The Muscogee Nation

Author: muscadmin

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Announces the 2018 Living Legends for Upcoming Festival

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 6, 2018

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – As part of the 40th Annual Mvskoke Festival, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation announced the 2018 Living Legends inductees.

    The Living Legends induction was created in 2005 by former MCN Principal Chief A.D. Ellis.

    The inductees are Muscogee (Creek) citizens who are 55 years of age or older and were nominated for their contributions to the Nation on local, national and international levels through a variety of capacities including traditional, professional, education and more.

    This year’s inductees include: Scott Roberts of Oklahoma City, Okla., Thomas Yahola of Wetumka, Okla., Richard Wesley Larney of Henryetta, Okla., Edna Belcher of Eufaula, Okla., and Dr. Kelly Roberta Moore of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

    Roberts is being honored for his traditional Mvskoke pottery of the Late Woodland and Mississippian period. He is the last living Muscogee (Creek) who knows how to replicate this traditional artwork. He will be starting an apprenticeship mentoring other Muscogee (Creek) citizens this summer in a two to three-month training.

    Roberts has received numerous awards for his work in art shows throughout the U.S.

    Yahola, Mekko of Tallahassee Ceremonial Ground, retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and received Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army.

    He served 11 terms on the Muscogee (Creek) National Council and four terms as Speaker, as well as one term as Second Speaker. He is also the Commander of the Mvskoke Nation Honor Guard, which he established within his 27 years of service to the Nation in a variety of capacities.

    Larney retired as Henryetta Chief of Police after 27 years of service and received Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army.

    Larney served on a number of boards across the MCN jurisdiction including CREOKS Mental Health Board, Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Okmulgee County Jail Board and many others.

    He also served as Henryetta Mayor for eighth years and City Councilman for six years. Larney was a Muscogee (Creek) National Council member 1978-1980 and 1982-1984, as well as Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Chief during the Chief Claude Cox Administration.

    Belcher is being inducted for her service to the Nation and Eufaula community throughout her lifetime. She began her career as a cook at the Fountainhead Lodge for 20 years and then worked with Eufaula Bingo.

    In 1987, she was approached by Vann McIntosh, Superintendent of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Eufaula Dormitory, to work in the kitchen. Belcher worked 27 years before retirement at the dormitory and left a loving and nurturing legacy to hundreds of children.

    Belcher was a charter member of the Eufaula Indian Community and served as the first chairman, as well as 19 years as EIC Treasurer. On Oct. 27, 2016, the EIC honored Belcher by naming the EIC Nutrition Center the Edna Belcher Elder Nutrition Center for her service to the citizens, community and the Nation.

    Moore has spent her medical profession contributing to the Nation and Native Americans to improve physical, mental and spiritual health. She began her career as a pediatrician working at several Indian Health Service facilities across the country serving 20 years.

    Moore served as Captain in the United States Public Health Service and received a number of awards and recognitions including Association of American Indian Physician’s American Indian Physician of the Year Award, Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award, PHS Achievement Medal, as well as many others.

    She has continued her advocacy for Native American children and adults with diabetes and has helped bring national attention to the concern of Type 2 Diabetes in childhood obesity through a number of publications.

    The five inductees will be honored at the Living Legend Ceremony Thursday, June 21, 2018, at 5 p.m. at the Mvskoke Dome in Okmulgee, Okla. Dinner will be served directly after the recognition.

     

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  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Scholarship Pageant Names 2018-2019 Miss and Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Scholarship Pageant Names 2018-2019 Miss and Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Scholarship Pageant crowned its 2018-2019 Miss and Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation May 20, 2018 at River Spirit Casino and Resort’s Paradise Cove.

    The event was the first of its kind to be held in the venue.

    Nina Fox was crowned Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Louisa Harjo was crowned Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

    The Runner Up for Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation was Alexis McHenry and Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Runner Up was Feather Brandy Davis.

    Mahiya Ramirez was named Miss Congeniality by the other contestants.

    The pageant included an impromptu question portion about the Mvskoke culture and traditions, as well as a traditional talent from each contestant.

    The talents included traditional dress making, storytelling through artwork, as well as other traditional demonstrations.

    The new Miss and Jr. Miss will spend their reign as goodwill ambassadors of the Nation attending events and sharing their platforms to others.

    Fox’s platform is diabetes awareness among young adults and Harjo’s is “art is medicine”.

    Fox is the daughter of Justin and Peggy Fox and is a member of Tuskegee Tribal Town and of the Beaver clan. She will be attending the University of Central Oklahoma to study nursing and plans to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner.

    Harjo is the daughter of Pajose Harjo and Cassandra Thompson and is a member of Rvro Kvlkvt Tribal Town and of the Ecovlke clan. She hopes to attend the Institute of American Indian Arts or Clary Sage College.

     

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  • Mvskoke Loan Fund to Offer QuickBooks Training to Continue Business Boot Camps Series

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    May 24, 2018

     

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Mvskoke Loan Fund is continuing its Business Boot Camps series by offering its next free business training event, which will cover QuickBooks Accounting Software training.

    QuickBooks is used by companies large and small to assist in all aspects of accounting, including managing sales, expense reports, accounts payable and receivable, as well as payroll and federal taxes.

    Mvskoke Loan Fund Chief Executive Officer Christopher Coburn said QuickBooks is by far the easiest and cheapest accounting software that is widely accepted.

    Coburn said this free training event is just another tool offed by Mvskoke Loan Fund to assist in making a business successful.

    “A lot of what gets people in trouble is they don’t know how to account for their money and create and track what they are spending,” Coburn said. “They can’t create the financial reports, profit and loss statements or cash flow statements that are needed.”

    The QuickBooks training is the second of four trainings offered through the Business Boot Camps being offered through September 2018. The next two events will cover social media/marketing and networking for businesses.

    Coburn said the series is named Business Boot Camps because much like the military, they are short and difficult but they can save your life in the business field.

    The upcoming QuickBooks trainings will be held at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribal Complex in the Tribal Conference Room of the McCombs Building from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. on the following dates: May 30, June 13, July 11 and August 15.

    The classes are limited to 12 per class and laptops will be provided.

    Preference is given to Indianpreneurship graduates.

    For more information and to reserve a spot, please contact Mvskoke Loan Fund at 918-549-2603.

     

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  • Official Opening of Okemah Creek Nation Community Hospital set for May 10

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    May 8, 2018

     

    Official Opening of Okemah Creek Nation Community Hospital set for May 10

    OKEMAH, Okla. – The Okemah Creek Nation Community Hospital will be opening at the new location, 1800 E. Coplin Rd. Okemah, Okla., at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2018.

    This will include: Emergency Room, Lab, X-Ray, Inpatient, Surgery and Outpatient Specialty Clinic.

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation held the Ribbon Cutting and Dedication of the new facility on March 2, 2018 and will officially open the hospital portion in full operation on Thursday, May 10, 2018.

    The new facility is more conveniently accessible for patients located just off the south side of Interstate 40.

    The hospital not only serves Native Americans with CDIB cards but is also open to the general public and is only one of two Indian-owned hospitals in Oklahoma that serves the general public. The other hospital is the MCN Medical Center in Okmulgee, Okla.

    The state of the art facility is a landmark for the Nation as it replaces the previous community hospital, which was purchased by the MCN in 1977 as the first tribal-owned hospital in the U.S. through the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and through partnership with Okfuskee County.

    Okemah Dental Clinic will continue to provide services at their current site located at 1509 W. Columbia Okemah, Okla.

    The phone number, 918-623-1424, will remain the same.

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  • Muscogee (Creek) National Council Launches New Website

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    May 8, 2018

    Muscogee (Creek) National Council Launches New Website

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) National Council has launched its new website, which includes updated and added features for citizens to view.

    MCN National Council Speaker Lucian Tiger discussed the added features.

    “On behalf of the National Council, we are to pleased to announce the updated website,” Tiger said.  “The new features will enable citizens to view documents regarding National Council Representatives’ mileage expenses, travel expenses and Session/Committee Minutes.”

    Along with the new features, session agendas and an audio library are accessible, as well.

    The website can be viewed at www.mcnnc.com.

     

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  • MCN BHS held 1st ever Creekchella event

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    May 7, 2018

     

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Behavioral Health Program and the Mvskoke Nation Youth Council co-hosted the Creekchella music and art festival May 5, 2018 at the Mvskoke Dome.

    The event was the first of its kind, which was funded through an MCN Behavioral Health grant to bring awareness to mental health.

    Geared toward Mvskoke youth ages 12 years old and up, the event included live music with artist meet and greet, as well as spiritual wellness such as yoga and art sessions.

    The free festival was open to all ages and had performances throughout the day from local Oklahoma artists, including Ahna Jennings, Calvin McGriff, Weston Horn and the Hush and the headliner, Josh Sallee.

    Mvskoke Nation Youth Council Advisor Rachael Sourjohn said the festival had a heavy focus on holistic wellness and discussed the importance of mental health awareness for Native youth.

    “I think that it is something that they’re already dealing with on a daily basis,” Sourjohn said. “But no one is really recognizing that or talking to them about it. So, it’s raising awareness that mental health is very important and making sure that these young people know resources are there and available to them.”

    For more information regarding the services offered by the MCN Behavioral Health Program, visit their website at http://www.creekhealth.org/behavioral-health/.

    For a list of programs and events from the Mvskoke Nation Youth Council visit their website at http://mvskokeyouth.wixsite.com/mvskokeyouth/youth-council.

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  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Signs Fountainhead Land into Trust After Nearly 13 Years

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James R. Floyd, Second Chief Louis Hicks, and the Realty Services staff pictured after Fountainhead property was placed in trust.

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    May 4, 2018

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – It was an emotional yet long awaited day as Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James R. Floyd met with Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior John Tahsuda for the signing of the 45.58 acres of Fountainhead land into trust.

    “This project has been ongoing since the first month I took office and we’re very pleased to report today that at this time, on April 30th, the U.S. Department of Interior came out to Tulsa to the ceremony where we signed the documents to transfer the property,” Floyd said.

    The 45.58-acre parcel of land is an addition to the 18.38-acre parcel of land that was put into trust in December 2016 through an amendment to legislation.

    This is only the second parcel of land under President Donald Trump’s Administration that has been placed into trust.

    With the Nation now having the land into trust by the U.S., the property will be taken off the tax rolls and will be tribally owned federally, as well as allowing the MCN Lighthorse to have full control of law enforcement in the area.

    The total 62 acres located on Lake Eufaula in McIntosh County was purchased in 2005 by the Nation from the Army Corps of Engineers and the nation has worked ever since to get the land into trust.

    However, MCN Realty Manager Sonya McIntosh, gives credit to Floyd for his focus and efforts to get the process completed, as well as the continued work of her staff.

    “I’d like to thank Chief Floyd for allowing us to do our job very diligently,” McIntosh said. “We had a big struggle that we overcame and Chief Floyd allowed us to do that within our own means and we had a lot of work that we did putting that land into trust.”

    The process of getting the land into trust required several surveys and several submissions of the application to the U.S. Department of Interior throughout the years with additions and revisions each time.

    The property in the area of the historic Fountainhead Lodge can now be developed into a tourist destination in addition to the Fountainhead Golf Course, which is located across the highway and adjacent from the land into trust.

    The MCN currently leases the Fountainhead Golf Course land from the Army Corps of Engineers.

    The Nation will have set plans to develop the destination resort area by the end of the year, which will include gaming, entertainment and restaurants.

    Floyd said the timing of signing the deed could not be better and expects the development to bring economic benefits to the area.

    “When we look at McIntosh County, it has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state,” Floyd said. “Governor Fallin recently signed legislation creating Opportunity Zones and McIntosh County is an Opportunity Zone and so the Fountainhead property falls right in. The benefit of this is that developers take tax benefits from it and can get incentives to develop their properties so it works in our favor.”

    Floyd said there is also an opportunity to take over the nearly 5,000 acres of the Fountainhead State Park from the State of Oklahoma, which would allow the Nation to manage the park property.

    “We have the state park property that could allow us to put on display our culture and make it an attraction for people,” Floyd said. “Biking, walking and jogging trails, camping; those types of outdoor activities. We want to attract them to that area as a destination to increase tourism in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in that area.”

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  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Agriculture Youth Manager to Receive Honorary State FFA Degree

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 26, 2018

    OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Muscogee (Creek) Nation Agriculture Youth Program Manager Billy Haltom will receive the Honorary State FFA Degree May 1, 2018 at the Oklahoma FFA Association 92ndState FFA Convention in Oklahoma City, Okla., for his contributions to the Native Ag youth and the FFA.

    The Honorary FFA Degree is the highest grade that you can bestow on anybody in the Oklahoma FFA Association and goes to individuals with outstanding service toward the advancement of the youth in FFA programs.

    Haltom brags on the youth program and explained MCNis one of the few tribally funded programs and the only tribe in Oklahoma with a program that initially assists in the purchase of a show animal.

    “We’re the only tribe to help them in the beginning to help them get started,” Haltom said. “A lot of our kids come from and not all of them but from lower social economic backgrounds and it’s expensive. My theory is you can pay for your kids now when they’re young when we have the ability to have influence on them. They take part in a program and it’s family oriented.”

    Carly Hotvedt, MCN Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said with the help of Haltom, the MCN Ag Youth Program has grown tremendously.

    “Billy has worked tirelessly to support the Ag Youth Program and participating students,” Hotvedt said. “We have seen tremendous growth and popularity of this program and its events.”

    From archery to the Livestock Assistance Program, the MCN Ag Youth Program works with Muscogee (Creek) students who live within the tribal jurisdiction and are enrolled in FFA or 4H.

    Haltom said the biggest success the program has had is the Muscogee (Creek) Livestock Show, which finished up its fifth year holding the event.

    The event is open to all Native American students and has grown from just 200 animals in the show to more than 500 animals in just five years.

    Haltom said the programs’ achievements and growth has been a team effort.

    “I am accepting the award for the Creek Nation,” Haltom said. “It was not me that earned this. This was a conglomeration of putting this together.”

    Another highlight of the program is the Livestock Assistance Program, which assists tribal youth in FFA or 4H in purchasing an animal or assisting in other costs through a $500 grant to help them secure a show project.

    “I just want to thank the people that are on my 4H board, they are individuals that volunteer their time and they don’t receive anything. When we have the livestock show it’s pretty labor intensive.”

    The Honorary State FFA Degree and VIP Banquet will be held Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 5 p.m. at the Cox Convention Center.

    For more information on the MCN Ag Youth Program and its services, visit: //www.muscogeenation.com/division-of-agriculture-and-natural-resources/.

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  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Family Violence Prevention Program Director Receives National Award

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 24, 2018

    WASHINGTON D.C. – Shawn Partridge, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Family Violence Prevention Program Director, was invited to Washington D.C. for the 2018 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week as an award recipient for the 2018 National Crime Victim Service Award.

    The award is given to an individual who has shown great efforts to promote crime victims’ rights on the state, tribal or national level.

    The Office for Victims of Crime holds a national week-long campaign for communities to honor crime victims and promote victims’ rights through advocacy.

    Partridge has worked for the Nation for nearly 16 years and has watched the MCN program grow from five employees to 14 and the success that comes with it.

    “The work that we’re doing here is tremendous with a group of strong women and men, who are responsible for our success out of everything we’re doing,” Partridge said. “So, they’ll need to be included and I look at it more as a recognition for our program as a whole.”

    Partridge was nominated for the program’s work and her efforts to provide services and support to not only Native victims, but non-Native victims, as well.

    “We’re impacting change and that’s increasing safety for everyone,” Partridge said. “So, many of the communities that we’re working in there aren’t other victims services, it’s us. And we’re serving Native and non-Native people.”

    Partridge said one of the greatest accomplishments of the program is the development and implementation of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program as a way to expand services to victims and survivors of sexual violence.

    While the program continues assisting victims and promoting awareness, Partridge said the next goal is the development of a shelter for citizens.

    “You know, it’ll take a lot of work but we’re in a place where we have really grown,” Partridge said. “I see results of a lot of hard work and us being really aggressive in our grant writing. So, I see that will continue to grow and expand.”

    For more information on MCNFVPP and the services provided, visit: //www.muscogeenation.com/services/family-violence-prevention-program/.

     

  • Mvskoke Nation Youth Services accepting nominations for the Mvskoke Youth Awards

    The Mvskoke Nation Youth Services (MNYS) is currently accepting applications for the 3rd Annual Mvskoke Youth Awards.  The Mvnettvlke Onaya (Youth Visionary) award recognizes Muscogee (Creek) youth ages 12-24 making an impact and inspiring their community. In addition to recognizing youth champions, MNYS also created the Vculvlke Mvnettvlke Emvnicv which means “old who helps the young”.  This award recognizes Muscogee (Creek) adults ages 25 and older who work to improve the lives of Mvskoke youth.  Nominations are now being accepted through May 18th.  Nominations can be submitted at bit.ly/mvskokeya.  Contact MNYS if you have questions at 918-547-2557 or youthservices@muscogeenation.com.

     

     

  • River Spirit Casino Resort Hosts 2018 National Johnson O’Malley Association Conference

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 16, 2018

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s River Spirit Casino Resort Hosts 2018 National Johnson O’Malley Association Conference

     

    TULSA, Okla. – The 2018 National Johnson O’Malley Association Conference was held April 9 – 11, 2018 at Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s River Spirit Casino Resort.

    In regards to educational funding, the NJOMA Conference also discussed funding for Native American students ages three years old through 12th grade.

    This year’s conference theme was “Spirit of JOM” and held general assemblies and workshop breakout sessions daily for attendees, which included tribal leaders, teachers, parents and other advocates of Indian education from across the U.S.

    MCN Principal Chief James Floyd was also present during Day 1 of the General Assembly and welcomed all in attendance, as well as Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Iesha Phillips and the MCN Honor Guard.

    Some of the workshop topics discussed were after-school programs, empowering youth through film production, preparing students for college among other forums specific to Native American students.

    The conference also had a focus on the Senate Bill 943, which has been a hot topic for the JOM Program recently.

    The NJOMA is a non-profit educational organization, which stemmed from the 1937 Johnson O’Malley Act to appropriate educational funding for Native Americans through a Federal Aid program.

    During the Legislative 101 Workshop presented by Steve Pruitt of Watts Partners, he provided an update of where the S.943 Bill is currently standing and what it entails.

    Pruitt encouraged the JOM Program advocates to write letters and reach out to local legislators and members of the Congress to encourage S.943 on the federal level.

    For the past four years, the JOM Program has been working to make changes to the current funding for the JOM Program to include students with less than one-quarter blood quantum, as well as a recount of students, since there have been no changes to the census student count since 1995.

    In 1995, the census data reported 272,000 Native American students eligible for JOM Program activities and funding. However, Pruitt said naturally the student count has increased drastically since 1995 and the number of Native American students able to receive assistance is not accurate.

    “If you look at the census data both the 2010 raw data, the 2012 update and now the 2014 update, as well, all of that data suggests that there are over 800,000 kids who have been designated as one tribe only in the census,” Pruitt said.

    “We believe right now that if you count everybody who should be currently eligible with the JOM program, there are somewhere between 1.2 and 1.4 million kids who are eligible for Johnson O’Malley befits and activities,” Pruitt said. “Now that’s a big leap from 272,000.”

    More information regarding S.943 is available online at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/943.

     

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  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation files lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, pharmacies, distributors

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Tuesday, April 3, 2018

    MEDIA CONTACT

    Neely Tsoodle

    ntsoodle@muscogeenation.com

    918-758-6599 (c)

    MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST OPIOID MANUFACTURERS, PHARMACIES, DISTRIBUTORS

    Lawsuit to hold Purdue Pharma, Endo, McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, CVS Health and Walgreens accountable for fueling opioid crisis

    Okmulgee, Okla.—Today, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation filed a lawsuit against the opioid manufacturers Purdue Pharma L.P., Purdue Pharma Inc., The Purdue Frederick Company, and Endo Health Solutions Inc., as well as distributors McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corporation, and pharmacies CVS Health Corporation, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The defendants failed to prevent the flow of illicit opioids into the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation – one of the largest federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States with a membership of 83,570 citizens – lawsuit is the latest filed by Native American tribes across the country – who acutely feel the impact of the opioid crisis. Opioid addiction has led to the death of thousands of tribal citizens and countless suffering for those addicted to these drugs. Families have been ripped apart as addicted parents become unable to care for their children, impairing the ability of tribal communities to pass on their traditions to the next generations. This crisis threatens the very existence of some Native American tribes.

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation covers 4,867 square miles in Oklahoma— a state which leads the country in opioid abuse. In recent years, it the state ranked number one nationally for the nonmedical use of prescription opioids for adults, and it currently ranks number five for drug overdose deaths. From 2007 to 2012, more overdose deaths in Oklahoma involved hydrocodone or oxycodone than alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and all other illegal drugs combined. Between 2014 and 2016, 2,315 people died of drug overdoses in Oklahoma largely fueled by prescription and illicit opioids.

    “Our communities simply do not have enough families to accept all of the children who are born addicted or whose addicted parents are no longer able to care for them,” said Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd. “We run the risk of losing children from the tribe forever when they must be placed in custody outside of tribal homes. This crisis also threatens our children and communities in other ways—every dollar that is spent addressing the opioid crisis is a dollar that cannot be spent on other pressing healthcare needs, education, and economic development.”

    “The defendants’ misconduct, and failure to comply with their legal obligations, has led to an epidemic of prescription opioid abuse,” said Muscogee (Creek) Nation Attorney General Kevin Dellinger. “In order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all our citizens, we seek to hold these companies accountable for their negligence and wrongdoing within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.”

    Manufacturing and selling opioids is highly regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Since bringing prescription opioids to the market, manufacturers have falsely represented the risk of using the drugs to treat chronic pain, a clear violation of their legal responsibility through extensive marketing campaigns. Pharmacies and opioid distributors, under federal law, have a responsibility to alert regulators of suspicious orders and illegitimate prescriptions. When suspicious orders are filled, highly dangerous controlled substances are diverted into the hands of unauthorized users and the illegal black market, fueling the opioid epidemic.

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is represented by special counsel Richard Fields of Fields PLLC, Scott Gilbert and Richard Shore of Gilbert LLP, and Native American law specialists Sonosky Chambers partners Lloyd Miller and Don Simon.

    “Native Americans have suffered extraordinary and disproportionate harm because of the opioid crisis,” said Fields. “Their death rate is higher than any other population group, their addiction rate is 64 percent higher than the national average, and many tribes pay a far higher proportion of their citizens’ health care costs than other governments.”

    The full complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, can be viewed here.

     

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  • Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month: April 2018

  • Tribal Public Health Week April 2-6

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation stands with Oklahoma teachers

     

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation stands in full support of the Mvskoke families affected by the teacher walk out. The Nation also extends our sincere encouragement and care to our educators.

    This past Thursday, March 29, 2018, Gov. Mary Fallin signed HB 1010 which calls for a $447 million plan to fund teacher pay and educational needs, which will increase taxes on fuel, cigarettes and restore taxes on oil and gas production to 5%.

    However, as only part of the Oklahoma Education Association request has been met, the OEA is continuing with the walk out at the State Capitol as a demand for additional funding toward general education and supplies.

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, which includes about 18,000 Mvskoke students in the 11-county jurisdiction, believes in the educators’ effort to engage in this strong and meaningful act for students, and it should be respected and supported.

    According to the MCN Johnson O’Malley Program records, 477 Native American students attend Okmulgee Public Schools and 422 Native students attend Morris Public Schools.

    The MCN also understands the impact the teacher walk out has on the parents and students.

    The Eufaula Dormitory in Eufaula, Okla., has more than 70 students attending public schools. During the one-day closure the residential facility transported students home over the weekend and have plans to resume classes mid-week.

    Morris Public Schools sent out a letter to parents stating they will be closed the week of April 2 – 6, 2018 in order for teachers to advocate for additional funds for educational resources.

    There are also a number of resources available in local communities, Morris Public Schools is offering students Kindergarten through 12th grade a sack lunch Monday through Friday, until the walkout has ended.

    There are two pick up locations in town, located at Morris First Baptist Church and Morris First Assembly of God from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Deliveries may also be requested through the following link and will be delivered by school personnel between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

    The form to request delivery is available at https://goo.gl/forms/3uZ1VckguIy9KALl1.
    With the exception of Morris Schools, all surrounding schools are expected to return this week.

    For the parents in need of support, as well as a number of children in need of school lunches during the walk out, The MCN Mvskoke Nation Youth Services is providing a ‘hangout’ for youth ages 12 and up during the walk out.

    The hangout will include snacks each day and access to Wi-Fi, computers, arts and crafts, as well as other activities. The service is limited to Mvskoke Nation Youth Council Members and children of MCN employees.

    Parents and guardians must sign the youth in each day and the service is accepting a maximum of 15 youth per day. Parents can register their children at bit.ly/mnyshangout or call 918-549-2557.

    Although this is a difficult time, additional funding and resources for education are of paramount importance as our children are the future of our Nation.

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  • Mvskoke Loan Fund Hopes to Provide Business Training to Citizens, Communities

    March 23, 2018

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Mvskoke Loan Fund is hosting four Business Boot Camp Training Seminars featuring Indianpreneurship. These training events will occur across the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in an effort to provide business curriculum geared specifically to those interested in owning a business.

    The Indianpreneurship is a business curriculum by ONABEN, Our Native American Business Network, which is usually taught in a 10-week course. However, the Mvskoke Loan Fund will be hosting four condensed, fast-paced courses over two days.

    The first of the series will be held April 18 – 19, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Green Country Technology Center in Okmulgee, Okla. Continental breakfast and lunch will also be provided.

    Mvskoke Loan Fund Chief Executive Officer Christopher Coburn said the training provided is not only for those interested in starting a small business, but for existing business owners, business students, as well as tribal communities looking for ways to grow.

    The training is also not limited to MCN citizens or Native Americans; anyone may attend free of charge.

    “We’re doing this as a service to the community, as well as to the citizens and to the greater community where Creek Nation reaches not just our citizens,” Coburn said. “It’s a fairly expensive curriculum and we’re not charging at all.

    The curriculum covers the entire process of a small business start-up with a focus on the unique factors of owning a business; the case studies were developed with the needs of Native American entrepreneurs in mind.

    “It addresses every aspect of business, financial accounting, your mission, market research and preparing financial documents,” Coburn said. “So, it really is a huge value, for the people and it’s an intense and very productive time. The students will gain tools that will immediately help them organize their goals into a comprehensive Business Plan.”

    The first of the four scheduled sessions will be trained by REI Native American Business Centers staff.

    As an added bonus, REI Tulsa is offering all Indianpreneurship graduates to attend a one-time QuickBooks, an accounting software, training session at no cost.

    The three following events scheduled are below:

    May 16 – 17, 2018 at River Spirit Casino in Tulsa, Okla., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    June 19 – 20, 2018 at Indian Capital Technology Center in Muskogee, Okla., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    July 18 – 19, 2018 at MCN Southern Regional Offices in Wetumka, Okla., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    For more information or to register for the upcoming Indianpreneurship events, contact Mvskoke Loan Fund at 918-549-2603.

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  • New Medicare insurance cards are coming

    Office of Public Relations
    P.O. Box 580 | OKMULGEE, OK 74447

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    March 22, 2018

    CONTACT:
    Amy Eden
    MCN Department of Health LCDR
    918-756-0310
    Amy.Eden@CreekHealth.Org

    NEW MEDICARE INSURANCE CARDS ARE COMING

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – To help prevent identity theft, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are replacing all Medicare cards. CMS will be replacing the social security numbers that are listed on the cards with a new alpha-numeric number that is unique to the Medicare recipient called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).

    The new cards will come to all current Medicare recipients who include people over 65, certain younger people with disabilities and citizens with renal disease.

    Your new card will automatically come to you. You don’t need to do anything as long as your address is up to date. If you need to update your address, you can do this at any Social Security Office.

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Health Policy Analyst LCDR Amy Eden said the new Medicare cards will be mailed out starting April 1, 2018 but Oklahoma residents are scheduled to receive their card between June 2018 and April 2019.

    “Once you get your new Medicare card, destroy your old one and start using your new card right away,” Eden said. “It is very important that all Medicare patients submit the new card to the Patient Registration staff at any of the MCN Health facilities so that the electronic health record can be updated.”

    If you have any questions about the new Medicare card, please call your health provider, the MCN Department of Health Administration office at 918-756-0310 or you can see more information about the new Medicare card at www.cms.gov.

     

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Celebrates Grand Opening of Rex’s Chicken Franchise

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 15, 2018

     

    CONTACT:

    Kyla McKown
    Public Relations Specialist
    918-549-2453 O
    918-758-8106 C
    KMckown@muscogeenation.com

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Celebrates Grand Opening of Rex’s Chicken Franchise

     

    BIXBY, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation along with Muscogee Nation Business Enterprise celebrated the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Rex’s Chicken franchise at the Bixby location March 14, 2018.

    The MCN shared in the celebration with the community and Bixby Metro Chamber of Commerce, as well as the owner of Rex’s Chicken, David Rutkauskas.

    Rutkauskas re-established the original restaurant and its products 10 years ago and in 2013 established a partnership with MNBE when franchise rights were purchased by the Nation.

    The restaurant has been open since September 2017 and has shown much success ahead of the official grand opening event.

    “We’ve had record sales,” Rutkauskas said. “We did almost $400,000 the first 60 days we were open. I’ve been in this business almost 30 years and I’ve never seen revenue like that at an opening.”

    MNBE Chief Executive Officer Woody Anderson discussed the decision to partner with the restaurant brand.

    “What you see was a vision that we had for our company to extend into other businesses that the Nation has never done,” Anderson said. “Most of us have grown up around the Rex’s Chicken and knew the brand. We knew the opportunity that was coming with this.”

    Bixby Metro Chamber of Commerce Vice President Heather McDowell thanked the tribe for bringing the business venture to the city.

    A representative from the Oklahoma’s First Congressional District, Congressman Jim Bridenstine’s office, was present to read and present the certificate of Congressional Recognition for outstanding and invaluable service to the community.

    The certificate read, “Rex’s Chicken team, please accept my sincere congratulations on your recent ribbon cutting at Rex’s Chicken in Bixby. As your representative in the United States Congress it’s always encouraging to hear of business growth and expansion here at home.”

    The location, which staffs 30 employees, offers catering, drive-thru service, as well as fundraising opportunities.

    The restaurant is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located at 11928 S. Memorial Dr., Unit B, Bixby, Okla. 74008.

     

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  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Department works to give back to communities

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Department covers a broad jurisdiction including eight counties and three partial counties, and it still finds time to pay it forward. The MCN Lighthorse has made it their mission to give back to the communities and to its Muscogee (Creek) citizens.

    The MCN Lighthorse has 47 sworn officers and 11 reserve officers that cover parts of Oklahoma and are cross-commissioned with 34 other law enforcement entities in Oklahoma.

    According the MCN Lighthorse Chief of Police Robert Hawkins, the cross-commissioning agreement with each agency is a cross deputy intergovernmental agreement that enables MCN Lighthorse to work jointly with other agencies when assistance is needed on the MCN side and vice versa.

    Backing other agencies is vital through criminal investigations, special operations, a dive team, tactical unit and other aspects of law enforcement. The department strives to give back to the communities and being involved.

    “We are very well involved in our community and our community policing has really gone to the next level when it comes to our communities,” Hawkins said. “We try to be involved with our community centers with meetings and having lunch when we can with elders and we just really encourage our officers to stay involved.”

    For the past three years, the department has participated in Shop with a Cop in McIntosh County taking underprivileged children shopping for Christmas gifts.

    The department also makes an effort to visit schools and Head Start programs to provide safety lessons, which often times include dressing up as ‘Eddy the Eagle’ to promote gun safety.

    Officers also visit elementary schools to provide D.A.R.E. curriculum in an effort to promote drug and substance abuse prevention.

    MCN Lighthorse Deputy Chief Daniel Wind III said the agency has a group of officers called TOPS, which stands for Tribal Oriented Policing Specialists. This group of officers visit programs and teach anything from defensive tactics for elders to drug awareness and internet awareness to children.

    “We make sure all of our TOPS officers choose what they specialize in,” Wind said. “We allow them to pick what is close to their heart, if you will. Whether it’s working with children or working with college students and talking about drugs and alcohol and so forth.”

    Both Hawkins and Wind are proud of the MCN Lighthorse men and women but also the fellow agencies they work with daily.

    “We are quite proud of our men and women here,” Hawkins said. “Their accomplishments and training they pursue and just how they are with our community with our elders, with our children and with our youth. You know, we are a well-respected agency and we are quite proud of our department and it’s an honor and privilege to be able to work with these other agencies within our communities.”

    The MCN Lighthorse was also the first Tribal Police Exploring Post in the state of Oklahoma, which is an Exploring Program through the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women ages 14-21 who are interested in careers in law enforcement.

    Through the MCN Explorer Post, native and non-native youth participate within the MCN jurisdiction to get the experience of law enforcement, as well as learning leadership skills and community service.

    “We teach them not just law enforcement,” Wind said. “We teach them traffic stops and so forth but we also teach them civics and also teach them respect. We teach them our culture.”

    MCN Lighthorse began the program in 2003 and has since employed former explorers as Lighthorse officers.

    Wind said one explorer became a dispatcher, then a reserve officer and eventually was hired as a full-time officer, along with other explorer success stories.

    For more information on the MCN Lighthorse and services provided to the communities, visit: https://www.dev.muscogeenation.com/services/lighthorse-police/.

     

  • Miss MCN & Jr. Miss Scholarship Pageant to be held at River Spirit Casino Resort

    March 7, 2018

    MISS MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION AND JR MISS SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT TO BE HELD AT RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – Muscogee (Creek) Nation will hold its annual scholarship pageant for the first time ever at the River Spirit Casino Resort in the Paradise Cove Theatre in Jenks, Okla.

    The pageant will include Mvskoke (Muscogee) introductions and cultural presentations by contestants in addition to entertainment and a reception to follow.

    The pageant committee is seeking candidates from ages 14 to 24. The two titleholders serve as ambassadors for the Nation and will choose a platform to carry out for the entirety of their reign.

    CEO of Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casinos Pat Crofts is thrilled to host this well-loved and popular MCN event.

    “I am overjoyed to have the pageant here at River Spirit, a premier location for their pageant,” Crofts said. “It’s also a perfect way to showcase the venue to tribal citizens who otherwise may not have the opportunity to.”

    Principal Chief James Floyd echoed the sentiments, “we are happy to have a partnership with River Spirit Casino. It’s so important to include our citizens in all our endeavors and we want them present at the pageant to share the experience.”

    Royalty Coordinator Faith Harjo said this year’s pageant emphasis is on female empowerment, “I hope this experience will strengthen and encourage our young Mvskoke women to use their voices for subjects they are passionate about, whether that’s language, education, culture, or leadership.”

    The scholarship pageant will be the first of its kind hosted at Paradise Cove that precedes the Miss Oklahoma pageant that will be held in June. River Spirit received top ratings from AAA based on extensiveness of services and amenities and voted top event venue of the year in 2017.

    The MCN Scholarship pageant will be held on Sunday, May 20 at 6 p.m.

    The deadline for contestant applications is March 16, 2018. To request an application, call 918-549-2601 or email mcnpageant@muscogeenation.com, or visit www.bit.ly.mcnpageant.