Principal Chief Floyd to deliver State of the Nation Address Jan. 26, 2019 at 10 a.m.
OKMULGEE, Okla. – Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James R. Floyd will deliver the State of the Nation Address during the National Council Quarterly Session.
The Quarterly Session will begin at 10 a.m. The meeting willed be called to order by National Council Speaker Lucian Tiger III with the State of the Nation Address to follow.
Chief Floyd will fulfill his constitutional duty as Principal Chief to report on the past year’s success and growth of the Nation.
Chief Floyd’s State of the Nation Address will be followed by the Quarterly Session’s approval of minutes and order of business.
The public is encouraged to attend the annual occasion to learn more about the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s past year and direction for the future.
The event will take place in the National Council Auditorium of the Mound Building, located at 1008 Bear Lane Okmulgee, OK 74447.
A Livestream of coverage will also be available to view on the Nation’s homepage: www.muscogeenation.com.
MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC) PROGRAM RELEASES STATEMENT
In an effort to provide assurance to families, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Women, Infants and Children Program (MCN WIC) is secure in federal funding at this time. WIC agency directors across the nation have been participating in planning sessions to stay up-to-date on the payment status of federal funds. Right now, it is business as usual for WIC.
We have received numerous inquiries and we want WIC participants to know they can continue to receive services at their usual WIC clinic.
Despite misleading information conveyed on social media, the MCN WIC Program is 100 percent federally-funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and has always served the public regardless of race.
If you would like to apply for WIC, please call 1-800-482-1979 to schedule an appointment.
Veteran Reflects on Attendance to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the End of World War I
OKMULGEE, Okla. — For one Muscogee (Creek) veteran, John Sloan, it was the opportunity of a lifetime when he made the trip to Suresnes, France to attend the Commemoration Ceremony of the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I.
Mr. Sloan is a Vietnam veteran who was specifically chosen by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to attend the commemoration at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial Nov. 11, 2018.
The Suresnes American Cemetery is located just outside of Paris, France and is where the remains of 1,541 Americans, who died in WWI, are buried today.
(photo courtesy of John Sloan)
Since his return, and having time to reflect, Sloan said it was a spiritual and humbling experience to be able to honor the men and be in the presence of their graves.
“You hear people referring to areas of ground being sacred or something but I remember distinctively when I was walking around these graves, I could feel the ground trembling,” Sloan said. “You start to feel a little bit of spirituality. You could actually feel that these soldiers were here and it was just an awesome feeling when you look at the headstones out there. Then to see these specifically say ‘Oklahoma Creek Indian’, it’s just really heartbreaking and it just was heartbreaking really standing there being able to honor them.”
The Nation’s Veterans Affairs Service Office Director Ken Davis said the decision was made that one veteran would be sent to France to represent the Nation overall and honor the four citizens who are buried there.
“So, our tribe had made a decision that we wanted to commemorate this and honor our men who fought and were killed over there in action,” Davis said. “We looked at them and we decided to send one man, one that will represent us overall who we are and what we’ve done. So, we looked at about 30 different veterans and we chose John Sloan for the following reasons: one, he was a draftee in the Vietnam War and John went; he didn’t resist. He went willingly, raised his hand and took the oath of office. He was an infantryman in Vietnam, was awarded four Purple Hearts for four different occasions of being wounded in Vietnam. We decided to send John Sloan over there to represent the entire Muscogee (Creek) Nation and he did.”
Second Chief Louis Hicks said Sloan did a great job representing the Nation while on the trip.
“I think it’s great that we could send somebody over there other than Chief Floyd or myself,” Second Chief Hicks said. “He did a great job with it and I want to thank him; we appreciate it.”
The four citizens who were Killed in Action during WWI were William S. Harjo, Private First Class, U.S. Army; Sam Beaver, Private, U.S. Army; Washington L. Perryman, Private, U.S. Army; and Oscar Tiger who Died of Disease while in action. Their remains are buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France.
The Nation has seven citizens total who were KIAs killed in France during WWI. The others’ remains were brought back to the U.S.
During Sloan’s visit to France, he was able to take Oklahoma soil to leave on each of the graves, as a way to honor our men who never returned home.
“Because you know, I knew these men would never come home,” Davis said. “So, why not take home to them? Do I think it makes them rest easier in my own beliefs? Yeah, I do. John, he poured the soil on top of the cross and poured it over the actual grass. This is something that needed to be done.”
Out of the seven known KIAs, six are full-blood Mvskoke and the seventh is half.
Davis said although there are only seven known citizens who were KIAs from WWI, it is likely there are more out there. Unfortunately, it’s an extensive process to verify records and get in touch with the soldiers’ families to find out more information.
As far as military records and specifically for the U.S. Army, an unfortunate fire in Saint Louis, Mo., in 1973 destroyed 90 percent of the records of those with last names A through J, which has made VASO’s search even more difficult.
For VASO, referencing the final list of the Dawes Rolls has been a significant resource in identifying our Nation’s WWI and WWII veterans. Viewing local court house records within the tribal jurisdiction has also been helpful in the search.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief Floyd Returns NCA 18-184 as Veto with Objections, States Improvements Needed
OKMULGEE, Okla. – Following the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council’s vote to adopt NCA 18-184 during the Dec. 15, 2018 Regular Session, Principal Chief James R. Floyd, pursuant to the Nation’s Constitution, has returned NCA 18-184 as a Veto with objections.
The legislation would repeal NCA 18-180 and restore the Independent Media Act as defined in NCA 15-218 and amended in NCA 15-242, both enacted in 2015 that deemed Mvskoke Media an independent statutory agency and created a three-member Editorial Board to oversee the operations of Mvskoke Media.
Chief Floyd supports Mvskoke Media’s free press rights while continuing the Nation’s efforts to better serve citizens and be good stewards of tribal funds by ensuring departmental accountability and efficiency.
Prior to the Dec. 15 Regular Session, National Council members were provided a substitute bill from the Executive Office to consider in place of NCA 18-184. However, members of the Council stated additional time to review the substitute documents was needed.
Chief Floyd spoke to the Council during the Dec. 15 Regular Session and referenced the substitute bill as he highlighted the recommended changes in the legislation.
“I think it represents the position of a number of people and a diverse group of people in that regard,” Chief Floyd said. “We have met and incorporated the comments of these groups and have a workable bill. So, that’s where we stand with the substitute bill.”
As outlined in Chief Floyd’s veto message to National Council Speaker Lucian Tiger III dated Jan. 4, 2019, the legislative objections to NCA 18-184 is that it does not address the operational inefficiencies identified since passage of NCA 18-180, does not designate Mvskoke Media as solely a news organization, does not address proper financial oversight on Mvskoke Media’s $1.57 million budget and does not adequately address the Editorial Board requirements.
Since passage of NCA 18-180 operational efficiencies have been identified that affect the use of tribal funds. Principal Chief Floyd states he intends to address these issues. He will prepare a plan and submit a report to the National Council on the actions taken. NCA 18-184 places Mvskoke Media as an independent statutory agency free from political influence. This arrangement does not allow for the implementation of the necessary improvements.
Principal Chief Floyd stated, “I believe the purpose of Mvskoke Media should be about covering and reporting the news. Only seven of the 18 Mvskoke Media positions are dedicated to news reporting”. Financial analysis has identified that approximately half of Mvskoke Media’s $1.57 million budget is not for news reporting. “I believe that any legislation going forward should designate Mvskoke Media as solely being a news organization,” Principal Chief Floyd said.
The veto message noted repealing NCA 18-180 returns financial responsibilities of Mvskoke Media to a single individual, the Mvskoke Media Manager. “I believe as a tribally funded program, any legislation pertaining to Mvskoke Media should address financial oversight,” stated Principal Chief Floyd.
Each of the past three years Mvskoke Media’s annual funding from the Nation has been in excess of $1.5 million, yet outside of annual budget hearings no review or oversight is provided for. Under prior legislation the Editorial Board mainly served to review editorial content.
NCA 18-184 does not address the possibility of there being no enrolled Muscogee (Creek) citizens being both available and meeting the specific requirements to serve on the Editorial Board. Under prior legislation the Editorial Board had specific requirements for experience and degrees. While these requirements may be responsibly placed, the legislation does not address if citizens meeting the requirements are not available to serve due to other restrictions.
Introduced by Council Rep. Adam Jones III and co-sponsored by Reps. Pete Beaver and James Jennings, NCA 18-180 was adopted during the Nov. 8 Emergency Session in a 7-6 vote of the National Council. Following passage, NCA 18-180 was signed into law by Principal Chief Floyd, which effectively placed Mvskoke Media under the Executive Branch in the Department of Commerce, along with Public Relations and the Department of Tourism and Recreation.
“I have remained dedicated to upholding the rights of Mvskoke Media’s free press,” Chief Floyd said. “I have not intervened in the daily operations of news reporting or restricted the independence of Mvskoke Media to pursue and report any news story.”
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Below is the letter to National Council Speaker Lucian Tiger III
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Convicts First Non-Native Offender Through Violence Against Women Act Implementations
OKMULGEE, Okla. – As a Violence Against Women Act implementation, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation convicted its first non-Indian offender by exercising the sovereign power to prosecute domestic violence crimes and protective order violations committed against Natives in Indian Country.
The VAWA Reauthorization 2013 provisions allow the Nation to use its “Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction” authority to prosecute domestic violence, dating violence and protective order violations as long as all statutory requirements have been met.
“This conviction shows that we are serious about Indian domestic violence and we will investigate these claims and take action to the fullest extent of the law to eliminate the domestic violence among our people,” Principal Chief James R. Floyd said. “We want to make it known that we do not condone these actions and there are consequences.”
The Nation is one of only 23 tribes in the country exercising SDVCJ, which stipulations require the case involve a defendant who committed the crime in Indian Country and had sufficient ties to the Native victim, as defined in Section 1304 of VAWA Reauthorization 2013.
On Nov. 4, 2018, MCN Lighthorse Police Department arrested Antonio Martinez-Juarez for violating a protective order and committing domestic violence against a tribal member on trust land.
“Thanks to the prompt response by Lighthorse Officer Troy Dodd and Sargent Leroy Arnold, as well as their knowledge of the Nation’s VAWA provisions, the Nation’s Attorney General’s Office had the evidence necessary to file charges against Martinez-Juarez for his violent actions,” MCN Prosecutor Shelly Harrison said.
Martinez-Juarez was booked into the Okmulgee County Jail where he remains on a hold for a detainer placed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigration status.
During his Dec. 18 court hearing, Martinez-Juarez was convicted of Count 1: Domestic Abuse in the Presence of a Child; and Count 2: Violation of a Protective Order.
He was subsequently sentenced on Count 1 to one year in the custody of Lighthorse with time suspended except 90 days with credit for time served; and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. For Count 2, he received a $300 fine and a one-year sentence in Lighthorse custody with time suspended provided he remains in compliance with the rules and conditions of supervised probation.
Additionally, Martinez-Juarez was ordered to complete and follow all recommendations of a domestic violence assessment and substance abuse evaluation, as well as pay all associated court costs.
“We are confident that Judge Greg Bigler’s sentence sends a clear message that the Nation takes domestic violence seriously and that we will take the necessary steps to protect our citizens,” Prosecutor Harrison said.
In an effort to strengthen the justice system in sexual assault and domestic violence crimes, VAWA was first passed by Congress in 1994 for communities to increase victim support and services and impose tougher penalties on offenders.
Since the beginning of VAWA, there has been reauthorizations in 2000, 2005 and 2013, with the 2013 provisions being the most impactful for tribes as it removed the jurisdictional gap that hindered the domestic violence protections available to Native women.
The latest reauthorization stemmed from July 2011 when the U.S. Department of Justice holding extensive meetings with tribal leaders and presenting a legislative proposal to Congress that addressed alarming statistics of unprosecuted and unpunished cases of domestic violence against Native women.
The DOJ National Institute of Justice reported American Indian and Alaska Native women are five times as likely as non-Hispanic Caucasian women to experience physical violence by an inter-racial intimate partner.
According to the NIJ, “more than half (55 percent) of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes – and 90 percent of these victims report being victimized by a non-Indian perpetrator, while only 18 percent report being victimized by an Indian.”
As a result of the 2013 reauthorization, the Nation began exercising SDVCJ March 28, 2016 with efforts from Lighthorse law enforcement, tribal court prosecution and an extensive victim support outreach, the MCN Family Violence and Prevention Program.
The FVPP services include offering victims with assistance filing protective orders, emergency shelter, safety planning, Sexual Assault Nurse Exams among other advocacy efforts.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Celebrates as the Stigler Act Amendments of 2018 Reaches Final Step, Awaits President’s Signature to Become Law
WASHINGTON D.C. – December 20, 2018, marked a historic day for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation as H.R. 2606, the Stigler Act Amendments of 2018, passed the U.S. House in a 399-0 roll call vote advancing the legislation to the White House to await signature from President Donald Trump signing it into law.
After more than 20 years of unsuccessful attempts from the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma to amend the Act of August 4, 1947, known as the Stigler Act, passage of H.R. 2606 is a significant victory as it pertains to the restricted fee status of land for members of the Five Civilized Tribes.
The legislation has been a prominent objective for the Nation’s current administration under Principal Chief James R. Floyd, who aggressively advocated for the bill since it was first introduced.
Before Chief Floyd took office, he quickly realized the substantial need for amendments to the Stigler Act through various encounters with citizens.
“For far too long, citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes have needed relief from these antiquated blood quantum requirements,” Chief Floyd said. “Every time I had to go to Washington, D.C., I made sure I hit every office I needed to and talked about this bill so they didn’t forget. This is a big deal that will affect a lot of our families.”
The success of the bill is the result of extensive lobby efforts among the Five Civilized Tribes, as well as Oklahoma congressional leaders making the legislation a priority of the U.S. 115th Congress.
The bill, specifically of Native Interest, was first introduced May 23, 2017 by Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) and co-sponsored by Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-02). Congressman Cole, co-chair of the Native American Caucus, is also a citizen of Chickasaw Nation and Congressman Mullin, a Cherokee Nation citizen, is vice-chair of the Native American Caucus.
“Thanks to the extraordinary leadership of Congressman Tom Cole, Congressman Markwayne Mullin, Sen. James Lankford and Sen. James Inhofe, and the entire Oklahoma delegation, a solution to a problem that has afflicted thousands of Oklahoma tribal families is now attainable,” Chief Floyd said.
The current law requires citizens of Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole citizens, to have at least one-half Native American blood quantum in order to maintain restricted status of land from original allotted land parcels passed down by ancestors.
Removing the blood quantum requirement will significantly impact these tribal citizens by allowing lineal descendants by blood of the original enrollees named on the Five Tribes membership rolls to maintain restricted fee status on family land as it’s passed on to succeeding generations.
The new law will also ensure that citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma are treated the same as citizens of all other U.S. federally-recognized tribes, who under federal law were never governed to meet any arbitrary blood quantum requirement to keep ancestral land in restricted fee status.
Theses revisions to the Stigler Act will positively affect Muscogee (Creek) families by potentially resolving nearly 300 cases in probate. Increasing the number of resolved title issues will also assist in correspondence and access to contact information related to oil and gas property leases.
In anticipation of the H.R. 2606 passage, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Realty Trust Services has been working to create a course structure to educate citizens on the new revisions. Courses will include information on updated requirements, restricted lands, probates, rights of ways and other areas of land into trusts.
Realty Trust Services Manager Sonya McIntosh said the department will begin by offering an informative class to administration and landowners during the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes Quarterly Meeting Jan. 9 – 11, 2019.
Once the course work is finalized, the Realty Trust Services will begin offering scheduled classes to citizens that can later be condensed and placed on the Nation’s website, www.muscogeenation.com.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Praises S. 943 Passage to Revise Johnson-O’Malley Program Funding Process
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is celebrating the U.S. Senate and House passage of Senate Bill 943, after more than 10 years of advocating for updates in the federal funding and allocations process for the Johnson-O’Malley Program.
The Johnson-O’Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act (S. 943) was passed on the House Floor by Voice Vote and sent back to the U.S. Senate desk for final approval Dec. 12, 2018. Following Senate approval, the bill now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature signing it into law.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, along with the National JOM Association and Watts Partners, has been recognized as a leader in advocating for the JOM Program for changes in the law. The JOM Program is a non-profit organization overseen by the Bureau of Indian Education and appropriates educational funding for Native Americans through awarded contracts with tribal organizations, schools and other entities to support the cultural and academic needs of Native students.
Since the beginning of the legislative efforts, the Nation has been prominently involved in supporting S. 943 by providing financial support, as well as human capital, making several trips to Washington D.C. to meet with the BIE and Congress to advocate for the Native students and their educational needs.
Once signed into law, S. 943 will hold the BIE and the U.S. Department of Interior responsible for carrying out the new legislation, which will include conducting the annual student count in order to award more accurate contract amounts based on the number of students served.
The program’s last official student count was in 1995; the census data reported 272,000 Native American students eligible for JOM Program activities and funding. Without the updated census data available, the current funding level still reflects the 1995 student count without considering the significant increase in students throughout the years.
During the 2018 NJOMA Conference, Steve Pruitt of Watts Partners, discussed the current estimated student count.
“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.”
The new law also updates the student count to include funding for Indian students with less than one-quarter blood quantum.
The tribe’s ongoing effort to get S. 943 passed into law was pertinent, as the Nation funds 45 JOM schools with more than 17,800 JOM students from 103 different tribes.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Secretary of Education and Training Greg Anderson said the Nation provides an estimated $1.07 million in funding to the 45 schools. An increase in federal funding will allow the tribe to improve services and create additional services for Native students.
“For us, we hope the new count will trigger additional funding for the programs that we serve and when that happens we’ll be able to provide additional services to the Native students that we serve within our Nation,” Anderson said. “So, there’s going to be financial benefits that lead to educational opportunities for Native students.”
Additional information for the Nation’s JOM Program can be found online by visiting the Muscogee (Creek) Nation website, www.muscogeenation.com, or call the program directly at 918-732-7843.
CONTACT:
Carly Hotvedt
Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources
918-549-2550 (O) chotvedt@muscogeenation.com
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Represented Nation’s Tribal Agriculture Endeavors at Annual Intertribal Agriculture CouncilMeeting in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources staff attended the annual membership meeting of the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC). The meeting was held Dec. 10 – 13, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nev. This concluded an exciting year for the Division’s programs and significant involvement in tribal agriculture.
This year, the Division participated in policy development of the Farm Bill in conjunction with the Native Farm Bill Coalition. The Farm Bill participation included flying to Washington, D.C., to meet with elected representatives and staff to advocate for tribal agriculture. The Farm Bill was passed and signed by U.S. President Donald Trump Dec. 20, 2018. This iteration of the Farm Bill is the most inclusive for tribal governments and citizens to date.
Bob Miller, founding IAC Board member and delegate for the Nation, was recognized at the conference for 32 years of service to the organization. Miller has provided significant contributions to developing bylaws, advocating for Native agriculture and guiding the organization to its current level of success.
Director of Ag and Nat. Resources Carly Hotvedt served alongside Miller as the Nation’s alternate delegate, representing the tribe’s interest in the Eastern Oklahoma caucus. The caucus elected Hotvedt as the alternate board member to represent Eastern Oklahoma tribes before the IAC Board.
Hotvedt will coordinate with area tribes to develop policy, advocate for tribal interests and coordinate the planning of the 2019 IAC Eastern OK Youth Summit.
Caucus attendees also developed policy recommendations for the IAC Board to pursue, including a tribal survey of perspectives on livestock traceability standards and increased local support for expansion of IAC Youth recruiting, development and participation.
Another IAC Board objective discussed was the need for encouraging FFA chapter advisors to more accurately report tribal youth participation to allow tribes to better target Ag youth for programmatic support.
Lastly, the board members examined continued policy improvements in order to ease enrollment of fractionated land into eligible federal conservation programs.
This year’s conference theme was, “A New Beginning for Tribal Agriculture”. In line with the theme, Hotvedt submitted MCN Ag Youth Development Manager Billy Haltom for consideration to present on the Nation’s commitment to supporting new generations of tribal agriculturalists.
Haltom was selected to present to the conference of more than 600 attendees about the Nation’s tribal ag youth program, as an example for other tribes interested in beginning an ag youth program. His presentation was well received by attending tribes and highlighted the support of MCN for youth participation in agriculture. Supported activities include speech contests, archery competitions, purchase of 4H and FFA jackets and the second largest All Indian Livestock Show. The livestock show is in its seventh year. It is scheduled for Jan. 25 – 27, 2019, at the Okfuskee County Fairgrounds in Okemah, Okla.
Haltom’s presentation also featured successful youth participants including Sadie Varner of Bristow, Okla., who sold her champion gilt for $27,000 this year and Hayden Hodges, who was a top three finalist for the IAC’s 2018 youth essay contest.
Hodges of Weleetka, Okla., wrote an essay detailing the impact of the Nation’s agriculture programs on him as a burgeoning young producer. He read his essay to the conference attendees during the Tribal Foods Luncheon catered by Quapaw Nation featuring all tribally-produced food products including bison, fish, wild rice, beef, greenhouse vegetables and kombucha.
Hodges’ essay called attention to the Ag Youth Program, the MCN Conservation District and the College of the Muscogee Nation. All of which are vital components of supporting continued participation in tribal agriculture. In addition to the paid trip to Las Vegas with his chaperone, great aunt Sandra Golden, Hodges received an 8th Generation blanket, iPad, Pendleton iPad cover and $500 cash award. Hodges is now looking forward to applying to work with the MCN Agribusiness program through the Summer Youth Work Experience Program.
Three other of the Nation’s youth essay participants, Abby Anderson, Alex Davis and Kvlvne Woodward, who were awarded a free trip to Las Vegas to participate in the Youth Conference held in conjunction with the IAC membership meeting.
The MCN Division of Ag and Nat. Resources is proud to continue its agricultural programmatic success and will continue representing the tribe’s agricultural interests from the local to federal level.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Provides Donations to Area Schools
OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation places a high priority on providing programs and services that improve the welfare and education of youth in the communities. As part of this effort, the Nation offers donations of up to $5,000 each year to schools within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s jurisdictional boundaries.
In 2018 the Muscogee (Creek) Nation has donated $50,500 to various schools. On Dec. 15, 2018, the National Council passed legislation for an additional $34,725 for seven local schools to assist with needs and improvements. Principal Chief James Floyd signed the legislation into law on Dec. 20, 2018.
“The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is very supportive of education and youth in our communities,” Chief Floyd said. “I’m pleased to see these local schools receiving this additional funding to help meet their needs.”
The December donations will go to the specific school’s needs as detailed in the bills:
A $5,000 donation to Broken Arrow Public Schools to assist in creating an active Native American Student Association. The bill was passed 15-0.
A $5,000 donation to Okemah Public Schools to assist with improving lighting in the middle school gymnasium, as well as purchasing chairs, science equipment and books for all three libraries. The bill was passed 15-0.
A $5,000 donation to Dewar Public Schools to assist with purchasing Chrome Books for the fifth through twelfth grade students. The bill was passed 15-0.
A $5,000 donation to the Indian Education Program of Beggs Public Schools to assist with the costs of sending middle and high school Native Studies students on a Native Studies trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico in March 2019. The bill was passed 15-0.
A $5,000 donation to Checotah Public Schools to purchase four classroom headphone sets and an interactive board for the intermediate school. The bill was passed 15-0.
A $4,725.00 donation to Midway Public Schools to purchase 25 helmets for the varsity football team. The bill was passed 15-0.
A $5,000 donation to Paden Public Schools to assist with the expenses of hosting the Paden Invitational Basketball Tournament in January 2019 and purchasing new cafeteria equipment. The bill was passed 15-0.
The Nation has previously donated to the school districts of Mason, Sapulpa, Weleetka, Okemah, Paden, Mounds, Ryal, Graham, Wagoner, Kiefer, Bearden, Haskell and Stidham.
The Nation provides various educational programs and services to ensure citizens have a prosperous education and upbringing, including scholarships, school clothing and other assistance. Information on the programs and services offered can be found on the Nation’s website, www.muscogeenation.com.
Local schools can contact their area National Council representatives for more information on school donations. Annual funding is limited. Contact information for the National Council representatives can be found on the council website at www.mcnnc.com.
(Photo by: Amanda Rutland/MCN PR) Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Officer Tyler Sands helped Checotah 2nd grader Kellie Jett pick out toys during the Annual Shop with a Cop event in McIntosh County.
CHECOTAH, Okla. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police participated in the Shop with a Cop event Dec. 17-19 in McIntosh County.
Shop with a Cop is an annual event where multiple law enforcement agencies collaborate to take under privileged children shopping for Christmas.
The children were picked up from school and given a police escort to go shopping. Each participant was given $300 to spend. The majority, $220, was spent at a local Wal-Mart store and the remaining $80 was spent on clothing at Sharpe’s Department Store.
After a morning of shopping, the children were treated to lunch at a pizza restaurant.
The school districts chose the students to be in the program. This program was funded by donations from area businesses and by individual donations from both inside and outside McIntosh County.
This year, nearly 45 children participated in the program: 15 Eufaula Public School students, including some from MCN Eufaula Dormitory, 12 students from Hannah, Dustin and Ryal and 18 Checotah Public School students.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Pleased with Recent U.S. Senate Passage with 2018 Amendment of Stigler Act
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Stigler Act Amendments of 2018, H.R. 2606, is on its way back to the U.S. House of Representatives for Swift Action consideration, following the U.S. Senate’s Dec. 13 passage of H.R. 2606 with an amendment supported by Oklahoma Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is pleased with the Senate’s passage by unanimous consent, as it brings the bill one step closer to being signed into law, which will be proclaimed as a victory for the MCN and citizens.
Sen. Lankford proposed to the Senate an amendment that clarifies certain provisions. Therefore, the amended bill must now be returned to the House for consideration. Once approved by the House, it will be sent to U.S. President Donald Trump for final signature.
H.R. 2606 amends the Act of August 4, 1947, known as the Stigler Act, as it pertains to the restricted fee status of land for members of the Five Civilized Tribes. The current law requires the MCN, along with Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole citizens, to have at least one-half Native American blood quantum to maintain restricted status of land from original allotted land parcels passed down by ancestors.
The revisions in the bill would significantly impact the MCN in restoring equality for the Five Civilized Tribes by removing the blood quantum requirement.
This would allow lineal descendants by blood of the original enrollees named on the Five Tribes membership rolls, to maintain restricted fee status on family land as it’s passed on to succeeding generations.
The new law would ensure that citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma are treated the same as citizens of all other U.S. federally-recognized tribes, who under federal law, were never governed to meet any arbitrary blood quantum requirement to keep ancestral land in restricted fee status.
Once signed into law, the revisions to the Stigler Act would positively affect a number Muscogee (Creek) families within the Nation’s 11-county jurisdictional boundaries.
Removing the blood quantum requirement would also improve probate-related correspondence and the process of acquiring a clear title to restricted properties.
For the MCN, H.R. 2606 would potentially resolve nearly 300 cases in probate by acquiring a valid title. As the number of resolved title issues increases overtime, it will also assist in correspondence and access to contact information related to oil and gas property leases.
MCN Principal Chief James R. Floyd expressed that signing the bill into law would be a solution to a problem that has afflicted thousands of Oklahoma tribal families for years.
As the legislation continues through Congress, Chief Floyd recognized and thanked the congressional members and the Oklahoma delegation, among others for their ongoing support and roles in the H.R. 2606 legislation.
OKMULGEE, Okla. — The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Association (COA) East Central (EC) Oklahoma Branch donated $500 Dec. 10, to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Children and Family Services Administration for the Angel Tree Project.
The donation will assist the department to buy gifts for children who have placed on the Angel Tree. CFSA Manager Kimee Wind-Hummingbird said this year there have been approximately 96 children on the Angel Tree.
EC started the fundraising effort in September and raised the money by selling candy bars.
“The Officers that are stationed at MCNDH have a great desire to contribute to the health and happiness of the MCN in many different ways; we are thrilled to be able to contribute in this way,” said EC Lieutenant Commander and Public Relations Chair Amy Eden.
EC consists of 17 officers that are stationed at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health (MCNDH). These officers fill the positions of dentists, pharmacists, quality improvement, nursing, environmental health and administration.
OKMULGEE, Okla. — Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent of the Okmulgee Agency Carla Norman signed the deed to finalize a mandatory trust acquisition Dec. 7, on the MCN Tribal Complex in Okmulgee.
This is the first mandatory trust acquisition the Nation has done. The acquisition grants MCN a 50 percent surface interest to a 160-acre undivided parcel in Creek County. This type of acquisition is possible because a Muscogee (Creek) citizen wanted to sell interest of their land to the Nation.
According to 25 U.S. Code 2216 C, “An Indian, or the recognized tribal government of a reservation, in possession of an interest in trust or restricted lands, at least a portion of which is in trust or restricted status on November 7, 2000, and located within a reservation, may request that the interest be taken into trust by the Secretary. Upon such a request, the Secretary shall forthwith take such interest into trust.”
The Mandatory Trust Acquisition also means half the parcel, 80-acres, is in trust and the other half retains restricted status.
Principal Chief James Floyd pictured with MCN Realty Services staff and BIA Superintendent Okmulgee Agency Carla Norman and Jamie Hothouse.
Pictured left to right: Lou Ann Smith, Sonya McIntosh, James Floyd, Carla Norman, Jamie Hothouse, Judy Ausmus & Karen Milam.
Former Kellyville Indian Community Treasurer Convicted of Embezzling $40,000 from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Chartered Community
TULSA, Okla. – On Nov. 26, Muscogee (Creek) citizen, Linda Kay Buchanan, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one felony count of embezzlement in excess of $1,000 from an Indian tribal organization, while serving as treasurer of the Kellyville Indian Community.
The Kellyville Indian Community is one of Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s 25 chartered communities located within Creek County.
The 51-year-old Kellyville resident was convicted in the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma in Tulsa, Okla., for embezzling more than $40,000 from the Kellyville Indian Community’s general fund account between December 2014 and February 2018.
The charge was filed Oct. 15, 2018 and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Cozzoni as the result of a joint investigation between the MCN Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation after criminal activity was discovered.
The MCN AG’s Office provided the following statement:
“Our Office has a strong working relationship with our federal partners and we are appreciative of all of the assistance and hard work on the part of the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Cozzoni.
We will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that those who steal from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation are held accountable for their actions.”
According to the MCN AG’s Office, after Buchanan was removed as treasurer, MCN conducted an audit of the finances she controlled. The audit’s findings were then turned over to the MCN AG’s Investigator who discovered Buchanan had illegally written checks to herself from the Kellyville Indian Community bank account.
Buchanan was represented by court appointed counsel, Federal Public Defender Stephen J. Greubel, as she waived her right to a jury trial and pleaded guilty before Chief District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell during her Nov. 26 court appearance.
In Buchanan’s guilty plea, she admitted to intentionally embezzling, stealing and knowingly converting money to her own use.
“Muscogee (Creek) Nation made monthly payments to the Kellyville Indian Community in the form of rent for use of a building. After the monthly checks were deposited into the Kellyville Indian Community bank account at American Heritage Bank, I would cause a check to issue payable either to myself or to cash in order to convert that money to my personal use,” as stated in Buchanan’s guilty plea.
The court accepted the plea and Buchanan was convicted of the charge, which by law, holds a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and three years supervision upon release from prison. Buchanan could also be required by the court to pay restitution.
Buchanan is scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. District Court Feb. 27, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.
Muscogee (Creek) Youth to Represent Nation, Present Essay During Intertribal Agriculture Council Member Meeting in Las Vegas, Nev.
OKMULGEE, Okla. – This December, Muscogee (Creek) citizen, Hayden Hodges, will join the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Division of Agriculture & Resources staff, as they head to Las Vegas, Nev., to represent the Nation and its current endeavors at the 2018 Intertribal Agricultural Council Member Meeting Dec. 10 – 13, 2018.
A Junior at Weleetka High School in Weleetka, Okla., and member of the MCN Ag Youth Program, Hodges participated in the annual IAC Essay Contest in conjunction with the 2018 national meeting.
Among the 140 essay submissions, Hodges’ essay was selected in the Top 75, which awards the 75 youth and a chaperone with a full-expense paid trip to attend this year’s meeting.
In addition to his essay ranking in the Top 75, Hodges later found out his essay was among the Top Three submissions and was asked to present his essay during the conference, which will come with a financial award, as well.
Hodges talked with MCN Ag Youth Program Manager Billy Haltom about this year’s essay topic. That’s when Hodges shared with Haltom the idea to write his essay on how the federal legislation of the New Farm Bill and the federal charity trust fund, Native American Agriculture Fund, can be used to better prepare the future generation with sustainability through non-profit programs, such as the MCN Ag Youth Program.
Every five years, the Farm Bill expires before a new Farm Bill is implemented with updates to legislation, which covers funding for agriculture and funding programs, while NAAF is the result of an 18-year-long federal litigation case, Keepseagle v. Vilsack, which created the fund to support non-profit organizations in support of Native American farming and ranching.
Hodges’ essay discussed how everyone could benefit from the new Farm Bill and NAAF providing funds to agricultural programs such as those within MCN, ranging from the Ag Youth Program, the College of Muscogee Nation, which is a land grant institution, to the MCN Natural Resource Conservation District.
“… Additional funding would ensure our ability as tribal organizations to better educate young students in the effects agriculture has on their life from promoting a better understanding of how food is grown to the importance of health and nutrition on their lives,” Hodges stated in his essay.
Hodges’ interest in farming continues to develop, as he made the decision to relocate from his hometown of Harrah, Okla., where his immediate family still resides, to Weleetka, Okla., after spending the summer there helping his grandfather on the farm.
He is now living with his aunt in Weleetka so that he can continue helping his grandfather with the farm.
Haltom expressed his excitement for Hodges’ opportunity to present his essay and share his passion for farming.
For the Nation, stories of achievement like Hodges’ and the support from programs such as the Ag Youth Program exemplifies it’s all about the people.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Celebrated Historic Grand Opening of Newly-Renovated 1878 Creek Nation
Council House
OKMULGEE, Okla. – Nov. 17, 2018 was a momentous day for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, as citizens joined
MCN Principal Chief James R. Floyd, Second Chief Louis Hicks, National Council representatives and other
dignitaries for the Grand Opening ceremony of the newly-renovated 1878 Creek Nation Council House in
Downtown Okmulgee, Okla.
The MCN Cultural Center & Archives Department held a dedication ceremony and prayer following the
Muscogee (Creek) National Council conducting its Regular Session meeting at the historic Council House.
Having the Regular Session meeting at the Council House was an opportunity to commemorate the tribal
business conducted there nearly 131 years ago for the Nation’s executive, judicial and legislative branches.
During the ceremony, Chief Floyd expressed gratification for the opportunity to take part in a significant
breakthrough in preserving the Mvskoke culture for years to come.
“This restoration, it’s for you, it’s for all of our citizens,” Floyd said. “Those who reside in other states or
throughout the world, when they come back to Okmulgee, they like to come back here. Now, they can come in
and they can see our history displayed and they can teach that to their children and grandchildren; and for
that, Second Chief and I are so grateful.”
The building renovations began in March 2017, following the Nation’s longstanding efforts to regain ownership
of its history, dating back to the forced removal of Muscogee people from their Southeastern homelands.
From losing possession of the Council House to the U.S. Department of Interior in 1906; then purchasing the
building and regaining ownership from the City of Okmulgee in 2010; to acquiring its collections back into
possession in 2013; the Nation has worked tirelessly to preserve the Mvskoke history.
Still standing today, the 1878 sand-stone structure has been restored to its original state through funding of an
MCNNC appropriation which covered 60 percent of renovation costs and the remaining 40 percent of funds
provided in Historic Tax Credits.
The completed Council House restoration not only exemplifies the resiliency of the Mvskoke people, but also
confirms that the Mvskoke culture and identity will never be forgotten.
MCN Cultural Center & Archives Department Director Veronica Pipestem encouraged attendees to walk
through each of the rooms and view the exhibits throughout.
The collections on display provides a glimpse into the lives of the Mvskoke people during the time period of
1865 to 1907.
“We hope that the story we have told in this place is one that is familiar to you,” Pipestem said. “We hope you
will find the names of relatives, tribal towns and other marks of identity that are familiar to you here. The
Council House is not only a historic site, but also a monument to Muscogee (Creek) culture, government and
sovereignty during a time of transition for the Mvskoke people.”
The Nation is pleased to share its story to the public, as the Council House is now permanently operating
Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the exception of tribal holidays.
The Creek Nation Council House is located at 100 W. 6th St. Okmulgee, OK 74447. For more information, the
MCN Cultural Center & Archives office at 918-549-2434.
The MCN Cultural Center & Archives Department held a dedication ceremony and prayer following the