The Muscogee Nation

Category: Article

  • The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Royalty Report: Ocmulgee Indian Celebration

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Royalty Report

    Shelby Botone/MCNPR

    As the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Royalty Coordinator, it is a privilege to work closely with the Miss and Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation and witness these young Mvskoke women take part in the Nation’s events and embrace the Mvskoke culture.

    My name is Shelby Botone and this past weekend, MCN Miss Nina Fox and Jr. Miss Louisa Harjo traveled to Macon, Ga., for the Ocmulgee Indian Celebration. This is a brief look at the MCN Royalty fulfilling their duties as ambassadors of the Nation. The three-day event took place at the Ocmulgee National Monument from Sept. 14 – 16, 2018. The celebration included cultural demonstrations from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, as well as other tribal nations.

    Miss and Jr. Miss MCN enjoyed the first day visiting with children from local school districts. After the princesses participated in the Stomp Dance demonstration, they were able to visit the various booths and tables that were set up for cultural presentations and the selling of Native American merchandise. The make-and-take tables consisted of cornhusk dolls, jewelry, basket weaving and warclubs. They took numerous pictures with the school children, who were very excited to meet them. Later in the day, Nina and Louisa were able to partake in a tour along with fellow Muscogee (Creek) citizens who also made the trip. While on the tour,
    they were able to experience and learn the history of the Ocmulgee Mounds and their Mvskoke ancestors that once inhabited the mounds.

    The MCN Honor Guard started off each day of the event with the presentation of the flags and the playing of the Nation’s flag song.

    And on the second day, the ladies took part in the Stomp Dance exhibition along with other citizens, including MCN Principal Chief James R. Floyd. Audience members were also welcomed to join in on the demonstration and many did just that. Nina and Louisa then enjoyed the other tribal demonstrations from the Mississippi Choctaws and some Cherokees, such as stickball and various dances. They then took time to explore the Ocmulgee National Monument Museum where they spoke with visitors and shared with them their knowledge of the Mvskoke culture and history.

    During their downtime, the princesses were able to take in their first Major League Baseball game. The ladies watched as the Atlanta Braves took on the Washington Nationals at Suntrust Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. They even participated in the ‘wave’ with the home crowd and did the ‘Cupid Shuffle’ dance in and around the stadium. Jr. Miss even had her first Japanese Hibachi experience. The girls also indulged in the other great eats
    that Macon and Atlanta had to offer!

    On the final day, they participated in the morning session Stomp Dance demonstration and spoke with more visitors before they had to head to Atlanta to catch their flight back to Oklahoma.

    With this journey, Nina and Louisa were able to learn a lot more about the history of their ancestral homelands and become more familiar with where they come from. I am hopeful this experience can be something they take with them that will help them continue on the path of being strong Mvskoke women.

    This is also something that we hope all of our future Mvskoke Royalty will be able to experience for years to come!

    Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation: My Experience

    Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Nina Fox

    My experience at the Ocmulgee Celebration was beyond words. When we first arrived at the event I didn’t know what to expect, let alone how I would feel.
    The first day, some local schools came out for an educational field trip. That day, Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Louisa Harjo and I participated in the Stomp Dance demonstration and had the chance to talk to some of the kids. All of them were so excited and looked eager to learn about the mounds and the people who lived there.

    Towards the end of the event we were leaving to have a little break to clean up and cool down. While walking to the car a little girl came up to me and asked me if I was a princess, I replied ‘yes’, and she got so excited. I gave the girl one of my cards with my picture on it and as soon as I looked up, I was surrounded by a bunch of kids wanting a card, as well. They all said ‘thank you’ and were asking me questions. That moment made me realize how ecstatic they were to be there and to see us.

    While on a guided tour, we had the chance to go to the top of The Great Temple Mound. Being at the top of the mound was just pure beauty because you could see all of the scenery that included the trees and a river. Being out there gave me the sense of home. It was comforting and felt like I belonged there. I had previously asked former misses about their experience out there and they all said similar things. In that moment I knew what they had meant.

    When I turned around I could see tall buildings and hotels, this just made me think about how far we have come as Mvskoke people. Even though we have been through so much, we continue to show people that we are still here and that we will always be here.

    On the second and third days of the event, we participated in the Stomp Dance demonstration again and had the opportunity to talk to some more people. I got to talk to some individuals about what our titles were about and educate them a little about modern day Mvskoke people.

    This trip has shown me how far we have come and what we have been through and how we continue to grow as people. I have learned so much on this trip not only about our people but about myself. Going to Georgia with some of my fellow Muscogee (Creek) citizens, made this trip so much more special to me because it truly made it feel more like home. I encourage anyone who can visit the mounds to go out there to experience it. I hope to one day visit again.

     

    Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Louisa Harjo: My Experience

    by: Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Louisa Harjo

    Representing at Georgia was such an astounding experience that I will always have in my heart. It was really cool getting to see so many people come out and visit. We met all kinds of great people out there.
    It was so awesome to see our Mvskoke people with booths set up teaching others about our culture. It was amazing to see how the Mvskoke built the things they did with so many creative designs and patterns without the use of as many tools made available to us today. They just had to use what was around them at the time.

    Seeing and learning the history of the Ocmulgee Mounds gave me a creative and spiritual feeling that I cannot put into words. Through all the active things I do and am involved in, it made me think about how many great people are in my life and how I am so blessed to be where I am at now.

    In some way, we all have a creative skill that we are good at and we get so much of our creative part from our ancestors. Life is pure creative energy. I like to think that once you open that creativity, you’re giving back a
    gift to you and the creator.

    It’s also sad to think about what they had to go through but yet, this event demonstrated their perseverance.The way I think of it is not only did they use songs and dances, but they also opened up the creative part of
    them to help keep them going, which probably made gentle but powerful changes.

    Mvto!!! Mahes ce!!! (I’m so grateful) that I got to have those types of feelings during my visit to our homelands in Macon, Ga., it was really something!

  • Muscogee (Creek) citizens host Trail of Tears Commemoration

    Amanda Rutland/MCNPR

    MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Natives and non-Natives alike gathered for the 15th Annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Walk to mark the 180-year memorial. The event took place over two days in Mt. Juliet and Woodbury, Tennessee.

    Event coordinator and Muscogee (Creek) citizens Melba Checote-Eads said the event has a dual purpose to educate and to heal, but it also honors all tribes that have been displaced from the southeast.

    “When we walk and when we talk about these Trail of Tears stories, we want to bring up all of our people that were forcibly removed from their homeland,” Checote-Eads said.

    The commemorative walk traces the 800 mile Northern Route of the Trail of Tears, which was taken by 10,000 Cherokees and approximately 500 Muscogees.

    The event brings awareness to the intense hardships suffered by the southeastern tribes on the trail. There are no federal or state recognized tribes that reside in Tennessee. Muscogee (Creek) citizen and Tennessee resident Cindy Yahola said that people in the area believe all the tribes died out.

    Checote-Eads said the event started as the vision of a fellow church member.

    “It was a vision of a little man at the church there, Cooks United Methodist Church. He was from Oklahoma, but he was non-Indian,” Checote-Eads said. “He said, ‘When I keep seeing this Trail of Tears sign, I want us to do something about it. I want our church to do something about it.’ ”

    Muscogee (Creek) ministry team Betty Samuels and her husband, Rev. Ray Samuels made the trip from Oklahoma to Tennessee, to be part of the event something they have done together for the past 15 years. They contribute Muscogee hymns and prayers to the commemorative walk.

    Checote-Eads is grateful that Muscogee people are coming back to the Homelands.

    “Healing and reconciliation and restoration is really those big things that we need to do,” Checote-Eads said. “It really touched me that they and our people needed to heal. They had gone on living, raising families and singing our hymns, being the people that we are, but we did not touch the idea of the Trail.”

    This year’s observance included the Native Praise Choir from Oklahoma. The Native Praise Choir is a ministry of the Native American Link.

    Native American Link Director and Muscogee (Creek) citizen Augusta Smith said walking the trail and being part of the commemoration was a heart wrenching experience.

    “I think the greatest pain that I feel is recognizing that our people were not respected. They were not honored and they were not valued. That is the part that is hardest to accept, but also recognizing that we need to move on,” Smith said.

    Smith echoed the same sentiment as Checote-Eads.

    “We live today as a result of the experience they endured and they experienced much death, much sorrow, much grief, but yet they kept going. That speaks to the perseverance of our people.”

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Elderly Nutrition Program Participants Survey, Taste-Test New Food Options for Lunch Program

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Sept. 14, 2018

    GLENPOOL, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Elderly Nutrition Program invited its program participants to attend the Elderly Nutrition Annual Food Show at the Glenpool Conference Center Sept. 12, 2018.

    More than 175 elders attended the show and tried out new foods and dishes from nine different vendors including shrimp, calamari, pot roast, desserts and other meats and side dishes.

    The Food Show, which now takes place twice a year in the Spring and Fall, is a collaboration between the MCN program and its food distributor, Sysco, that brings in the different products available for purchase.

    MCN Food Distribution Services Director Anna Sterner said the show is an opportunity to change up the weekly lunch menu, as well as get the elders’ feedback on the different foods they like and dislike before placing a large order.

    “Some of the elders they might think certain foods are too spicy or something and so we try to incorporate their feedback before we order that way we aren’t buying items they may not care for or aren’t going to eat,” Sterner said.

    When the participants arrive to the show, they are given a survey booklet that allows the elders to vote “Yes” or “No” on the items presented by each vendor, as well as a comment section.

    The event brings in the help of MCN Elderly Nutrition employees from all 10 of the centers throughout the MCN jurisdiction to serve the 175 attendees, which is only a fraction of the Nation’s program participants.

    Sterner said each month, the 10 nutrition sites combined serve between 11,000 and 12,000 meals to citizens and other Federally-Recognized tribal members within the MCN communities.

    The MCN Elderly Nutrition Centers are located in Bristow, Coweta, Wetumka, Dewar, Muskogee, Sapulpa, Eufaula, Okemah, Holdenville and Okmulgee, Okla.

    The program’s 10 locations provide free meals Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for elders 55 years of age or older and have a Certified Degree of Indian Blood card.

    To participate in the program, elders must provide a copy of their CDIB card and complete an intake form.

    A detailed list of the program guidelines and additional information can be found on the Elderly Nutrition Program website at: //www.muscogeenation.com/services/elderly-nutrition/ or by contact the program’s main number at 918-549-2600.

    The website also lists the address and contact number for each nutrition center.

    ###

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief, Other Tribal Leaders Collaborate with University of Oklahoma to Promote Higher Education for Native Americans

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Sept. 13, 2018

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief, Other Tribal Leaders Collaborate with University of Oklahoma to Promote Higher Education for Native Americans

     

    NORMAN, Okla. – Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd joined other Oklahoma tribal dignitaries at the University of Oklahoma’s Inaugural Native Nations Reception for Tribal Leaders event Sept. 11, 2018, at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on the Norman campus.

    James L. Gallogly, OU’s new president and the university’s 14th president, invited Floyd and other Oklahoma nations in an effort to collaborate and create an ongoing partnership with the tribes and better serve the Native American students.

    Gallogly, who officially took office July 1, 2018, said he hoped the meeting would be the first of many with the tribes and an opportunity for the university to listen and respond to the needs of the Native American students at OU.

    “This is a historic event today on our campus and this should’ve happened so many years ago,” Gallogly said. “But our goal today is incredibly simple; to turn the page, get a fresh start, be a good neighbor and be welcoming to our university.”

    Gallogly said he would also like to see the university be number one in Native American Studies across the country.

    The College of Arts and Sciences Native American Studies Department offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, as well as a MA/JD degree with OU College of Law.

    OU NAS currently offers three native language courses, Cherokee, Choctaw and Kiowa, along with studies specific to Tribal Governance and Policy, Indigenous Media and Arts and Language, as well as the History and Cultural tribal aspects.

    Aside from the educational programs offered to students, the university also has a number of other entities to support and assist the Native population, such as American Indian Student Life.

    AISL provides programs and services including assistance with scholarship and internship opportunities, academic support and offers mentorships to students, as well as holding cultural events, banquets and award ceremonies throughout the year.

    A tribal liaison position has been established under the Office of University Community to work closely with the nations to provide an institutional framework for students.

    Recruiting efforts of the Native American communities is also a primary focus of the Office of Admissions and Recruitment’s Diversity Enrichment Programs.

    Assistant Director of Diversity Enrichment Programs and Comanche Nation citizen, Jared Wahkinney, said his main goal in recruiting is not only to bring native youth to OU, but higher education in general.

    Wahkinney’s recruiting outreach consists of working with tribal leaders, the Johnson O’Malley Programs and tribal higher education programs across the state.

    Floyd said the partnership with Gallogly and the university is a significant opportunity to improve the educational strength of MCN citizens and students for the future.

    Floyd looks forward to the ongoing relationship to offer citizens a positive higher education experience.

    “Too many times we have students that go off to a big college like the University of Oklahoma and sometimes if they don’t have the support, they don’t finish,” Floyd said. “We want to them to have success and I think in developing this relationship, the university will understand what our needs are and can help address the needs of our students so they can graduate and be successful.”

    In April 2018, the Norman campus opened the Native Nations Center, Native Nations Center Endowment and the Hall of Native Nations, which holds 39 different flags that represent the 39 tribal nations throughout Oklahoma.

    The Native Nations Center provides research opportunities for language revitalization, arts and culture, as well as scholarships and overall community and tribal engagement.

    To close the reception, Gallogly said another goal of his is to see the 39 flags of the Oklahoma nations be displayed in a prominent place on campus for everyone to see.

    “We are so proud of your nations and we hope that we can become your very close partner,” Gallogly said.

    ###

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd Hails U.S. House Passage of Stigler Act Amendments, urges quick Senate action to approve

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Sept. 12, 2018

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd Hails U.S. House Passage of Stigler Act Amendments, urges quick Senate action to approve

     

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – On Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve H.R. 2606, the Stigler Act Amendments of 2018, advancing the legislation to the U.S. Senate for their consideration.

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd hailed today’s vote as a significant victory for the tribe and praised the House’s actions to pass HR 2606. “On behalf of the entire Muscogee (Creek) Nation, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for today’s vote on this legislation that is so critically important to our Nation’s citizens. I urge the Senate to act quickly to approve the House-passed bill and send it on to the President for his signature.”

    H.R. 2606 amends the Stigler Act of 1947, which pertains to the restricted fee status of land for members of the Five Civilized Tribes.  The current law requires the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, along with Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole citizens, to have at least one-half Native American blood quantum to maintain restricted status of their family’s land from original allotted land parcels across Oklahoma when they pass it on to their descendants. The citizens of these five tribes are the only ones in the entire country affected by this unfair and discriminatory requirement.

    MCN stands to gain the most from this passage since it holds the largest land base of the Five Civilized Tribes in its 11-county boundaries.

    H.R. 2606, introduced by Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK), restores fairness to the citizens of the Five Civilized tribes by eliminating blood quantum requirements. This allows lineal descendants by blood of original enrollees named on the Five Tribes membership rolls to maintain restricted fee status on their families’ lands when they pass it on to the next generation. The legislation will ensure that they are treated the same as citizens of every other tribe in the country, who under current federal law, do not have to meet any arbitrary blood quantum requirement to keep their family land in restricted fee status.

    Principal Chief Floyd had special praise for the leadership shown by Oklahoma congressional leaders on this issue. “For far too long, citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes have needed relief from these antiquated blood quantum requirements. Thanks to the extraordinary leadership of Congressman Cole, Congressman Markwayne Mullin, and the other members of the Oklahoma House delegation, the solution to a problem that has afflicted thousands of Oklahoma tribal families is now within reach. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, along with the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole Nations, stand ready to work with Senators Inhofe and Lankford to finish the this important undertaking before the end of the 115th Congress”.

     ###

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Brings Awareness to Diabetes Prevention During Summit

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Aug. 30, 2018

    GLENPOOL, Okla. – Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Diabetes Program held the 12th Annual Diabetes Awareness Summit Aug. 30, 2018, at the Glenpool Conference Center in Glenpool, Okla.

    Through the collaboration of several MCN programs and volunteers, the tribally funded event brings awareness to the epidemic of diabetes in Native Americans and ways to prevent and manage diabetes.

    The summit provided diabetes related topics including behavioral health, breakout sessions and presentations by Dr. Kevin Morford and Dr. Terence J. Vincent.

    To start the morning, the nearly 300 attendees participated in morning exercise with zumba, walking and yoga.

    Dance classes were offered, as well as education on teeth, foot care and dietary advise on staying healthy.

    Each year the summit alternates locations across the tribal jurisdiction to allow those interested a chance to attend and is open to MCN employees, citizens and members of other federally recognized tribes.

    Kimberlee Little with the MCN Diabetes Program said with the Native American race having one of the highest percentages of those affected by diabetes, it’s important to let people know managing diabetes is possible without amputation, kidney damage and other associated factors.

    According to a Center for Disease Control statistical 2017 report, about 15 percent of Native Americans have diabetes.

    Because of the prevalence of diabetes in the Native American community, the summit evolved from the Women’s Caucus’ suggestion to provide an educational conference to citizens and the MCN Diabetes Program took over the event five years ago.

    “The thought is to just get the awareness out to citizens about how they can prevent diabetes or manage it,” Little said. “It’s important we get this out there because we don’t want people to feel like it’s a death sentence if they are diagnosed for diabetes. Let’s see how we can manage it without having to go through the complications that come with it.”

    The attendees left with goody bags from vendors and educational material.

    ###

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation to Issue ID Cards Compliant to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Equivalent to U.S. Passport Card

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Aug. 28, 2018

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation to Issue ID Cards Compliant to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Equivalent to U.S. Passport Card

     

    JENKS, Okla. – Beginning Sept. 10, 2018, Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizens will have the option to purchase an Enhanced Tribal Card, which is an acceptable ID under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and is equivalent to a U.S. Passport Card.

    Under the WHTI, the ETC is a compliant document that will allow cardholders to travel to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean by land or sea, as well as enter federal buildings.

    The MCN is the ninth tribe in the U.S. to issue the cards to its citizens and the first in Oklahoma.

    The ETC is different than the MCN Citizenship Card and is offered to citizens at $45 as an additional ID valid for five years with $25 renewals, a lesser cost than a U.S. Passport Card.

    In 2015, the MCN Citizenship Board began the process to allow the Nation to issue the ETC, which included several steps of approval from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

    MCN Citizenship Director Nathan Wilson said the federal agencies visited the MCN facilities in Okmulgee, Okla., to approve security of the location. Unfortunately, due to the strenuous security requirements, the Okmulgee location was not approved to issue the ETC.

    However, the MCN Citizenship Office located in Jenks, Okla., received approval to issue the cards.

    “The location of these cards has to be approved first because the cards have to be secured,” Wilson said. “The only people allowed to be in the actual office that houses the cards and the computer system are those approved through Border Protection and Department of Homeland Security and have that certification we have to get through training.”

    The design of the ETC follows the current citizenship card featuring the MCN Mound Building with every element of the card built around the security functionalities.

    “We figured we would stick with the theme of the mound and it actually ended up really well because one of the biggest security features on the card is that image,” Nathan said. “It was kind of neat because when we submitted the card to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, they said it was the most secured card that they have seen.”

    MCN Citizenship System Administrator Jason Walls said once the tribe goes through the audit process and receives a good audit from the DHS, the ETC will be added to the Federal Registry giving the card additional accreditation.

    Those interested in obtaining an ETC must already be a citizen of the tribe and provide a Certified State Issued Birth Certificate, Social Security Card, a valid state issued ID, as well as complete an in-person interview.

    During the in-person interview, the citizen will be asked 10 randomly-selected questions out of a pool of 35 personal questions relevant to that individual.

    A certain percentage of the questions must be answered correctly to be issued an ETC and only two additional attempts are available to citizens.

    Beginning Sept. 10, 2018, the MCN Citizenship Office – Jenks will begin scheduling appointments for citizens to apply for the ETC.

    Wilson said the next hurdle for the department is to implement a process to issue the ETC to at-large citizens at remote locations.

    “We have talked to Homeland Security in regards to what we need,” Wilson said. “It’s just a matter of writing a policy and them approving that policy.”

    That process would allow the department to conduct the in-person interviews but the actual cards would be generated at the office with the secured cardstock.

    The Citizenship Office – Jenks is located at 1000 Riverwalk Terrace, Suite 220, Jenks, Okla., 74037. For additional information on the ETC or to schedule an appointment, contact the Jenks location at 918-701-2611.

     

     

     

    ###

  • Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tells Her Story as a Wildfire Evacuee

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Aug. 20, 2018

     Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tells Her Story as a Wildfire Evacuee 

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – While attending Idyllwild Arts Summer Program in Idyllwild, Calif., Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Louisa Harjo and about 300 other students were unexpectedly asked to evacuate the Idyllwild Arts campus due to a rapid spreading wildfire.

    Harjo, who has been pursuing her dream of one day working in the fashion industry, received a full-ride scholarship to the two-week Fashion Design Intensive program that hosts Pre-K to 12th Grade students from across the world.

    After only a short time at the camp, Harjo and the other students returned from a thrift shop to begin their first project when smoke became visible in the area.

    “Then there was big smoke and it started to cover the sun so everything looked orange,” Harjo said. “All of us are fashion people and we thought it looked so cool and was such a good inspiration for us.”

    But that motivation soon turned to panic. The fire continued to grow while alarms sounded in the area and staff began directing students toward the evacuation point.

    Harjo said the fear transpired throughout the camp in a short time with staff advising students there was no time to return to the dorms to grab their belongings.

    “There was so much going on at that time, ash was falling from the sky and my heart was racing because I didn’t know what to do,” Harjo said. “Then through the smoke we could actually see the fire. That’s when they told us to start walking and it was just really hot.”

    The staff had an evacuation plan in place and was able to direct students to walk a mile and a half to the next town and with minimal cellphone signal, students began contacting their parents.

    Harjo’s phone had 29 percent battery left when she contacted her mother, Cassandra Thompson, to let her know they were evacuating.

    Thompson said once she heard from Harjo, she closely followed the news stations informing the fire was at zero containment starting with 25 acres and by the day’s end more than 13,000 acres had burned.

    “It was hard not to have the news on because when she called they were walking and she said it was right there and the timeline coincided with what she was saying as far as the fire covering up the sides of the roads,” Thompson said.

    Harjo said once they arrived at a high school at the bottom of the mountain, it began to thunderstorm and the smoke and ash created black rainfall that stained everyone’s clothing.

    Fortunately, they were checked into a hotel late that night and were given clothing donations and several local entities provided breakfast and any help they could to assist the campers.

    The fire was one of nine fires started by an arsonist, Brandon McGlover of Temecula, Calif., who was later detained by local law enforcement agencies.

    Harjo said it was disappointing they were unable to complete the projects planned throughout the two-week course but said it was a lifechanging experience that has allowed her to grow as a person.

    Harjo and Thompson believe the prayers from family, friends and church members allowed Harjo to be at peace throughout the tragic and unexpected events.

    Idyllwild Arts advised parents they are working toward a resolution to make up for the activities and projects that were missed.

    Harjo said it was a humbling experience that taught her about life survival and that from here on out she’ll be prepared and carry a bag of her necessities.

    Harjo is back in school in Okemah starting her sophomore year. Sharing a summer break experience that not many others could match.

     

    *Photos by: Louisa Harjo

    ###

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Welcomes Subcommittee of U.S. Attorneys Addressing Civil, Criminal Cases in Indian Country

    News Release

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Aug.14, 2018

    CONTACT Kyla McKown
    Public Relations Specialist
    P.O. Box 580
    Okmulgee, OK 74447
    (918) 758-6599
    MMcKown@muscogeenation.com

     

    TULSA, Okla. – Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s River Spirit Casino Resort kicked off the annual meeting of the Department of Justice’s Native American Issues Subcommittee with welcoming remarks from MCN Principal Chief James Floyd on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018.

    Floyd and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma and NAIS Chairman, Honorable Trent Shores, welcomed several U.S. Attorneys who serve districts with Native American tribes and in Indian Country.

    The conference allows the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee to strategize civil and criminal issues in Indian Country and provide the U.S. Attorney General with policy recommendations.

    With the MCN consisting of more than 85,000 members and covering 11 counties in East-Central Oklahoma, Floyd thanked the subcommittee for its efforts to reduce violent crime and improve the welfare of Native American communities.

    “I’m here this morning interested in issues that will be talked about during this meeting that are issues we deal with almost on a daily basis,” Floyd said. “We are not immune to violent crime.”

    With more than 50 officers of the MCN Lighthorse Police Department and 34 active cross-jurisdictional agreements with cities, counties and the State of Oklahoma, Floyd expressed the significance of partnerships to minimize crime in Indian Country.

    “The beauty of these agreements is to work cooperatively with other law enforcement agencies through East-Central Oklahoma in solving and working these crimes,” Floyd said. “We are continuing to increase partnerships with 10 more agreements. I think once that happens we will see an even better cooperative relationship with law enforcement agencies within the MCN jurisdiction.”

    The conference, which continues through Wednesday, Aug. 15, will continue Day Two of the meetings hosted by Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Okla.

    The conference discussions highlight the U.S. DOJ Programs and Policies to Reduce Violent Crime and Substance Abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

    Monday’s topics included marijuana in Indian Country, special law enforcement commissions and law enforcement resources, as well as drug take back efforts, financial fraud enforcement and communication in Indian Country.

    With interest in the welfare of 573 federally–recognized tribes across the U.S., 39 of those residing in Oklahoma and 14 in the Northern District of Oklahoma, Shores said it’s a government-to-government relationship between each tribe to investigate and reduce crime and drug abuse in the communities.

    “One tribe we work with on a frequent basis is the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Chief Floyd and Creek Nation Lighthorse, are wonderful partners for the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Shores said. “It is on a regular basis that we will have multijurisdictional task forces that we combine our collective resources to investigate and find justice for victims of violent crime here in the Northern District of Oklahoma.”

    Shores said the NAIS has identified four priorities for justice in Indian Country, reduce violent crime; reduce drug trafficking and substance abuse; identify additional law enforcement resources for Indian Country and identify white-collar crime prosecutions.

    Floyd ensured the tribe’s support in the DOJ’s effort to reduce criminal matters in Indian Country.

    “The tribal perspective is we have a special relationship with the U.S. Government and have for several hundred years and we continue to have that relationship,” Floyd said. “We are just as much a part in these issues as Department of Justice, especially in the last year or two with the listening sessions nationally and various topics we’ve participated in and we anticipate that we will also be working to be a part of the issues that they raise and give our perspective.”

    ###

     

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Delivers Support for Tulsa Public Schools’ Consideration of Lee Elementary Name Change to Council Oak Elementary

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Aug. 7, 2018

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Delivers Support for Tulsa Public Schools’ Consideration of Lee Elementary Name Change to Council Oak Elementary

    TULSA, Okla. – On behalf of Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James R. Floyd, MCN Public Relations Manager Neely Tsoodle provided the Nation’s official statement in support of the renaming of Lee Elementary to Council Oak Elementary during the Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education Regular Meeting Monday, Aug. 6, 2018.

    The support comes after an ad hoc committee for the school name change proposed Council Oak Elementary for the school board to consider.

    After hearing from more than 25 people, the school board voted unanimously to postpone the decision until the Aug. 20 meeting.

    Council Oak is one of five candidates to replace Lee Elementary, which is historically named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

    Floyd’s providing statement shared the significance of the Council Oak name to the tribe, as well as the community.

    “It’s an important piece of our past and it is also of yours and to everyone in this room because it was the beginning of the city of Tulsa,” Tsoodle said. “Many folks don’t know ‘Tallasi’ or Tulsa in short is a Creek word meaning ‘old town’”.

    The school, which is located at 1920 S. Cincinnati Ave. Tulsa, Okla., is less than a half-mile from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Council Oak Park, or in terms of pre-state hood, two allotments away in proximity.

    The original Council Oak tree still stands today as the first site of the Muscogee (Creek) government system after forced removal to Indian Territory.

    The Council Oak grounds was where council meetings and decisions of the Nation were made before later moving its capital to Okmulgee, Okla., where it resides today.

    “To me, it’s a natural link between our cultural, historical site and the elementary,” Floyd said in a previous interview. “In addition to the site being historic, it is sacred because many of our ancestors can tie events in their lives to that location whether it be four or five generations back. We know that decisions regarding our future were made at that location and that is significant because we’re a tribe of 85,000.”

    A member of the ad hoc committee approached Floyd’s administration, as well as the MCN Cultural Preservation Department. That’s when Cultural Preservation presented the story board and background information for the public.

    During the meeting, Tsoodle shared with the board the tribe’s commitment to involvement with the school and the community if the name change is approved.

    “We look forward to the opportunity to educate our children about the very land they walk on every day,” Tsoodle said. “Their classrooms were built on Creek land that was originally allotted to a Creek citizen before statehood.”

    ###

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Departments Assistant in Back to School Needs

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Aug. 3, 2018

     

     Muscogee (Creek) Nation Departments Assistant in Back to School Needs 

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – With the 2018-2019 school year approaching for schools across the Muscogee (Creek) Nation jurisdiction, departments within the Nation are assisting citizens with their back to school needs.

    Several departments sponsored the Back to School event, which was held Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at the Mvskoke Dome for any school aged citizen of a federally-recognized tribe.

    Last year, MCN Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) department hosted the first ever event but this year the department partnered with the MCN Office of Child Care, Employment and Training and Children and Family Services to expand the event.

    The event provided 700 free backpacks filled with school supplies to the first 700 to preregister.

    The backpacks included basic school supplies needs such as paper, notebook, binders, markers, crayons and other items.

    MCN TANF Youth Programs Coordinator Lauren Randall said it may not cover a complete school supply list but the program hopes it’s a helpful start.

    “I know going back to school and getting school supplies is expensive,” Randall said. “I have three kids of my own so I know what the cost is. We thought it’d be a good way for our program to give back.”

    Although the only the first 700 to preregister received backpack and supplies, the event was open to other families to enjoy the event.

    The event had waterslide, pony rides, obstacle courses and inflatables for the children, along with free food and haircuts, which were provided by Okmulgee’s local Upscale Salon and Renovations Salon.

    Several other departments set up booths to provide information on program resources including WIC, Children and Family Services, Lighthorse Police Department, LIHEAP, School Clothing Program and more.

    Nurses from the Sapulpa Indian Clinic were on site printing off shot records and discussing the importance of immunizations.

    Although it was a one-day event, programs such as the School Clothing Program, are available to assist MCN citizens with school needs throughout the year.

    From Jan. 3, 2018 – Dec. 28, 2018, any Muscogee (Creek) citizen enrolled in a certified Head Start Program through 12th grade and citizens enrolled full time in a college or technical school is able to receive funding to assist in school clothing costs each year.

    The program is not limited to citizens within the MCN jurisdiction.

    In order to receive the stipend, proof of citizenship must be provided, as well as a completed application.

    Grade school students must have a portion of the application completed by school officials verifying parent/guardianship and address.

    College and technical school students are required to provide a letter from the school registrar office on official letterhead stating full-time enrollment.

    Citizens who are homeschooled also receive assistance by providing receipt of textbook purchases or a copy of the curriculum as proof of homeschooling.

    Head Start through 5th grade students receive $200 per calendar year and 6th through 12th grade students receive $250.

    College or technical school applicants receive $150 in assistance.

    Applications are available online to print and return at www.muscogeenation.com/services/school-clothing/.

    For more information, contact the School Clothing Program at schoolclothing@muscogeenation.com. Completed applications may be faxed to 918-549-2478.

    For more information on other MCN departments and programs available, visit www.muscogeenation.com.

     

    ###

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s New Eufaula Indian Health Center Facility Opened its Doors Aug. 1

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Aug. 1, 2018

    CONTACT:
    Kyla McKown
    PR Specialist
    918-758-8106 C
    918-549-2453 O
    KMcKown@muscogeenation.com

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s New Eufaula Indian Health Center Facility Opened its Doors Aug. 1

    EUFAULA, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation celebrated the completion of the new Eufaula Indian Health Center at its new location during the ribbon cutting ceremony July 31, 2018.

    The 79,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is replacing the previous 6,900 square-foot clinic and expanding its services through a joint venture program with Indian Health Service.

    The IHS program has given the Nation the opportunity to work with the federal partner in order to expand and improve the tribe’s healthcare facilities and its operations.

    Through the joint planning effort, the MCN provides the funding for the facility and IHS tends to the operational costs.

    In addition to providing its current services, the new facility has expanded its staff and now offers physical therapy, optometry and audiology, as well.

    The clinic is equipped with 24 primary care exam rooms including four procedure rooms and one isolation room, as well as eight open dental exam rooms and two closed rooms.

    MCN Principal Chief James Floyd spoke on the new facility and its future in the Eufaula community.

    “I’m very pleased to be a part of the ceremony today in seeing this hope; not for the progress that we’ve made but the progress that’s leading to us providing you better services,” Floyd said. “It makes me very proud that you’re here today and we hope that we do our best every day to take care of you.”

    The clinic provides care to all members of federally-recognized tribes from the surrounding areas.

    RADM Chris Buchanan Deputy Director of IHS discussed the strengthened partnerships between tribes and IHS through efforts to provide accessible health services to American Indians and Alaskan Natives.

    “Indian Health Service looks forward to the continued partnership with tribes as we work to promote healthy lives of all of our members,” Buchanan said. “I can assure you that IHS remains committed to creating a culture of equality, leadership and accountability in partnership with tribes to provide the best patient care.”

    The new facility, located at 500 Eunice Burns Rd. Eufaula, OK 74432, opened its doors to patients Aug. 1, 2018.

    For general information, contact the Eufaula Indian Health Center at 918-689-2547.

    ###

     

    (photos by: Amanda Rutland/MCNPR)

     

  • MCN holds California At-Large Community Gathering

    Amanda Rutland/MCNPR

    IRVINE, Ca. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation held the California At-Large Community Gathering July 21, which is an annual outreach to the at-large citizens of California for the purpose of bringing services and information to the community. The gathering took place at the University of California campus at Irvine.

    The state of California has the highest population of tribal members more than 4,700 members, and second only to Oklahoma. Approximately 300 at-large citizens attended the Gathering.

    The gathering consisted of informational booths and presentations. Some 20 departments and programs participated in the event including: Citizenship, Election Board, Social Services, Realty Trust Services, Cultural Preservation, Veterans Affairs, Mvskoke Language Program, and more.

    During the presentations, attendees had opportunities to ask questions during a panel with Principal Chief James R. Floyd, Second Chief Louis Hicks, National Council Speaker Lucian Tiger and Second Speaker David Hill.

    Over the course of the day, The Election Board registered 20 new voters and updated information for seven and Citizenship reported 13 new citizen enrollments, 112 card replacements and 14 CDIB applications.

    The MCN Department of Education was in charge of organization for the event. Secretary of Education Greg Anderson said at-large outreach is important because it fosters the relationship between at-large citizens and the Nation.

    “The exchange of information and fellowship between attendees and staff from 20 MCN tribal programs strengthened our relationship and commitment to meaningful communication, identifying needs and sharing available resources and services with our tribal citizens outside the MCN jurisdictional area. It also sends a strong message reaffirming that they are recognized as a priority by our tribal leaders and program staff,” Anderson said.

    Anderson said the response to the event has been positive.

    “Over the last week, we have received calls and emails expressing appreciation for bringing tribal programs and services to the citizens of California and the west coast. In the following weeks, our DET staff will be compiling information and reviewing recommendations to build on the success of the gathering and begin planning for future visits. I thank the University of California- Irvine, our tribal leadership, programs, staff and the citizens who participated and contributed to make this a successful event.”

    The next at-large outreach is the Arizona At-Large Gathering Aug. 18 in Tucson, Ariz. Approximately 1,000 invitations have been mailed to citizens in the region.

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Receives $18,150 Grant for Mvskoke Nation Youth Services Project

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    July 5, 2018 

    Nancy Mason
    Director of Mvskoke Nation Youth Services
    918-549-2557
    NMason@muscogeenation.com

     

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Receives $18,150 Grant for Mvskoke Nation Youth Services Project

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation recently received a $18,150 grant from the First Nations Development Institute of Longmont, Colo. This award will support the efforts of the MCN’s Mvskoke Nation Youth Services through a 12-month project, Connect the Disconnect.

    Nancy Mason, Director of Mvskoke Nation Youth Services, said in 2017, MNYS conducted a survey of youth and adults to determine challenges youth face and solutions to address those challenges.  A significant number of respondents felt there was a lack of cultural connections and that youth could overcome many challenges if they were connected to culture.

    “We often say culture is prevention because those cultural ties create protective factors for our youth,” Mason said. “The Mvskoke Nation Youth Council has been very purposeful about focusing on culture and has even camped out at the Phillip Deere Roundhouse a couple times to learn from the elders more about the Mvskoke way of life.”

    Mason said the Connect the Disconnect project will allow the program to reach even more Mvskoke youth through activities and providing resources.

    As part of the project, the Mvskoke Nation Youth Council’s Culture and Language Committee will create monthly social media campaigns aimed toward Muscogee (Creek) citizens, ages 12-24, to promote opportunities and offer cultural knowledge of the program.

    The grant funding will also assist the program in providing three one-day events to 150 Mvskoke youth to teach the Mvskoke language, practices and activities.

    Lastly, the funding will go toward allowing 50 Mvskoke youth to attend an overnight camp hosted by the Youth Steering Committee and Muscogee (Creek) elders as an opportunity to promote traditional ecological and cultural exchange.

    MNYS was created in 2014 to engage Mvskoke youth in activities that will allow them an opportunity to contribute to the communities and Nation.

    The program’s goal is to provide resources and support for tribal youth, as well as advocacy, on local, state and national levels through a variety of programs and events.

    For more information on MNYS programs and services, visit http://mvskokeyouth.wixsite.com/mvskokeyouth or contact Nancy Mason at 918-549-2557.

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Held 44th Annual Festival with Great Success

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    July 3, 2018

    Kyla McKown/Public Relations Specialist

     OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation held its 44th Annual Festival June 21-24, 2018, at the Claude Cox Omniplex in Okmulgee, Okla.

    The event, which is held each year throughout the fourth weekend in June, is coordinated by the MCN Tourism and Recreation Department.

    The festival is free and open to the public and is a way for the Nation to promote the tribe, as well as provide a cultural experience to those in attendance.

    The festival officially kicks off each year with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Scholarship Pageant.

    This year’s pageant was held at the River Spirit Casino and Resort’s Paradise Cove May 20, 2018, making it the first pageant of its kind to be held at the venue ahead of the Miss Oklahoma Pageant.

    The MCN Scholarship Pageant crowned Miss Nina Fox and Jr. Miss Louisa Harjo as the 2018-2019 MCN Royalty.

    Following the pageant, the Living Legends Ceremony was held June 21, 2018, at the Mvskoke Dome in Okmulgee, Okla., as part of the festival events.

    The ceremony, which was created in 2005 by Principal Chief A.D. Ellis, honored five Muscogee (Creek) citizens this year for their services to the Nation and the Mvskoke people throughout the years.

    This year’s Living Legends inductees were Thomas Yahola, Richard Larney, Edna Belcher, Scott Roberts and Dr. Kelly Roberta Moore.

     Another highlight of the festival each year is the slow pitch softball tournament and the fast pitch softball tournament, which is divided into a men’s and women’s bracket.

    The festival included an arts and crafts show, golf and tennis tournaments, as well as 3-on-3 basketball and a horseshoe tournament.

    To incorporate the Mvskoke culture, the bow and corn stalk shoot competitions also take place during the festival.

    Other events included the Festival 5K Run, the festival parade throughout downtown Okmulgee, Okla., as well as performances by well-known artists on Friday and Saturday, June 22-23, 2018.

    This year’s performers were Craig Campbell and Tonic, as well as headliners Wynonna & the Big Noise and Everclear.

    The festival also had a record number of contestants in the All-Indian Rodeo, which is part of the 2018 Indian National Finals Rodeo Region 8 Tour, at the Bob Arrington Rodeo Arena.

    It is reported that there were more than 500 entries in the rodeo, which consisted of barrel racing, calf roping, bronco riding, bull riding and even mutton busting for the younger competitors.

    MCN Tourism and Recreation Director Kyle Lee was impressed with this year’s turnout and the generous number of volunteers who make this event possible.

    “We’ve heard nothing but positive responses from people so far,” Lee said. “I thought this year’s entertainment lineup was full of great performances. We are very fortunate that the weather held off until everyone was gone. Now it’s time to start thinking about next year.”

    To learn more about the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and its upcoming events, visit the website at www.muscogeenation.com.

     

    ###

  • Muscogee (Creek) Citizen Designs New Silver Crowns to be Showcased by MCN Royalty

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    July 3, 2018

    Kyla McKown/Public Relations Specialist

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – Muscogee (Creek) citizen Kenneth Johnson, a silversmith, has thought for years it would be an honor to create the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Royalty silver crowns, which are worn by the MCN Miss and Jr. Miss throughout their reign.

    For the 2018-2019 Miss and Jr. Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation, they will be wearing the new silver crowns made by Johnson.

    The previous silver crowns have been retired and will be on display at the MCN Tribal Complex once the display is completed.

    Johnson is also Seminole and created the Seminole Nation princesses’ crowns.

    Johnson said it’s a great honor to have been approached by MCN to create the new crowns.

    “I think it’s a great honor because those princesses go out and represent the Nation and I want them to have the best of what our Nation has to offer,” Johnson said. “I think we do that in the beaded crowns and now in the silver crowns, also.”

    The beaded crowns are made each year for the princesses to keep after their reign.

    However, the silver crowns are worn at different functions and are returned after each event to be held in an undisclosed location under lock because of the value of each crown.

    The new sterling silver crown designs are based on the tribal seal with specific details including pink muscle shell that represents the Mvskoke people.

    They also feature white and red shell representing the tribal towns, the red tribal towns and the white tribal towns for war and peace.

    Johnson said he sees the crown as a canvas and works specifically around the idea of how the crowns will look from a distance.

    “I work on everything up close and from under a microscope but I know that these will be seen from a distance in parades, functions and ceremony,” Johnson said. “So, I try to make it, what I call glance value.”

    Most crowns are made out of nickel; however, the sterling silver crowns hold more value.

    Johnson uses an independent appraiser to value the crowns, which is based on metal weight, technique and materials.

    The appraiser works off of replacement value and for these specific crowns, the shell Johnson has collected over the past 20 years was used and raises the value because it’s not a renewable resource.

     Johnson was a mechanical engineering student and realized one day he’d like to be a part of a project from start to finish, which he is able to do when making crowns.

    Johnson apprenticed himself with a Choctaw metal smith in 1988 to learn the trade and has been creating jewelry and other pieces ever since.

    For more information on Johnson’s work, visit his website at www.kennethjohnson.com.

     

    ###

  • Mvskoke Nation Youth Council holds 3rd Annual Mvskoke Youth Awards

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 13, 2018

    Eco Barnett/MCN Public Relations Summer Youth

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – On Saturday, June 9, 2018, the Muscogee Creek Nation’s Mvskoke Nation Youth Services held it’s Mvskoke Youth Awards for its third year.

    The MNYC was created on June 20, 2015, and the council helps out the communities and tribe through volunteer work among other things.

    Nancy Mason, MNYC Director, said, “It’s really exciting for me to see these young people helping their communities and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Through volunteering they are gaining so many skills to help them become successful adults”.

    The Mvskoke Youth Awards were created to celebrate the work of the MNYC after its exciting first year.

    The awards created include the Vcvlvlke Mvnettvllke Emvnicv award (Old Who Helps the Young) and the Mvnettvllke Onaya award (Youth Visionary) along with awards for Male and Female Youth Council Member of the Year, which each member of the MNYC votes on.

    “The Vcvlvlke Mvnettvklke Emvniv awards and the Mvnettvlke Onaya awards are inspired by the Center for Native American Youth’s Champion for Change awards.” Mason said. “This is a national award that recognizes Native youth impacting their communities.”

    Out of the dozens of youth participating in the ceremony, 10 were chosen for awards.

    “The nominees are usually people that are doing great things in their community because they want to help youth, but aren’t looking for recognition,” Mason said.

    The Mvskoke adult peers who were chosen for the Vcvlvlke Mvnettvklke Emvnicv award include Terra Beaver, Rochell Werito, Julian Watson and Eric Yahola.

    The youth chosen for the Mvnettvlke Onaya award include Celia Bateman, Sydne Gray, Kristopher Herrod and Darrell Proctor ll.

    The youth chosen for the Male and Female Youth Council Members of the Year award are Joseph Kahbeah and Alexis McHenry.

     

    ###

     

     

     

  • MCN Files Lawsuit Against Indian Health Service for 9 Years of Underpayment of Funds

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 11 , 2018

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Files Lawsuit Against Indian Health Service for 9 Years of Underpayment of Funds

     

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma against the U.S. Indian Health Service demanding $94 million in government funding for the 2006 to 2014 fiscal years.

    The lawsuit comes after MCN has worked effortlessly the past three years to reconcile the underfunding of indirect contract support costs with IHS for IHS programs and services.

    However, after no resolution with IHS, the MCN has filed a formal complaint stating the government had not been reimbursing the MCN with adequate contract support costs funding by miscalculating MCN’s revenue received from avenues such as third-party insurance.

    MCN Principal Chief James R. Floyd came into his administration in January of 2016 with the Nation in a healthcare deficit that needed immediate attention. While doing so, Floyd, along with MCN Secretary of Health Shawn Terry and staff, noticed the miscalculations, which were traced back to 2006.

    Although the underfunding of contract support costs had occurred for years, Floyd said there is very loose correlation, if any, to the previous deficit.

    However, since then, the MCN has been out of deficit for some time, has corrected its calculations for IHS contract support costs and has been receiving the correct reimbursement.

    Floyd, who was a former IHS upper management employee for 11 years, was familiar with the calculations of contract support costs and had witnessed similar cases with IHS and other tribes.

    With the filing of the lawsuit, the Nation has been able to get a firm that is working on contingency, which will not cost the Nation anything if the case does not prevail.

    “We feel comfortable that we will prevail in the case,” Floyd said. “We have a very good firm and for the citizens, it is not cutting out of healthcare money to pay for the cost of the suit. They’re working on contingency. So, if we don’t prevail we’re not out any money.”

    Because of the funding shortage in administrative support costs, the MCN healthcare system had to use funding from patient care to make up for the difference.

    If the Nation prevails in the suit, the MCN citizens and patients will benefit from the $94 million in money to be paid back.

    Terry said it’s an everyday struggle to provide the resources and level of care that the citizens deserve because the U.S. Government funds IHS at about 30 percent of need.

    “This lawsuit going back to 2006 is us trying to ensure that we’re maximizing the amount of funds we are eligible for,” Terry said. “It’s our responsibility to make sure we’re maximizing that and stretching those dollars as far as we can but at the end of the day, we want IHS fully funding so that our people can be taken care of at the level that they deserve.”

    MCN Attorney General Kevin Dellinger, MCN First Assistant Attorney General Lindsay Dowell and Lloyd B. Miller and Rebecca A. Patterson of Sonosky Chambers Sachse Endreson & Perry, LLP, are representing the Nation in the MCN v. Alex Azar et al case.

     

    ###

  • Four Muscogee (Creek) Youth Named UNITY 25 Under 25

     OKMULGEE, Okla. – United National Indian Tribal Youth has named its Class of 2018 25 Under 25 Native American Youth Leaders.

    This is the third class for UNITY, which is a nationally recognized program honoring Native American and Alaska Native youth who have shown leadership in their communities and tribes.

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is being represented by four youth citizens this year: Nancy Deere-Turney, 23, of Okmulgee, Okla.; Jay Fife, 18, of Preston, Okla.; Ashleigh Fixico, 21, of Seminole, Okla.; and Maddie Lamb, 19, of Tahlequah, Okla.

    According to the UNITY website, UNITY’s mission is “to foster the spiritual, mental, physical and social development of American Indian and Alaska Native youth and to help build a strong, unified and self-reliant Native America through greater youth involvement.”

    The organization combines more than 160 youth councils across the U.S. representing tribal youth.

    The Mvskoke Nation Youth Council has played a prominent role in the Muscogee (Creek) youth and has been involved in the UNITY organization.

    Mvskoke Nation Youth Services Director Nancy Mason has worked closely with these youth.

    “We are so excited to have members of the Youth Council selected for this honor,” Mason said. “Overall, we can’t believe that four members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation were chosen in this group of 25.”

    Mason said one of the things the MCN program tries to do is connect youth with resources and opportunities.

    Three of the four award recipients are members of the Mvskoke Nation Youth Council.

    “What is exciting for me is that even though these four were selected, I know that there were many other Mvskoke youth who applied,” Mason said. “Sometimes, having the courage to try is half the battle with young people and it makes me really happy to see them try.”

    This year’s 25 Under 25 award recipients will be recognized at the National UNITY Conference July 5-9, 2018 in San Diego, Calif.

    The event is expected to host more than 2,000 youth and attendees from the U.S. and will include speaking events, trainings and workshops for the tribal youth.

     

    ###

  • Mvskoke Loan Fund Business Boot Camp

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 6, 2018

    Eco Barnett/MCN Public Relations Summer Youth

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Mvskoke Loan Fund is looking to help out local businesses by offering its final Business Boot Camp training, which will be teaching how to utilize social media in marketing.

    Social media is becoming more accepted as a means of both personal and business communication. The notion of opting out of social media is hazardous as someone will have something to say about a business perhaps in a Yelp review or online forum. The best way to preserve that a business is presented in a positive light is to become engaged in social media by the business themselves. On a business’s own social media channels, an owner can present the message of products and services offered and provide more control of the narrative by telling their story and highlighting what the owner feels is important at that time. It could be a current special offering, a sponsored event, a satisfied client story, etc.

    The Mvskoke Loan Fund is also sponsoring coffee at “Talk Local at the LOKal” each Wednesday morning for the month of June at the LOKal Restaurant in downtown Okmulgee, Okla., which is where Mvskoke Loan Fund Chief Executive Officer Christopher Coburn said Green Country Technology Center’s Small Business Services hosts its weekly networking session.

    Networking events provide the opportunity for businesses to highlight what they do and for participants to learn whom in the community offers various products and services in the local economy. It also provides a forum to get to know other business owners, learn of opportunities to work together on projects, find sales leads, or learn from others experience.

    “Social media classes will address basic platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook,” Coburn said. “LinkedIn especially in business is important for learning and sharing good ideas. I might even teach a class later on leadership, featuring some TED talks and other management topics.”

    Social media classes explain the importance of being an active presence with social media as a key part of a business’s marketing and promotional strategy.

    If you’re interested in expanding your business skills, the Mvskoke Loan Fund would like to invite you to attend its final series of Business Boot Camps for Social Media and Marketing or our Networking for Success courses.

    The Business Boot Camps covering social media and marketing will be held June 14, July 12, Aug. 6 and Sept. 13, in Okmulgee, Okla., at the MCN Housing Building Conference Room- First floor from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

    The Business Boot Camps Networking trainings “Networking for Success” will be held July 24 and Aug. 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the MCN Housing Building – First Floor.

    Limited seating is available for each event.

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