
issue.
In a perfect world, tribal leaders and elected officials are the voices of the people. For those unhappy
with this letter, I guess utopia will have to wait.
about that one).
In the non-professional world,
I danced a lot and did numerous
performances. I also went through
a surprising twist and was the subject of my daughter trying to play
matchmaker.
Out of all of this and what
last year has brought you, let us
remember 2016 as a teaching tool.
We learned new things everyday.
It was good or bad but we learned.
What do you want 2017 to
bring you?
We have the absolute privilege
of going through the annual resolution-making process.
What are yours?
Personally, I want this year to
be the year of non-procrastination. I know I work better under
deadlines and those will still be
there but I need to change it up a
bit and get whatever I need done
as early as possible so I can sit
back, relax and not stress over the
situation.
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PAGE 4
ÔSTEN
THE MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
myON
Continued from Page 1
(Submission)
CITIZEN SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT
DENNY FURTHERS EDUCATION THROUGH COLLEGIATE SPORT
by CHELSIE RICH
PROJECT SPECIALIST
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Muscogee (Creek) citizen Daelyn Denny
signed a letter of intent to play softball at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond.
Through hard work and dedication, the 18-year-old Owasso High
School senior prepares to open the
next chapter of her life.
Denny is the daughter of Milt
and Rachel Denny of Owasso, who
introduced her to the sport.
“I played softball because it
was fun. I started when I was four,”
Denny said. “My mom actually
played when she was younger so it’s
kind of like a family thing.”
Over the next 14 years, this sport
would become a vital part of Denny’s life.
Denny was named to the Oklahoma All-District, All-Region and AllState softball teams and was also
featured as one of VYPE Magazine’s
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Athlete of
the Month.
“It has helped me in so many
ways. It helped me gain friends, lifelong friends, meet new people and
it’s helped me with college,” she
said.
Denny helped lead the Lady
Rams to a 35-4 record in her final
season, where she hit a .400 bat-
EMVPONAYV
Continued from Page 1
further dialogue and review, a
final policy will be established.”
‘Principal Chief James Floyd
indicated a deference to the
statement out of the Attorney
General’s office on the matter.’
We’ll keep on eye on this one.
Watch the ‘Muscogee Nation
News,’ the Mvskoke Media website and ‘Native News Today’ for
the play-by-play.
That would be a good question to be discussed. Open phone
lines on the ‘Mvskoke Radio’
show maybe? Lets see, maybe so.
There are some Oklahoma
issues that show progress on the
Native front. First of all, the water
rights settlement for southeast
Oklahoma tribes.
‘The Oklahoman’ reports The
U.S. Senate just passed a bill
that includes a historic water
rights settlement among Oklahoma City, the State of Oklahoma
and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. President Barack
Obama is expected to sign it.
The reports said maintenance
at the Port of Muskogee and Port
of Catoosa, in northeast Oklahoma, is included, along with
projects at Tulsa levees and the
McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River
Navigation System.
Language in the bill says the
state must recognize tribal priorities over these waterways.
And… The ‘Tulsa World’
reports the Cherokee Nation will
recognize same-sex marriages
under an opinion issued by their
tribe’s attorney general.
The ‘World’ reported Cher-
ting average, with 35 RBIs, 41 runs
scored and 12 stolen bases.
The Lady Ram’s outfielder will
retire her jersey and start her new
softball career as a Lady Eagle next
fall.
Denny’s success in softball was
done all while maintaining a 4.0
GPA.
Denny plans to pursue a degree
in cellular and molecular biology at
OC, which coincides with her goal of
becoming a pharmacist.
Denny has always thought highly
of her education.
“It’s important to me because it
helps you get a job, helps you sustain a job,” Denny said. “I think all
kids need to get educated.”
Denny hopes to return home to
help her community after becoming
a pharmacist possibly by obtaining a
job with the MCN Health System.
Denny looks to her grandparents for guidance and strength.
“They’ve worked so hard to get
my parents where they are. They’ve
influenced my parents and they’ve
influenced my life,” she said.
Denny leaves a word of advice
for those who may want to follow in
her footsteps.
“Never give up, there will always
be some tough time,” she said. “You
just got to push through those tough
times.”
okee Nation Attorney General
Todd Hembree issued an opinion saying that the tribe, as a
sovereign nation itself, was not
bound by the 2015 U.S. Supreme
Court decision that made gay
marriage legal in all 50 states,
and that the tribe’s own constitution “protects the fundamental
right to marry” regardless of the
genders involved in the relationship.
That decision reverses a law
the Cherokee Nation enacted in
2004 stating that marriages recognized by the tribe had to be
between a man and woman.
Again, that would be a good
question to be discussed. Open
phone lines on the ‘Mvskoke
Radio’ show maybe? Lets see,
maybe so.
Remember that Oklahoma
law I mentioned limiting the
term, ‘Indian artists’ in Oklahoma to federally recognized
tribes? I thought that sooner
(pun intended) or later somebody would challenge it with a
lawsuit. Well, it’s happened.
A member of the Virginia
state-recognized Patawomeck
tribe who lives in California has
become the first to challenge
the law. Off we go.
What will the New Year
bring? The new president has
lined up a number of people
that have tribal governments
raising some eyebrows about
any new policies aimed at
reversing directions that tribes
have enjoyed over the past eight
years. We’ll see.
Hope you have a good 2017.
Hvtvm Cehecares — I’ll see you
again.
included in the legislative review
process to approve the program
at MCN.
“When this program was
established, it was established
under the secretary of education prior to Mr. Greg Anderson.
There were two primary goals.
The first goal was to improve
English language literacy for
Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizens, focused on K-12 students
. . . The desire of the chief at
that time was to bring forward
the conversion of the language,”
myON President Todd Brekhus
said.
Johnson’s email to Tiger
expressed that myON would not
only assist Muscogee (Creek) citizens with literacy, but also would
be used to help preserve and
teach the Mvskoke language.
‘MNN’ sent a request to the
MCN Attorney General’s Office to
see the contract between myON
and MCN. No information was
received by press time.
Brekhus said they created
a proposal terms agreement
based on the goals and objectives of the Nation.
Brekhus said the Nation never
requested a contract.
“A contract model is only provided when basically needed.
And so our model is proposal
and then a purchase agreement
and a license agreement . . .
Those are contractual and those
are legal,” Brekhus said.
‘MNN’ requested a copy of
the service and licensing agreement the Nation had with myON.
MCN Public Relations responded
to the inquiry stating that a licensing with myON did not exist.
‘MNN’ requested a copy of
the agreement from Brekhus the
morning of Dec. 12, 2016 and
did not receive a response as of
press time.
Tiger signed NCA 13-262
Oct. 31, 2013, appropriating
$750,000 to establish myON for
the Nation, granting access to
all Muscogee (Creek) citizens
regardless of age.
All Muscogee (Creek) citizens
were granted access to myON.
History
The 2013 agreement between
myON and MCN was for the literacy program’s initial phase,
which would last six months and
its renewal would be based upon
its success in the Nation.
On May 22, 2014, Tiger
signed NCA 14-065 appropriating $660,000 to continue myON.
The total cost to fund myON
for the first year was $1.4 million.
According to NCA 15-141,
myON
was
appropriated
$1,530,429 in 2015.
“In prior years, in FY (fiscal
year) 2015 it was over $1.5 million which with the financial challenges that the Nation is going
through right now that’s not
an affordable number to work
with,” MCN Secretary of Education and Training Greg Anderson
said.
Anderson said the Nation
paid for 89,041 users at the rate
of $10.26 per person in 2015.
Muscogee (Creek) citizens made
up 81,370 of projected users and
7,671 individuals were projected
from MCN Johnson O’ Malley
Program districts.
“We started out with funding all of the citizenry rather than
just being selective,” Dr. Johnson
said.
Johnson said he felt it would
be unfair to only give some citizens access.
In the FY 2017 budget proposal, myON reduced the subscription price from $10.26 to
$7.09 per user, which came to a
total of $631,136.
According to the proposal,
myON was a committed partner.
Leadership extended a grant in
the amount of $542,429 for FY
2017 due to the budget shortfall
MCN was experiencing.
Brekhus also agreed to cover
half of the project management
cost, which was estimated at
$150,000.
MyON’s total funding for FY
2017 and 2018 would have been
$1.826 million after the discounts.
Despite the discount myON
presented, no action was taken
on the proposed legislation at
the Sept. 12, 2016 HEW meeting.
Funding
Affordability has been the
main discussion between myON
and MCN.
Anderson said the chief and
second chief instructed him to
dig into these numbers and find
a way to reduce the cost.
Brekhus said Anderson
approached him and asked if he
could renegotiate a more affordable price.
“So their point of renegotiation was to reduce the number
down to active users,” he said.
Brekhus said students were
the most active users.
“So [Anderson] renegotiated
that with me and so I flew down
twice, worked through a renegotiation process,” he said.
Anderson said Brekhus came
back with another proposal
based on 16,000 users.
“Mr. Brekhus told me that
there were 16,000 users out of
the 89,000 that we paid for,” he
said.
Brekhus said he built a model
that was one of the lowest pricing models they have ever done.
He said they normally charge
per school.
“We took a custom pricing model based on the goals
and objectives of the Muscogee
(Creek) Nation,” Brekhus said.
He said MCN was the first
tribal project they have done.
“We didn’t want to abandon
it, so we put every best foot forward we could and provided the
absolute lowest price for the current situation we are in,” he said.
The Nov. 7, 2016 HEW meeting revealed that the cost for
myON had dropped to $474,617.
Despite the lower cost, the
motion failed.
Education
Watson said myON provided
academic advancement for students.
According to a statistic provided by Watson, over one
million books were accessed
through myON.
Watson said myON is not only
a digital library but also helps
students who are struggling academically.
Her role was to monitor lexile
growth and promote myON in
the school districts
Watson said she held stakeholder meetings to update the
company on the statistics she
gathered.
“I’ve been holding them since
I kind of took over the position as
project manager,” she said.
Watson said she met with
them every three months and
would show them how many
books have been read and the
time spent reading.
“Reading does so much and
opens so many doors and giving
that to a child is going to outnumber anything else,” Watson said.
She described meeting one
young lady who won a top reader
award.
Watson said the individual
has a brain disorder that hinders her from holding a book
and reading because she sees
double. But myON allows her to
hear it and the highlighting feature helps her follow along with
the book.
“Dyslexic kids, who again
struggle with reading and now
they’re excelling because of
myON, because of the program
that we have at Creek Nation. We
have changed some of these kids’
lives,” she said.
HEW
During the Dec. 5, 2016 HEW
meeting, myON was proposed
for the fourth time with the
reduced cost of $474,617.
MCN National Council Rep.
Dode Barnett sponsored the bill.
• P.O. B O X 5 8 0 - O K M U LG E E , O K 74 4 4 7 • 918 .7 3 2 .7 7 2 0 • M V S KO K E M E D I A .CO M • @ M V S KO K E M E D I A
Barnett said she reintroduced
the bill again because she felt
there was a need for literacy.
“We are right now, are spending hundreds and thousands
of dollars every single year for
remedial classes that don’t count
towards any college credit for
our kids . . . it’s money that we
could spend on the front end in
programs like myON instead of
on the back end when there’s
already a problem,” she said.
Brekhus was present at the
meeting.
He said he had hoped to
answer questions and address
misinformation regarding myON.
Brekhus discussed how the
proposal had been revised.
“Revising that to a K-12 proposal focus rather than for the
whole nation,” he said.
Brekhus said the reduced
proposal budget went from $1.3
million per year to $474,000.
Several members from the
National Council were present at
HEW and a discussion was held
on the legislation, NCA 16-197.
Rep. Del Beaver inquired
about the project management
portion of the budget proposal.
“Is it our employees or is it
an employee from myON getting paid $97,000? I know it’s
included in fringe, but it says
here in the budget they are getting paid eighty something thousand,” he said.
Brekhus stated that the individual worked for myON as a
project manager and confirmed
that the individual was not a
tribal employee.
Rep. Mark Randolph pointed
out the benefits of literacy for the
Nation.
“Fundamentally, we are just
talking about offering a program
that enhances our people’s reading skills so that they can further
themselves successfully, academically and out into the world,” he
said.
Before the vote, Rep. Johnnie
Greene stated there was still a
lack of funds.
“I think this is the fourth time
that this issue has come up that
we voted on . . . I think we are
still in that same position of not
having enough funds,” she said.
HEW Committee member
James Jennings was absent. The
legislation was postponed indefinitely with a vote of 2-1, with Barnett voting in support, and Reps.
Joyce Deere and Rufus Scott
voting against it.
Step Grant
In 2015, MCN was awarded a
$318,463 State Tribal Education
Partnership grant from the U.S.
Department of Education.
“MyON was added as another
level of working with the two
schools . . . which is Wetumka
and Weleetka,” Anderson said.
He said the grant was written
initially without myON’s involvement.
Barnett said she understood that MCN would not lose
the grant for failing to continue
myON.
“I do think as far as the reputation of the Nation is concerned
that it would make federal agencies in the future leery to enter
into agreement with us if we say
we are going to provide something and take that away,” she
said.
Barnett said the funding is
primarily focused around a holistic approach to education, which
includes cultural aspects to
Natives and non-Natives.
“The focus is not solely on literacy or myON, so that would not
endanger the grant as a whole,”
Barnett said.
Anderson said while myON
had a good record of success in
the Nation, the priority was to
make sure the product is affordable.
‘MNN’ reached out to MCN
Principal Chief James Floyd for
a statement concerning any literacy program under works that
might replace myON, and any
thoughts on the Council’s postponement of the legislation, and
did not receive a statement as of
press time.
CAHKÊPEN
PAGE 5
THE MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
NCAI
Continued from Page 1
ing at economic policies that will
affect all of American citizens.
The fact that this American president does have intimate knowledge of gaming operations and
their viable interest in providing resources for governments to
thrive. Tribal governments are not
any different than state governments that rely on gaming and lotteries that help balance their budgets.
You know, I think that it could
prove to be an opportunity with
this president.
MR: Focusing specifically on
gaming, we saw in his past opposition to tribal gaming, that he was
disparaging towards their operations. But is it somewhat ironic
that many of those gaming operations are continuing to thrive,
while his have gone bankrupt?
JP: I can’t really speak to the
economic success of one business
institution over the other. I think
the situations are so, within that
environment—the good thing
about tribal business success is
that tribal economic gaming success is all attributed to helping the
governmental functions of their
local government—the tribal
local government, which is very
much in line with the Republican
philosophy. Local governments,
local control. Of course, our tribal
governments don’t have the same
taxing resources that other governments do and gaming operations is one way of helping to supplement the federal resources
that will never meet the needs of
our schools, our health care delivery systems, our transportation,
our roads. You know the list goes
on about what our tribal governments have to provide.
MR: What do you think will be
the first item on the NCAI agenda
that you will put forward for his
administration to consider?
JP: Well, we actually have sent
forward some recommendations
already. Obviously the first thing
on his agenda right now, is getting the right people in place and
making sure that the key nominations for Native Americans and
Native American positions are on
the forefront.
That means filling the position in domestic policy, in the
inner agency. In the White House,
having the Ssecretary of the Interior (at the time of the interview,
Dec. 9, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., later, Montana
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont.) just
announced that has experience
with tribal governments, as well as
making sure that the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, the IHS
(Indian Health Service) director,
the agriculture person over Native
programs, all of those positions
are filled with people who can
continue to move forward with
the agenda for Indian Country and
continue to address those issues
that we try to improve.
MR: The list of nominees for
various Cabinet positions is slowly
being unveiled. We’re seeing conservative business-types. One in
particular was the head of the
Environmental Protection Agency,
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott
Pruitt who has a long record of
opposition to federal environmental control. Even our governor,
Mary Fallin’s name has been bandied about. These are folks who
are strongly behind the oil and gas
industry and sometimes that can
be in opposition to the priorities
of Native America, although many
tribes do engage in production.
Something like the Standing
Rock Sioux situation on the Dakota
Access Pipeline, all of those things
spring to mind as we think about
the people he’s putting forward.
From the names you’ve heard,
does that give you any apprehension or something to be considered or do you think these would
be advantageous to Native America?
JP: I think that it’s all in how
we put forward an agenda that we
can create a winning opportunity
with them. With every administration, there’s always been pros and
cons with every party. That’s one
of the reasons why Indian Country is so firmly needing of both
the Republicans and the Democrats and the Independents, quite
frankly. We need them to all turn
out to vote, but we recognize that
there are issues aligned with one
in one area and in other areas, not
so.
So, when this administration
will look at, EPA will look at some
of the permitting requirements.
Indian Country is after that, too.
Our whole response to something like the North Dakota pipeline issue is look at the permitting process and make sure that
tribal voices are included early so
that we can also be part of making
those solutions. Indian Country
has made it very clear, we are not
anti-development but we want to
make it clear, just like any other
government, that we have the
same ability to engage in the same
dialogue on these developments
that affect our land and to make
sure that we have them located in
places that may have less impact,
either to our waterways or to our
sacred places. That’s not any different than any other government
and we have great recommendations on that.
So, I think that there are winning opportunities.
MR: Are there any items that
you are apprehensive about, kind
of being turned around and rolled
back?
JP: We have done our assessment of the things, not only within
this administration but with Congress, we think are areas that
could of challenge to some of the
things that we’ve asked for before.
But we’ve also put forward the list
of opportunities, such as infrastructure and energy development.
I would say that, overall the
most important piece for us, is recognizing that there is a whole new
cadre of people coming into the
administration and new members
of Congress too, who really have
no working knowledge of tribes.
That creates the greatest challenge
to us. So that inadvertently, decisions are made that could impact
us without us being consulted or
being at the table. To me, that is
the most important piece that we
need to tackle first.
NCAI is preparing recommendations that we receive from
Indian Country for each of the
departments. So when they get
into place after the confirmation
process that takes place early in
January, we’ll start sharing those
recommendations. But really, part
of those recommendations is sitting down and helping fill the gap
on some of that knowledge that’s
necessary on, ‘how do you engage
with Indian Country,’ ‘how do you
consult with Indian Country’ and
‘how can we be useful in making
that happen.’
MR: Let’s take a look at the Congress. It’s got decidedly Republican strength there. It will be a
real uphill battle, I think, for anything that isn’t on the conservative
agenda to be passed into law.
As you sit observing Congress,
how does it size up? Is it going to
be hostile? Am I correct in thinking things are going to be hard for
Native Americans to get through or
is there a bright spot?
JP: I think for us, we have
found, and I think that’s one of our
strengths in Washington, D.C., is
recognizing that we have always
done our work in a bi-partisan
fashion. We’ve seen this strong
Native American caucus of leadership in the House (U.S. House
of Representatives) for example,
with Tom Cole and Betty McCallum. Their coordination and collaboration has always been very
important.
We have lists of Republican
senators and congressmen who
have been supportive of a variety
of issues for Indian Country. So,
we’re not in a place where that
becomes a fear for us because all
of Indian Country is included.
In fact, while the partisan politics was happening, Indian bills
tend to get done anyway because
of the bi-partisan nature of the
issues. All we have done is, ’what
does this Congress look like,’ the
issues that are important to them,
make sure that we are prepared
with the issues we want to present
from Indian Country.
For example, we’ve heard
that there is going to be conversations about infrastructure, not
only infrastructure for job creation, but to spur America’s economy. That’s important for Indian
Country. We know that’s important for Indian Country. So here at
NCAI, we’re putting together a list
of Indian Country’s infrastructure
needs so that we’re prepared for
that debate when it happens.
We know that they’re going
to want to talk about tax reform.
NCAI’s been partnering with other
organizations on a tax working
group and tax strategy. We sat
down and looked at Indian Country on tax strategy to see what are
those things that we can put forward at this time.
So that’s what we’re doing and
I have to admit that we’re nervous
about Affordable Care repeals, but
what we do know is that we’re not
targeted in the repeals. The IHS
system, it’s permanent re-authorization that we got as part of the
Affordable Care Act was included
as an element of that. We just
needed to make sure that we’ve
got our protective measures on,
making sure that we don’t unintentionally get harmed.
MR: One of the critical issues is
always the funding for health care.
Do you think we’re going to have
any continued problem there?
JP: You know, I think that the
whole budget debate is going to
be something that is going to be an
area that we have to pay attention
to and we have to do that anyway.
Having to deal with the budget
caps that have been put in by Congress, having to deal with what
does that look like for self-governance and direct service to tribes
and program services.
So, the whole budget thing is
something that NCAI has taken
very seriously. Every year we pull
together a budget working group
that consists of all of the Native
organizations and we put together
this budget document. We’re planning on releasing this document
on February 13. It’s a comprehensive tool to educate members of
Congress and the administration
about the needs of Indian Country.
MR: Have you heard any
names or discussions beyond Interior secretary, perhaps someone
to head up the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Bureau of Indian Educa-
tion, Indian Health Service, any of
those come to the forefront yet?
JP: Well, there haven’t been
any nominations announced yet.
Certainly there are names that
are starting to float around. NCAI
doesn’t endorse, but we, like
everybody else are hoping that
some of the best and brightest put
their names forward. It’s a really
important time for us to have
Indian Country in the administrations and we’re looking forward to
supporting them in whatever way
that we can.
Yes, there have been some
good names coming forward.
Right now, all the focus in the transition has been on putting these
key pieces in place. I would urge
the transition team that putting
those Native Americans in the
White House is just as important
so that we can really begin to be
part of the policy discussions.
MR: Is it going to be a hard
educational process for the Trump
administration?
JP: I think it’s going to be an
ongoing educational process. We
tend to find that policy decision
makers really understand that
tribes are listed in the Constitution
just as the states and the federal
government are involved in government and what does that really
look like with federal Indian policy
and law.
The thing that we find most
often is that because they don’t
have that basic knowledge, then
inadvertently, we’re not in the discussion while a policy is happening
and they talk directly with states,
not thinking about how does that
roll out for tribes or is there something specifically we need to think
about for tribes.
So our education, we’ll continue to reinforce that in everything we do, the state of Indian
Nations, the policy that we put forward. We actually do a congressional kind of one-on-one Indian
Country for new members of congress.
We’ll just continue to be
aggressive about trying to help
share that information.
MR: So, what are the next four
years going to look like for Native
America and the White House?
JP: I wish I knew that. I think,
like everybody else in this country, we’re all trying to ‘read the
tealeaves,’ right? I don’t know what
that will really look like yet. I do
know what we would like it to look
like. We would like it to be able to
have the kind of engagement with
this administration such as the
Tribal Nations Conference or the
continuation of the inter-agency
council so that Indian issues still
remain a critical priority.
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• P.O. B O X 5 8 0 - O K M U LG E E , O K 74 4 4 7 • 918 .7 3 2 .7 7 2 0 • M V S KO K E M E D I A .CO M • @ M V S KO K E M E D I A
PAGE 6
THE MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
Muscogee (Creek) veterans Andrew Lowe and Phillip Barnoskie traveled to North Dakota to support the Standing Rock protest.
(Chelsie Rich/Project Specialist)
THE CALL OF DUTY: PROTECTING
THE WATER PROTECTORS
VETERANS MAKE STAND AT PROTEST
by JESSICA MCBRIDE
MEDIA COORDINATOR
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Phillip
Barnoskie and Andrew Lowe left
Oklahoma Dec. 2, 2016 and made
the almost 1,000 mile drive to the
Dakota Access Pipeline protest in
North Dakota.
Lowe said they traveled all
night, and as they neared the
site, they reached the top of a hill
that overlooked the protest village
below.
“I was thinking this is how
Custer saw the village that he was
going to attack and stuff when he
came up over the hill and saw all
these teepees,” he said.
Both Muscogee (Creek), U.S.
Marine Corps veterans were
restless when they arrived, and
walked around the camp, introducing themselves to others who
shared their cause.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe,
along with other individuals from
around the world initiated a protest against plans for the Dakota
Access Pipeline to be built in the
area.
The tribe was concerned about
water contamination, and the disturbance of sacred burial and
ancestral lands.
Construction was halted in
September 2016, and the U.S.
Army announced Dec. 4, 2016
that a permit for the pipeline to
cross under Lake Oahe would be
denied.
Reports of extreme use of force
came from protestors, but Lowe
said they were not fearful of the
police or violence while they were
at the protest.
While at the camp, Barnoskie
and Lowe said it was a fast-paced
environment, and that they ate
small meals ranging from Vienna
serve the people and stand with
their brothers for a common goal
of protecting individual rights and
freedoms at the protest.
“I think it was kind of exhilarating because all the people kind of
seemed like they come together.
They were all as one,” Lowe said.
“I don’t know, I guess they were
happy the veterans were there to
support them.”
Barnoskie said the magnitude
of the issue would set in at the end
of the day.
He felt the protest is more than
a Standing Rock issue, but one for
humanity and all living things.
“Water is for everyone. We all
know that. So it’s just not a Native
issue… it’s bigger than that,” Barnoskie said.
While in the area, Lowe said
locals described an annual ice
fishing festival that would come to
an end if the pipeline were to be
built and burst.
tives,” he said. “Those are the ones
that were talking to us. And everywhere we went, there was a lot of
those people who said to me that
they were glad that we came, that
we were showing support.”
Lowe described the issue as a,
“smoke signal out to all the indigenous people.”
He hopes that this will have a
ripple effect with other issues.
“We’re sworn in to protect and
serve our country and I think this
issue here has opened up a lot of
people’s eyes that we’re not going
to stand still any more,” Lowe said.
“This isn’t happening just at that
place, it’s all over. It’s everywhere.”
Barnoskie hopes this is the
turning point for Native issues and
government-to-government relations that could impact decisions
closer to home.
“…well technology has opened
up and people are starting to see
what’s going on with video and it
is, it’s part of that,” he said. “If they
won’t recognize treaties or even up
there like that, then what makes
you say the government will recognize treaties with us?”
Lowe said this moment will be
part of history for generations to
come.
“When we’re gone and everything, the people will look back
and see how all the indigenous
people came together to protect
the waters. And nobody can live
without water.
“We’ve got to have water. I
hope these people understand
that. I think they believe more in
money than they do for water,” he
said.
Barnoskie said the issue is constantly in his thoughts.
“The things that we do as
adults in this country, the children
(Submission)
– MUSCOGEE (CREEK) VETERAN ANDREW LOWE
sausages, crackers and water, to
the crowd favorite, Spam.
Both were part of a group of
veterans they said felt called to
“If that breaks loose or anything happens, they said they
would lose all that. These were the
locals that were talking, non-Na-
TRIBAL POLICE DEPARTMENT SEES
IMPORTANCE OF RESERVE OFFICERS
DEPARTMENT LOOKS FOR QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS FOR PROGRAM
OKMULGEE, Okla. — The
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department
has a full-scale department full of
officers, K-9 units, lake patrol officer and investigators.
Sounds like quite a bit, right?
However, sometimes at big
events officers that are patrolling
can get stretched thin.
That is when reserve officers
come in.
A reserve officer is considered
a police officer but on a more volunteer basis.
“He is not classified as a
full-time status,” LTPD Chief of
Police Robert Hawkins said. “The
reserves that we have do have
full-time jobs at other places.”
Hawkins said they get qualified people in that are interested
in law enforcement for the RO
are watching us. They’re watching
and we’re the example,” he said.
“And what I’ve seen up there is not
a good example. So we have to
take care for our kids.”
Lowe compared the Standing
Rock concern with the water issue
in Flint, Mich., and the potential to
have to boil water for usage.
“There’s people that do that
right now… And those people,
their water is poisoned already.
They have to live like that every
day,” he said. “I’m just hoping
people wake up and see that.”
Both citizens said if the permit
decision is overturned at a later
date, they will make their way back
to stand for what they believe and
feel is a sense of duty as veterans.
They hope that people from
around the world come to understand the issue and see that water
is life, or Mni Wiconi in Lakota.
“We’re sworn in to protect and serve our country and
I think this issue here has opened up a lot of people’s
eyes that we’re not going to stand still any more.”
To inquire about the Lighthorse Tribal Police Department Reserve Officer Program, contact LTPD at:
918-732-7800. (Staff Photo)
by DARREN DELAUNE
REPORTER
EPÂKEN
program.
“They go for this position like
an employee would,” Hawkins
said. “There is a process to get
into our reserve officer program.”
Why a reserve officer program
at LTPD?
“During times of big events,
our reserve officers step in and
help the full-time with more manpower,” Hawkins said. “They protect our citizens just like our officers and they do everything to
make sure everyone is safe.”
LTPD looks at individuals in the
RO program when they are ready
to hire full-time officers.
“This gives us a leg up to look
for someone to go full-time,” LTPD
Deputy Chief Daniel Wind III said.
Wind said a lot of the officers
love what they are doing in the RO
program and do like volunteering
hours to give back to their community and to the citizens.
• P.O. B O X 5 8 0 - O K M U LG E E , O K 74 4 4 7 • 918 .7 3 2 .7 7 2 0 • M V S KO K E M E D I A .CO M • @ M V S KO K E M E D I A
(Submission)
KÔLVPÂKEN
THE MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
SUBMISSIONS
Bobby Yargee, maintenance employee for the
Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council
retired Dec. 16, 2016 after 12 years on the job.
(Darren DeLaune/Reporter)
RETIREE REFLECTS
ON TIME AT TRIBE,
LOOKS AHEAD
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Children and Family Services Staff Steve Wahnee, Holly Dunn, Second
Chief Louis Hicks, Muscogee (Creek) citizen Cindy Yahola and her daughter Aspen with the toy
and clothing donation to the Children and Family Services department. (Submission)
YARGEE FEELS IT IS TIME FOR
SOMETHING NEW
MCN PUBLIC RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE
OUT OF STATE CITIZEN
MAKES DONATION DURING
CHRISTMAS SEASON
by DARREN DELAUNE
REPORTER
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Bobby
Yargee started as a maintenance worker for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National
Council 12 years ago and bid
farewell Dec. 16, 2016 to the
position.
Yargee said he would love
to stay at the tribe but chose to
retire due to health reasons.
“I noticed I could not move
as well as I wanted to,” he said.
Yargee said this is the only
position he had with MCN and
he was happy when it was created.
“It has been great working
with the National Council and
getting to know people who
are involved with the tribe,” he
said.
Yargee said he plans to
spend time with his grandchildren and pursue his hobbies.
“I am also looking forward
to fishing more,” he said. “I
am looking forward to taking
more walks in the woods for
no reason. Just to enjoy nature
and everyday that has been
given to me as long as my
health holds up.”
Yargee said he also hopes to
visit more people.
“I used to listen to people’s
conversations and enjoyed that
so much,” he said. “I want to
do that again.”
Yargee said he will miss
interacting with the people
who come through the Mound
Building in Okmulgee where
the Council offices are located.
“I have met a lot of people
that came through these
doors,” he said. “I am going to
miss them.”
Yargee has been Alabama Quassarte Ceremonial
Grounds mekko for over 50
years and said he will continue
this for as long as possible.
Yargee also hopes to continue the dialog that has been
established
between
the
grounds.
“I meet with George Thompson
(Hickory
Ceremonial
Grounds) and other mekkos
and we all discuss issues
that are going on with each
grounds,” he said.
MCN National Council
Speaker Lucian Tiger said while
in his position, Yargee helped
the Council and many citizens.
“Mekko Yargee has had a
significant impact with every
citizen that he came across,”
Tiger said. “He was a great
go-between for us and the ceremonial grounds.”
Tiger also said the Council
will miss his personality.
“He is always in a good
mood and never seems to have
a bad day,” he said.
Tiger shared some parting
words for Yargee.
“Mekko Yargee, it has been
a pleasure knowing you and
getting to know you. Thank
you for all the advice you have
given me and the Council about
the Nation,” he said.
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen
Cindy Yahola and her daughter Aspen drove from Lebanon, Tennessee Dec. 8, 2016
to make a surprise visit at
the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Children and Family Services
office on the MCN Tribal Complex in Okmulgee. Yahola had
packed the trunk of her car full
with toys, clothes, and games
to donate.
For the past four years,
Yahola has conducted the toy
drive out of her home to give
to the Nation, but said this is
the biggest donation yet.
“The first year was kind of
small, the next year was a little
bigger, and last year was even
bigger and now this year we’ve
got this much,” Yahola said
while gesturing to the plastic
bins of toys.
Yahola received some help
collecting items this year from
a friend.
“This year I had a friend
of mine that is a news writer
for one of the local papers
and she did an article. I had
people I didn’t even know
coming to my house this year
with toys and stuff,” Yahola
said. “I was aware of the cutbacks from the layoffs. I let
the newspaper know that so I
think that might have helped
generate more.”
Yahola said she just wants
to help her tribe.
“It warms my heart to be
able to do something because
like I said, nobody ever thinks
of the Native kids [in Tennessee] and the Natives are near
and dear to my heart,” Yahola
said. “It is a way for people
to know of the Native culture
because they don’t get it out
there.”
Children and Family Services Administrative Assistant
April Welch said this donation
would make Christmas for a
lot of children.
According to Welch, the
donation would go to children in tribal custody as well
as other needy families.
“These are going to go to
kids in tribal custody or that
are on our case plan currently.
Also, because there is such an
abundance that we are willing to look into reintegration
is doing a drive, Domestic Violence [Prevention Program],
they help their children,”
Welch said. “So, definitely
going to share the wealth here
and share with our citizens.”
PAGE 7
MCN PUBLIC RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE
MCN CITIZENSHIP OFFICE
PRESS RELEASE
MCN CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES PARTNERSHIP
WITH MCN TRAVEL PLAZA
CITIZENSHIP OFFICE
OFFERING DNA TESTING
OKMULGEE, Okla. — The
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Children and Family Services recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship
with the Okmulgee Travel Plaza
and Muscogee Twin Hills Convenience Plaza to promote recognition and awareness for the
month of November as “National
Adoption Month”.
The entities formed this partnership to more effectively and
efficiently communicate, recognize, and financially support children participating in a custody
program within The Muscogee
(Creek) Nation.
The MCN Children and Family
Services identifies the need
in achieving each child has an
uncomplicated transition into,
during, and after their program
has ended. Each retail entity
began accepting monetary donations from individuals who have
made a purchase.
Administrative staff members
from CFS was quoted saying,
“having these MCN businesses
allow us to use their customer
base for a great cause has truly
been inspiring. These are people
of our community reaching out
to our children in adoptive services truly captures the spirit of
the holidays.”
The total donation amount
for this year totaled at $379.73.
All donations received will go
towards the purchasing of gifts
for The MCN CFS Angel Tree. The
Angel Tree is a Christmas tree
decorated with angels that represent each child that is currently
in a MCN CFS program. These
children range from 0-18 years
old.
The Angel Tree is located in
the Community Services building
located on The MCN tribal complex in Okmulgee.
CFS staff also proudly elaborated, “This year every angel
on the Angel Tree received gifts
and not one angel will go without a gift this Christmas thanks
to these donations as well as private donations from the community.”
• P.O. B O X 5 8 0 - O K M U LG E E , O K 74 4 4 7 • 918 .7 3 2 .7 7 2 0 • M V S KO K E M E D I A .CO M • @ M V S KO K E M E D I A
OKMULGEE, Okla. — The
Citizenship Office is now offering DNA testing for anyone that is
needing this type of service. The
service is available at both Citizenship locations in Okmulgee,
Okla. and Jenks, Okla.
Please contact the Okmulgee
location at (918) 732-7941 or the
Jenks location at 918-701-2611
for scheduling or more information. The service is available
by appointment only and cash
or money order are the only
accepted forms of payment at
this time.
The prices are listed below:
Paternity Testing - $45.00 per
person
Grandparent Testing - $65.00
per person
Siblingship Testing - $65.00
per person
Avuncular Testing - $65.00
per person
Family Reconstruction Testing
- $65.00 per person
Y STR- $120.00 add’l charge
per person
Non-Standard
Sample
(Includes anything other than
blood/buccal) - $145.00 per
person charge
Twin Zygosity - $75.00 add’l
charge per person
You may contact our office
at 1-800-482-1979 or 918-7568700, exts. 7940, 7941, 7942 and
7943.
In Memoriam
Daniel Wiyo Kaler
OKMULGEE,
Okla.
—
Daniel Wiyo Kaler, 45, a resident of Okmulgee passed
away Nov. 26, 2016, at his
home after a short battle with
cancer.
Daniel was born Feb. 17,
1971 in Henryetta to Linda
Randall and Danny Kaler.
Daniel had a deep love for
his family. He enjoyed his time
playing his guitar, skateboarding, photography and creating
videos. He also had a passion
for the Asian culture.
Daniel is preceded in death
by his grandparents, Bunnie
and Pauline Randall, Claude
and Nancy Kaler.
Survived by his mother,
Linda Randall of the home,
father, Danny Kaler of Okmulgee. Brothers: Dallas Kaler of
Ponca City and Chase Kaler of
Weleetka. Special first cousins: Regina Randall Stittsworth
of Owasso and Kim Slyconish
of Henryetta. Numerous aunts,
uncles and cousins.
Following cremation, a private family service will be held
at a later date. Cremation
arrangements were entrusted
to Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service and Cremation Directors,
in Enid.
Remembrances may be
shared online at: www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.
PAGE 8
THE MUSCOGEE NATION NEWS
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CENVPÂKEN