Land back in Tulsa, Nichols elected mayor, and the first steps to decolonization
VNN Weekly Digest November 4-10
Here’s a look at the week’s top stories:
City vows to give land back on Council Oak Tree Day
(MUSCOGEE NATION) It was a day to honor the foundations of Tulsa, a city that began when Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s (MCN) Locvpoka Tribal Town placed the coals and ash from their sacred fire at the base of Council Oak Tree following their forced removal from Alabama. And those who brought them.
Muscogee citizens and allies packed Stickball Park on Saturday for the Council Oak Tree Ceremony, across the street from where the mighty oak still stands.
Monroe Nichols elected next Tulsa mayor
(OKLAHOMA) Tulsa voters elected State Representative Monroe Nichols to be the city’s 41st mayor on Tuesday, defeating Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith in a runoff election.
Nichols will be the city’s first Black mayor. He also became the first Black representative elected to represent House District 72 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and served as the Chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus during his time in the legislature.
The first steps to decolonization
(OKLAHOMA) Colonization has had significant negative impacts on Native people, in addition to the accounts of loss of life, land, and culture. Those losses have also manifested in health disparity and wealth inequality many communities still struggle with today. And no clear end in sight.
While decolonization efforts have been steadily building over the last several decades, in 2024, the systems of colonization still hold fast across Turtle Island.
Dr. Ijeoma Nnodim Opara, a double board certified doctor and editor of the Racism and Health section of PLOS Global Health, says those championing the idea of decolonizing global health might need to rethink their course.
VNN needs YOUR HELP to fund more local news. Will you chip in?
WEATHER ACROSS AMERICA
(NATIONAL) A wet Sunday evening for much of the eastern U.S., including beneficial rainfall for the Northeast, an Atmospheric River to bring heavy coastal rain and high elevation snowfall to portions of the Northwest, and above average temperatures will continue into next week for most of the country.
Want to play a more active role in our Verified News Community?