Oklahoman
The leaders of the Cherokee and Chickasaw Nations have signed off on federal legislation that would allow them to negotiate compacts with the state on criminal jurisdiction within their reservations.
The legislation, which may be introduced in Congress as soon as Tuesday, would provide a means for the tribes and state prosecutors to share jurisdiction over some crimes that became the responsibility of the tribes and federal government after a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year.
U.S. attorneys and the Five Tribes the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Muscogees and Seminoles have had to file hundreds of cases in recent months that were previously prosecuted by state district attorneys. Many of the cases are new, while others involved state inmates convicted of murder and other violent crimes.
Federal bill to address criminal jurisdiction in Oklahoma
SEAN MURPHY, The Associated Press
May 10, 2021
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1of3FILE - In this Sept. 17, 2019 file photo, Bill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, is pictured during an interview in his office in Ada, Okla. Two of the most powerful Native American tribes in Oklahoma said Monday, May 10, 2021 they ve reached an agreement on federal legislation that would address concerns over criminal jurisdiction in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.Sue Ogrocki/APShow MoreShow Less
2of3FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2019 file photo, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin speaks during a news conference in Tahlequah, Okla. Two of the most powerful Native American tribes in Oklahoma said Monday, May 10, 2021 they ve reached an agreement on federal legislation that would address concerns over criminal jurisdiction in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.Sue Ogrocki/APShow MoreShow Less
Cherokee Nation/Osiyo TV
The chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Thursday introduced a piece of legislation meant to help with Native American language preservation efforts, named for late Cherokee linguist Durbin Feeling.
“Congress made a commitment to promote and protect the rights of Native Americans to use their languages over three decades ago when it enacted the Native American Languages Act of 1990,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the committee s chair, in a statement. “The Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act will ensure we are living up to that commitment. Our bill will make the federal government more accountable by setting clear goals and asking for direct input from Native communities about how federal resources can be more effectively used to support and revitalize Native languages.”
Voices across Indian Country are condemning CNN pundit and former Pennsylvania Republican U.S. senator Rick Santorum's remarks dismissing Native Americans
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The Oklahoma State Capitol
A new bill that would require the Oklahoma State Board of Education to collect student tribal affiliation was signed into law by Governor Kevin Stitt last week.
House Bill 1104 amends the Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act to include tribal affiliation for students identified as having American Indian heritage.
According to the bill s author, Rep. Mark Vancuren (R-Owasso), collecting this kind of data will help schools meet the needs of their Native American students.
Information about tribal affiliation is important when schools apply for federal funds to support things like The Johnson O Malley program, which helps Native students enrolled in public schools.