Two Tribal Attorneys General Join The Northern Oklahoma District Indian Prosecution Unit
Two Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, one each from the Osage Nation and Cherokee Nation, were sworn-in at an investiture ceremony Thursday and will assist with improving public safety in tribal communities, announced Danny C. Williams Sr., United States Attorney for the Northern District.
“Indian Country is a significant priority and my office is committed to building and sustaining safe tribal communities in the Northern District,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “The Tribal SAUSAs (Special Assistant United States Attorney) will assist in key prosecution areas which derive from federal jurisdiction over crimes occurring in Indian land to include drug trafficking, sexual abuse, and violence against women.”
Jeff Jones is the Attorney General of the Osage Nation and Sara Hill is the Deputy Attorney General of the Cherokee Nation. Jones and Hill will work alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Northern District’s Indian Country Prosecution Unit.
The United States Constitution, treaties, federal statutes, executive orders, and court decisions establish and define the unique legal and political relationship that exists between the United States and Indian tribes. Federal laws vest the Department of Justice with primary jurisdiction over most felonies that occur on Indian lands in most states. There are thirteen federally recognized tribes in the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Cherokee Nation Gets In The Holiday Spirit
Stacie Guthrie of the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper reports that the Cherokee Nation Angel Project and the Cherokee Angel Elder program are ways to give to those who may not receive anything during the holiday season. The Angel Project is available for children up to 16 years old who are members of the Cherokee Nation and live within the tribe’s 14-county jurisdiction. Parents or legal guardians must also provide proof of income and meet the income guidelines.
The Angel Project helped approximately 2,200 children last year to receive gifts and clothing items. Cherokee Nation Angel Project Lead Coordinator Brandy Lemley said often the gifts from the CN Angel Project are the only ones some children receive.
Lemley said what she admires about the project is that it is community-based and operates solely on donations and sponsorships. Cherokee Nation citizens from within the tribe’s jurisdiction as well as Texas and California donate to help children have a memorable Christmas.
Lemley said she’s been working with the project for approximately 15 years. The Angel Project, formerly known as the Angel Tree, was created in the early 1990s and later became a chief’s initiative under Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller’s administration.
Crystal Thomas, CN Elder Services and Family Assistance assistant manager, said she and others created and began the Elder Angel Program three years ago to help out Cherokee elders who did not have family around the holidays. Thomas said in 2013 the program provided approximately 75 elders with gifts for Christmas and that this year they are hoping to help more than 100 elders.
Peter Pan Production Makes Effort To Eliminate Stereotypes
NBC’s December 4th live broadcast of Peter Pan received a thumb’s up from Kevin Gover, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and the Director of the National Museum of the American Indian.
According to Indian Country Today Media Network, Gover approved of the television networks’ efforts to eliminate offensive stereotypes contained in the classic Disney cartoon and the Mary Martin television presentations.
“This new version is closer to our heritage,” Gover heritage.
Among the more notable changes was the removal of nonsensical ‘Indian words’, the casting of Cherokee actress Alana Saunders for the role of Native princess Tiger Lily, and the replacement of the seemingly mocking “Ugg-a-Wugg” song/scene. In its stead was a new song called “True Blood Brothers” performed by Saunders and Allison Williams as Peter Pan.
Upcoming native events:
A Christmas Gourd Dance takes place at the Otoe-Missouria Cultural Building in Red Rock, Oklahoma on December 18. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m., Gourd Dance begins at 6:00 p.m., Santa Claus will make a visit at 8:00 pm and the dance ends at 9:00 p.m. For more information call 877-692-6863.
On December 20-21, Saturday-Sunday, the Glorieta Baptist Church will present their annual A Native American Christmas Story. Over 40 cast members in in native dress will tell the biblical story of the birth of Jesus. The church is located 7308 S Western in Oklahoma City. The doors open at 5pm. The public is invited. For more information call Sherry Kenrick, 405-249-4584.
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