NATIVE AMERICAN JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION AND SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST AWARD WINNING PUBLICATION APRIL 15, 2020 | “TASAHCE RAKKO” BIG SPRING MONTH | VOL. 50, ISSUE 8 JUDICIAL NOMINATION REJECTED BY COUNCIL LINGERING CASES STALLED IN MCN DISTRICT COURT WITHOUT AN ELIGIBLE DISTRICT JUDGE Angel Ellis policy restricting age and the nomi- REPORTER nation of Jeremy T. Pittman as a Dis- trict Court Trial Judge for the MCN OKMULGEE, Oklahoma–The were considered under the new call Muscogee (Creek) Nation National in protocol. Council Reps. phoned in for a Reg- The meeting held over a con- ular Council Session by telecon- ference call was live streamed on ference on March 24. The Council the MCN National Council web- considered a five page agenda with site. The phone in option gave view- 36 orders of business to consider. ers of the live feed the ability to hear The teleconference option is Council Reps as they made motions. now the standard due to CDC rec- Those making a motion identified ommendations that ask gatherings themselves by name before making of 10 people be temporarily avoided a motion and whenever they com- due to COVID-19. A well-stacked mented on discussion. agenda including road improve- TR 20-070 A Tribal Resolution of Pictured above are employees of the MCN Casinos who have volunteered their time to make sure the tribe’s elders are taken care of ments, Behavioral Health, Depart- during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Employees have spent two weeks preparing and delivering meals to elders who are encouraged to stay ment of Housing payments, gaming JUDICIAL– 2 safe in their homes. (Submission) RISING TO THE CHALLENGE TO PROTECT ELDERS MCN USES A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS TO KEEP ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS GOING Angel Ellis Secretary Jason Salsman, the domestic violence resources.” REPORTER health and safety of citizens and On March 20, MCN Prin- employees have been a top prior- cipal Chief David Hill issued a BRISTOW, Oklahoma– As ity. notice with instructions to pro- the MCN has acclimated to the “Right now, the objective is tect those at-risk workers and COVID-19 social distancing to maximize health and safety presented an essential staff requirements, the tribe contin- while minimizing the loss of model. ues to be creative when it comes services,” Salsman said. “High- Salsman said, “the admin- to problem-solving to provide est priorities have been placed istration, tribal leaders, and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s jurisdictional boundaries question under consideration at essential services. on healthcare, food distribu- the USSC could be pushed back to next term due to COVID-19. (Shutterstock) According to MCN Press tion, elderly care, child care, and CHALLENGE – 2 TRIBAL JURISDICTION USSC PAGEANT APPLICATIONS DEADLINE EXTENDED CASES POSTPONED AGAIN 2020 MCN PAGEANT APPLICATIONS REMAIN OPEN UNTIL MAY 5 TO ACCOMODATE PARTICIPANTS MCN MAY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT TERM FOR Lani Hansen USSC RULING ON TRIBAL JURISDICTIONAL CASES REPORTER sions before the end of term, if Angel Ellis circumstances permit in light of *Editors Note: This story REPORTER public health and safety guid- was originally published on ance.’ page 1 of the Jan. 15 issue of WASHINGTON– The Justices will deliver their Mvskoke News. It has been United States Supreme Court resolutions on cases that have updated to reflect an extension announced April 3 that it would already been argued. The opin- to applying for the pageant. postpone cases set for oral argu- ions will be posted to the Court’s OKMULGEE, Oklahoma– ments for April session. That website. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, means the Muscogee (Creek) ‘The Court will consider a the 2020 Muscogee (Creek) Nation could have to wait until range of scheduling options and Nation Scholarship Pageant next session for resolution on the other alternatives if arguments applications deadline has been two SC cases pending. cannot be held in the Courtroom extended to May 5. According to the press before the end of the Term,’ the “We’ve had to postpone the release, ‘The Court will con- release said. Royalty Retreat so therefore, sider rescheduling some cases The Court is currently closed we’ve decided to go ahead and from the March and April Ses- to the public until further notice. extend the deadline as well,” MCN Royalty Coordinator Shelby Botone said. “The divisions include for Jr. Miss is 14 to 17 years of age and The MCN Scholarship Apppication has been extended till Tuesday, May 5. COVID-19 INFORMATION a high school student,” Botone (MN File Photo) said. “The requirements for reign through cultural, social now been postponed until fur- This edition of the newspaper has information about Miss, is 17 to 24 but must be and public appearances. The ther notice. important tribal services and updates from MCN Health. attending college or higher edu- experience allows the young After the applications are Readers will find important updates on health services cation.” ladies to expand their cultural received and processed, the and staying healthy during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Botone has been serv- knowledge of Mvskoke history contestants will attend the roy- As many services are changing to remote operations, ing as the Royalty Coordina- and traditions. alty retreat and take a Mvskoke Mvskoke Media will also be making adaptations to pro- tor for a year, she also works The prizes for the winnners knowledge quiz along with cesses. for the Nation’s public relations will include for Jr. Miss a $1,500 writing an essay. On the day of As long as the printers are operating, and postal ser- department. She has always cash prize, Miss will receive the pageant the contestants go vices running, MCN citizens may expect a newspa- admired the royalty coordina- $2,500 cash prize plus a $2,500 through an interview with the per. In the event that the physical printing of the paper tor position and also the pag- Scholarship at the end of her judges. In competition the con- becomes impossible, Mvskoke Media will make the eant committee and wanted to reign. Other prizes are: beaded testants will go through intro- newspaper available online. be involved somehow. crown, woven basket purse, tra- ductions in the Mvskoke lan- Continue to visit MvskokeMedia.com and our Face- When she was younger, she ditional clothing with an allow- guage, cultural presentation, book page for updates. Mvskoke Media is going to tem- had friends enter the competi- ance of $400 each, sashes, per- traditional dress, and at the end porarily halt newspaper delivery to all outside locations. tion and had seen what goes into sonalized luggage, personalized contestants will have to answer Those who receive the paper by mail need not take addi- the pageant so that intrigued jackets, pendleton blanket and an impromptu question. tional steps to receive the paper. her to serve as the coordinator. traveling opportunities. The pageant is still set for If you are a Muscogee (Creek) Citizen and do not The Miss and Jr. Miss MCN “This year I heard traveling Sat. June 6 at Faith Church in receive the paper and would like to be on the mailing Royalty serve as goodwill will keep the new royalty busy,” Glenpool, OK. list you can still call our office. To be included on the ambassadors for the Nation and Botone said. If there is any questions, mailing list call 918-732-7720. If you have news tips or its people. They are given the The royalty retreat which contact Shelby Botone at 918- story ideas you would like to share please submit your honor to promote our Nation was supposed to be on May 9 549-2601 or MCNpageant@ news tips to [email protected] throughout their year-long at the River Spirit Casino, has mcn-nsn.gov • P.O. BOX 580 - OKMULGEE, OK 74447 • 918.732.7720 • MVSKOKEMEDIA.COM • @MVSKOKEMEDIA PAGE 2 THE MVSKOKE NEWS HOKKÔLEN Challenge and assist in what may include [elderly nutrition] needed Continued from Page 1 services to elders, assistance to people to help cover.” health care employees, food pro- “I asked if she could find department managers and grams and a host of other ser- some volunteers from our staff directors have worked to iron vices that may be affected during who would be able to help serve out processes that keep govern- this crisis. and prep food for the elders and ment employees safe but main- The Muscogee (Creek) pick up and deliver for them.” tain critical services.” Nation Casinos are closed, but According to Warrior, his One such critical service some employees are still busy employees made lists and made identified was elderly nutrition. volunteers. Especially in com- schedules. “We have been doing “It just so happened that munities like Bristow and this work since last Monday, so many of those employees work- Eufaula, where employees have about two weeks,” Warrior said. ing meals for our elderly were stepped up to fill those service Salsman believes volunteers potentially at risk,” Salsman gap needs. like these will continue to play said. “So, we have found volun- Bristow MCN Casino Gen- a vital role for the tribe as the teers to fill in the gaps.” eral Manager David Warrior Nation works to get through To keep services going while said he has a conference call this crisis. the most vulnerable citizens and daily during the closure. He “At this time, MCN oper- employees’ practice “safer at and other Casino managers and ations are efficient, and plans home” and social distancing, the their employees have stepped are displaying success in fill- Nation tapped a resource. up. ing the gaps in services,” Sals- Bacone Campus Police receive truck donation for the Lighthorse Tribal Police.