The Muscogee Nation

Category: News Release

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

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 26, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 24, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

     

     

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

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 16, 2018

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Tuesday, April 3, 2018

    MEDIA CONTACT

    Neely Tsoodle

    ntsoodle@muscogeenation.com

    918-758-6599 (c)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation stands with Oklahoma teachers

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    March 23, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The three following events scheduled are below:

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

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

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

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

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  • New Medicare insurance cards are coming

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

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    March 22, 2018

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

    NEW MEDICARE INSURANCE CARDS ARE COMING

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 15, 2018

     

    CONTACT:

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

    March 7, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

                                                   

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Dedicates Okemah Creek Nation Community Hospital to Citizens and Community

    PRESS RELEASE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 5, 2018 

    OKEMAH, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation held the ribbon cutting of the new 118,075 square-foot Okemah Creek Nation Community Hospital and dedicated the facility to all tribal citizens, as well as the community of Okemah and surrounding areas on March 2, 2018.

    The facility is only one of two Indian-owned hospitals in Oklahoma that serves the general public with the other being the MCN Medical Center in Okmulgee, Okla.

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

    MCN Principal Chief James R. Floyd spoke on the investment of the new facility and the journey leading up to this event.

    “I think the most important thing is that this investment is in an area of the most under-served healthcare area that you would probably find in the state of Oklahoma,” Floyd said. “We chose this one very carefully because we knew that this investment had to work. Just gauging the size of the crowd this morning, I don’t think we have to worry about that in the future.”

    Floyd, along with MCN Department of Health Secretary Shawn Terry, thanked former and present MCN National Council Members, Indian Health Services, the city of Okemah, as well as state elected officials and other dignitaries present.

    Okemah Chamber of Commerce President Alan Oatsvall thanked the Nation for its partnership and investment to the community.

    “I’ve never stood in front of such a dignified crowd of people and I can feel the pride that you all have for your nation and for this facility, for your community,” Oatsvall said. As the chamber president, it is my job to help grow the community and having a partner like the Creek Nation is really big… The people, whether they are part of the tribe or not, are able to utilize some of these facilities and for us that is a big deal. We don’t take it lightly.”

    The event offered tours to attendees to view the hospital amenities and Mvskoke culture referenced throughout one last time before the grand opening.

    The replacement facility has 14 total treatment rooms in the Emergency Department versus the three rooms at the previous location. Along with a Wellness Center equipped with a demonstration kitchen that will also house Diabetes Prevention and Physical Therapy in the future.

    The hospital was constructed economically friendly with future sustainability and growth of the facility in mind ranging from recycled material to LED lighting and Geothermal Climate Control.

    The Mvskoke designs are present throughout the building down to the smallest details including maternal features reflecting Mvskoke’s maternal society, as well as traditional symbol styles shown in art and an earth-inspired color scheme.

    The new location, which is more accessible for patients, is located at 1800 E. Coplin Rd. Okemah, Okla. 74859.

     

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  • State of the Art MCN Community Hospital to Dedicate its Second Hospital to Serve Rural Oklahoma

    Date: Feb. 28, 2018

    Contact: Neely R. Tsoodle

    ntsoodle@muscogeenation.com

    918-758-7617

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    State of the Art Community Hospital Owned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to Dedicate its Second Hospital to Serve Rural Oklahoma

    WHAT: The Muscogee (Creek) Nation will host the ribbon cutting and dedication of the new Okemah Creek Nation Community Hospital, which serves the general public.

    There are only two Indian-owned hospitals open to the community in Oklahoma both owned by the MCN, the other facility is the Medical Center in Okmulgee, Okla.

    The facility received LEED Certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

    The building was constructed with environmentally-friendly materials that will be cost sustainable in the years to come.

    By using natural thermal stability for heating and cooling of the building, there will be no risk of carbon monoxide issues with benefits including longer equipment life and lower energy consumption, which will provide utility rebates and lowered utility costs.

    The total facility square footage is 118,075 and contains a weather resistant safe room and data center with Telemedicine Capability throughout.

    WHO: The event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

     WHEN: Friday, March 2, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

    WHERE: Okemah Creek Nation Community Hospital, 1800 E. Coplin Rd. Okemah, Okla., 74859.

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation to host workshop on Carlisle Indian Industrial School history

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Feb. 27, 2018

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

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation to host workshop on Carlisle Indian Industrial School history

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Historic and Cultural Preservation Department will be hosting the Carlisle Indian Industrial School Community Sharing Workshop, which is free and open to the public.

    The Carlisle Indian Industrial School located in Carlisle, Pa., was the first federally funded off-reservation Indian boarding school, which became the model of 24 other government boarding schools including Chilocco and Haskell.

    Through a grant funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, Dickinson College and the Cumberland County Historical Society of Carlisle, Pa., have worked the past few years archiving records from the boarding school and presenting the documents to schools and communities.

    A total of 104 Muscogee (Creek) citizens attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School from 1879 – 1918. Among the more than 10,000 students, more than 70 tribes had children who attended, including the Five Civilized Tribes.

    MCN has invited the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes to attend the workshop, as well.

    The workshop will begin with a documentary of the history of the school followed by photographs, newspaper clippings, as well as a list of known Muscogee (Creek) students who attended.

    The enrollment handout will include as much information known including home addresses, date of enrollment and names of relatives.

    Barbara Landis, CIIS Archives and Library Specialist for the Cumberland County Historical Society, said the slides of photographs and the handout of names usually sparks discussion from workshop attendees as they begin to recognize names.

    “It’s very much a sharing time for us,” Landis said. “The school closed in 1918. Therefore, there are no living informants or direct experiences at the Indian school. So, these records serve as the voice on many levels of the students who attended the school. Even though they are heavily sanitized, we are still finding a lot of information that is new to us.”

    The last portion of the workshop is a tutorial from Dickinson College Archivist, Jim Gerencser, who will go through the website and how to navigate the archives for particular tribes. Attendees are encouraged to bring laptops for personal searches.

    The Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center data can be viewed on the website at http://carlisleindian.dickinson.edu.

    The workshop will be held at the MCN Mvskoke Dome, 200 Preston Dr. Okmulgee, Okla. 74447, March 9, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

    For more information, contact the Historic and Cultural Preservation Department at 918-732-7733.

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  • Muscogee (Creek) citizen named 2018 Honored Elder Artist at Greater Tulsa Indian Art Festival

    Kyla McKown/MCNPR

     

    GLENPOOL, Okla. – Muscogee (Creek) citizen William Harjo was named 2018 Honored Elder Artist at the Greater Tulsa Indian Art Festival Premiere Night Feb. 9, 2018 in Glenpool, Okla.

    Harjo, who has attended the Greater Tulsa Indian Art Festival the past seven years, said receiving this honor from the festival is a great feeling.

    “They are showing appreciation for an elder, for a Creek elder, which makes me feel good,” Harjo said. “Being the Honored Elder Artist is a show of respect for what I do. For Indian arts and you know as being a native artist giving someone recognition like that is something that means a lot to me.”

    For the past 25 years, Harjo has been traveling worldwide selling handmade flutes and presenting his music and pieces including six trips to Europe.

    Harjo was working in Kansas City, Mo., as an alcohol and drug counselor until he experienced a heart attack.

    After that he and his family made a trip to Houston, Tex., to visit their daughter and that’s when they met some Alabama Coushatta citizens and decided to relocate.

    “We both had just had enough with Kansas City and wanted to move, we knew we had a relative tribe in Texas so we just moved here,” Harjo said.

    Harjo’s new home in Texas was close to a creek with plenty of river cane growing in it. That’s when he started bringing up the pieces and started making flutes.

    While in Texas they continued to attend powwows as a family and that’s when a friend suggested he start bringing flutes to the powwows for extra gas money. Before he knew it, he was setting up booths displaying his flutes.

    Harjo said after trial and error and many years of practice, he is now a one-man assembly line producing up to 20 flutes per week.

    The production of a cedar flute through drying time and allowing the glue to set up is about 35 hours.

    He also performs with his flutes through his own songs. Harjo said he does not read music but rather will make a sentence or two in Mvskoke or English and find a sound for each word and then begins to memorize the sentences.

    Harjo plans to continue traveling and presenting his artwork at events such as the Greater Tulsa Indian Art Festival.

    The nonprofit festival is the largest intertribal fine arts show in the Tulsa area and is a project of the National Indian Monument and Institute. The event presents art submissions from members of federally recognized tribes including jewelry, paintings, pottery, sculptures, photography and other culture crafts.

    For more information on Harjo’s flutes, visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/harjoflutes/.

     

  • MCN assists in clean up, surveying of unmarked graves

    Cutline: MCN Historic and Cultural Preservation Department’s Tribal Archeologist LeeAnne Wendt and Cultural Technician Gano Perez use Ground Penetrating Radar to survey for unmarked graves

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation assists in clean-up and surveying of unmarked graves at first MCN Mission School

    by: Kyla McKown/MCNPR

    COWETA, Okla. – What once was a place for higher learning, the Koweta Indian Mission School just south of the city of Coweta, Okla., a site where many Muscogee (Creek) citizens sent their children to learn. Today, it’s just a memory. But it’s not just a reminder, it is a sacred place of resting for many Creek citizens. On the same land of the mission was a cemetery known as the Koweta Mission Cemetery. Present day Coweta, Okla. citizen, Mike Walker, visited the property and was saddened to see the cemetery in such disrepair.

    A volunteer clean-up project that began two and a half years ago has become an ongoing duty to locate the unmarked graves of other Creek ancestors who were laid to rest at what is today known as the Bruner Cemetery.

    The Bruner Cemetery is on the original allotment of Creek citizen Emmett Bruner and was the location of the first school in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, which was established around 1843.

    The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 1973. As Walker and other community members began the clean-up, Walker started researching the property and found the history behind the land that was once the land of the Creek people.

    “You know, originally it was just to clean the cemetery,” Walker said. “Now we’re trying to locate all the unknown graves and every Memorial Day we want to respect all of them. We want to do that for the cemetery and pay respect to all of the past elders and people that may be here. We have no idea who they are or what they did but they are community members and they were fine people of the Creek Nation.”

    About six months ago, MCN Cemetery Clean-Up Crew began assisting with removal of trees and brush along with the MCN Tribal Driveways Department, which provided assistance in making the land accessible by vehicle again.

    Now the MCN Historic and Cultural Preservation Department is on the eight-acre site working to locate the unmarked graves.

    There are 37 known names that are buried at the cemetery but MCN is spending the next couple of weeks at the site to survey other burials using Ground Penetrating Radar.

    GPR is a non-invasive method that is used to penetrate the ground to see what is underground without disturbing anything below.

    MCN Historic and Cultural Preservation Tribal Archeologist LeeAnne Wendt said MCN uses GPR regularly to find Muscogee (Creek) family cemeteries and plot burials for citizens. However, surveying the Bruner Cemetery is a much larger project.

    After surveying a portion of the cemetery using the GPR, MCN will flag the locations then download and process the data in order to get a 3D aerial version of underground. At that time, they are able to go layer by layer to see if it is an unmarked grave.

    Walker said once the unmarked graves are found the volunteers plan to use sandstone to mark the graves so they are permanently marked.

    According to MCN Historical Cultural Preservation Cultural Technician Gano Perez, MCN has more than 260 cemeteries within the Nation’s jurisdictional boundaries and the department is continuously finding other cemeteries.

    “Throughout the 11 counties, hopefully we’ll be able to get them all properly document and protected to make sure every one of them are safe from pipeline projects, road projects, powerline projects, anything.” Perez said. “That way our office will deal with that in consulting the areas that are going to be affected due to those projects.”

    As the clean-up and surveying continues, volunteers are welcome to join the project by contacting 918-728-5833.

    For those interested in more information on the cemetery or family buried there, contact the MCN Historic and Cultural Preservation Department at 918-732-7733.

    Also, be sure to watch for the Koweta Indian Mission Cemetery Clean Up video version by MCN Photojournalist Mark Abbott.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd discusses tribal sovereignty, tribal law

    News Release

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Jan. 19, 2018

    CONTACT Neely Tsoodle
    PR Manager
    P.O. Box 580
    Okmulgee, OK 74447
    (918) 758-6599
    NTsoodle@muscogeenation.com


    STILLWATER, Okla. — Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd discussed tribal policy and laws within the Nation’s jurisdiction as a guest speaker at Oklahoma State University’s Sovereignty Speaks event Jan. 18, 2018 in Stillwater, Okla.

    The event was hosted by OSU’s Center for Sovereign Nations as part of the Sovereignty Speaks series. Floyd was invited as the 16th Sovereignty Speaks guest among other tribal leaders and tribal government officials in the past.

    Floyd’s topic covered “Tribal Policy as an Exercise of Sovereignty”, which he broke down into four points relevant to the tribe: Tribal-Federal relations, Tribal-State relations, and the Murphy vs. Royal and Hickory Ground vs. Poarch Creek Band of Indians cases.

    Floyd discussed Murphy vs. Royal and explained the Treaty of 1866 for Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Post-Civil War Treaty, which covers the terms of the Nation’s reservation.

    Guests asked Floyd questions regarding sovereignty in healthcare and senior housing as part of the Q & A.

    The Center for Sovereign Nations was created in 2015 as an initiative by Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis as a way for the university to connect with the sovereign tribal nations across Oklahoma.

    For more information on OSU Center for Sovereign Nations and a recap of Floyd’s discussion, visit www.sovnationcenter.okstate.edu.

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd discusses tribal sovereignty and tribal law within the Nation.

    News Release

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Jan. 19, 2018

    CONTACT Neely Tsoodle
    PR Manager
    P.O. Box 580
    Okmulgee, OK 74447
    (918) 758-6599
    NTsoodle@muscogeenation.com

     

    STILLWATER, Okla. — Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd discussed tribal policy and laws within the Nation’s jurisdiction as a guest speaker at Oklahoma State University’s Sovereignty Speaks event Jan. 18, 2018 in Stillwater, Okla.

    The event was hosted by OSU’s Center for Sovereign Nations as part of the Sovereignty Speaks series. Floyd was invited as the 16th Sovereignty Speaks guest among other tribal leaders and tribal government officials in the past.

    Floyd’s topic covered “Tribal Policy as an Exercise of Sovereignty”, which he broke down into four points relevant to the tribe: Tribal-Federal relations, Tribal-State relations, and the Murphy vs. Royal and Hickory Ground vs. Poarch Creek Band of Indians cases.

    Floyd discussed Murphy vs. Royal and explained the Treaty of 1866 for Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Post-Civil War Treaty, which covers the terms of the Nation’s reservation.

    Guests asked Floyd questions regarding sovereignty in healthcare and senior housing as part of the Q & A.

    The Center for Sovereign Nations was created in 2015 as an initiative by Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis as a way for the university to connect with the sovereign tribal nations across Oklahoma.

    For more information on OSU Center for Sovereign Nations and a recap of Floyd’s discussion, visit www.sovnationcenter.okstate.edu.

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation treats influx of flu cases

    News Release

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Jan. 19, 2018

    CONTACT Neely Tsoodle
    PR Manager
    P.O. Box 580
    Okmulgee, OK 74447
    (918) 758-6599
    NTsoodle@muscogeenation.com

     

    OKMULGEE, Okla.— The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health is seeing the largest number of flu and flu like sicknesses than it ever has in recent memory. MCN DOH officials say it’s worse than the swine flu.

    Since October 2017, DOH has treated more than 200 cases, 77 of them treated at the MCN Medical Center in Okmulgee, Okla., many of the cases stem from a recent outbreak in neighboring community of Morris, east of Okmulgee.

    Morris High School Principal Bucky Ewton said the number of students absent because of flu like symptoms increased daily. As of Tuesday, January 16, more 30 percent of the student body was out ‘sick.’ That averages around 330 students suffering from the illness in the tiny school district.

    Ewton said the illness spread so fast they had to shut down the schools until Monday. Ewton said this would allow ample time to disinfect, heal and stop the spread of the virus. Students will be allowed back to school on Monday.

    Dr. Billy Beets, DOH Chief Medical Officer said his staff treated much of the overflow of this outbreak. Beets said they are treating both Type A and B influenza. Flu Type B is the less severe of the two types. Unfortunately, the number of Type A cases has increased, Type A having more harmful effects.

    DOH has transported several flu and flu like cases to Tulsa for more intense care.

    Because of its severity, MCN DOH has taken precautions of its own. Employees in the clinics and hospitals who have direct patient care are being mandated to wear masks. Patients in the emergency room and waiting rooms are also required to wear masks as a precautionary measure.

    Beets said DOH is doing all it can to treat and prevent the devastating illness. He reminds folks to disinfect, wash hands routinely and if you haven’t been vaccinated, it is never too late.

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  • New Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Community Hospital to open its doors to entire community

    by: Kyla McKown/MCNPR

    OKEMAH, Okla. — With the grand opening of the new Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Community Hospital weeks away, the tribe wants all Okemah and surrounding areas residents to know they have access to the hospital, as well.

    The 110,000 square foot replacement facility will be located right off Interstate 40, near the Okemah exit, on what is commonly known as K Bar road, with better visibility and access for patients.

    Although most traditional Indian Health Service facilities only serve Native Americans with Certified Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) cards, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Community Hospital is a $55 million investment for the entire community and its citizens.

    According to MCN Secretary of Health Shawn Terry, the emergency room is open to anyone needing emergency medical attention including CT Scans, MRI, X-rays, lab work and in-patient services.

    “Rural health in Oklahoma and access to care is something that a lot of our communities have struggled with,” Terry said. “The citizens and community members down in the Southern part of our tribal jurisdiction have even fewer resources down there. So we thought it was really important to try for those citizens to be able to have access to quality facilities and quality care.”

    The facility is essentially two parts with the emergency room and inpatient services on one side of the building and the MCN Okemah Clinic with traditional out patient services for patients with CDIB cards on the other side.

    The outpatient services include primary care, dental, optometry, behavioral health, public health nursing and physical therapy services.

    The outpatient services of the new facility have been occupied and running since December 2017.

    Terry said the replacement facility is expected to be fully open and functioning within the upcoming weeks once the final stages of inspection are completed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

    In the meantime, the emergency room is located at the original location.

    MCN took over the Okemah hospital in the 1970s and was the first tribe to run a community hospital that facilitates all community members.

    With 40,000 patients in the MCN healthcare system, Terry is projecting a five to 10 percent patient increase in 2018 with the new facility.

    Once inspections are completed by OSDH, a grand opening and ribbon cutting date will be announced.

    MCN is one of many tribes investing in health care: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-tribes-make-multimillion-dollar-investments-in-health-care/article/5579288.

     

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