Category: 9-NotNowMaybeSomeday

The Muscogee Nation will assume some law enforcement duties in the city of Tulsa, Okla., when it comes to tribal citizens. The development over jurisdiction ends a federal lawsuit filed by the Muscogee Nation in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark McGirt decision in 2020. The Cherokee and Osage Nations also potentially have jurisdiction claims in Tulsa and other cities. Local law enforcement officials and Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) oppose the agreement, saying it creates a two-tiered system of justice. We’ll find out what the new agreement solves and what it leaves unanswered.

Also, tribes connected to Florida are speaking out against the Trump administration’s fast track plans to establish a detention center for immigration actions near the Florida Everglades. Miccosukee and Seminole tribal officials and citizens say the center, dubbed the “Alligator Alcatraz,” infringes on land that is their “cultural, spiritual, and historical identity.”

GUESTS

Betty Osceola (Miccosukee), environmental educator

State Rep. Scott Fetgatter (Choctaw/R-OK 16)

Robert Miller (Eastern Shawnee), law professor at Arizona State University and tribal judge

Jason Salsman (Muscogee), press secretary for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation

Break 1 Music:  Dragonfly, Dragonfly (song) Joy Harjo (artist) Red Dreams, A Trail Beyond Tears (album)

Break 2 Music: The Wild One (song) Link Wray (artist)

The violent attacks on legislators in Minnesota are a shocking reminder of the pervasive threats rising from political divisions. The Brennan Center for Justice finds the volume and severity of abuse directed at public officials is increasing, and is disproportionately directed at women and people of color. As officials in Minnesota and the rest of the nation grieve the recent tragedy, we’ll look at the potential effect rising threats has on the willingness of Native Americans, and others, to hold public office.

A still image from a video shared on social media reportedly showing a Navajo spiritual leader tormented by a demon in a drama produced by a Gallup church.

We’ll also learn more about a theatrical production offered by a church in the Navajo border town Gallup, N.M. that has many Navajo citizens upset over insensitive portrayals of Navajo spiritual culture.

GUESTS

State Rep. Heather Keeler (Ihaƞktoƞwaƞ and Eastern Shoshone/DFL-MN 04A)

Louvannina Tsosie (Navajo), witness, advocate of Navajo culture, and university student

Carl Slater (Diné), Navajo Nation council delegate

Samuel Strong (Red Lake), tribal secretary for the Red Lake Nation

Break 1 Music: Navajo Waltz (song) Jonah Littlesunday (artist) Gratitiude (album)

Break 2 Music: The Wild One (song) Link Wray (artist)

An illegal voting case in Alaska highlights lingering confusion over the rights extended to the citizens of American Samoa, a U.S. territory. Eleven Samoans from Whittier, Alaska are charged with felonies for alleged voter fraud by participating in their local election. All have U.S. passports, were born on U.S. soil, and can even participate in the presidential primary process. The territory has been under heavy colonial pressure for centuries and has been under U.S. oversight for more than 125 years. But Congress never granted its citizens the right to vote in national elections.

In another case, tribes in North Dakota were dealt a serious blow in their ongoing fight against redistricting that reduces their collective power in state elections.

GUESTS

Charles Ala’ilima (Samoan), attorney

Tafilisaunoa Toleafoa (Samoan), executive director of the Pacific Community of Alaska

Neil Weare, co-director of Right to Democracy

Nicole Donaghy (Hunkpapa Lakota), executive director of North Dakota Native Vote

Break 1 Music: Matagofie (song) National University of Samoa Singers with Opeloge Ah Sam (artist)

Break 2 Music: The Wild One (song) Link Wray (artist)