Mvskoke victims honored, stalled tobacco talks, and prison journalism finalists
VNN Weekly Digest April 7 - April 13
Top Stories + Tracking Policies
In addition to the top stories in this week’s VNN Weekly Digest, we’re also including stories about decisions made at the federal level that impact Indian Country.
By including stories and updates written by sources we trust alongside important stories told by VNN Oklahoma journalists and VNN affiliates, our goal is to help our audience stay as informed impossible during these times of increased uncertainty.
Here’s a look at the week’s top stories:
More than 300 Mvskoke killed in steamboat wreck honored in Louisiana
(LOUISIANA) An annual lecture series in Louisiana is shining light on a little-known tragedy that claimed the lives of hundreds of Mvskoke people during the forced removal.
The Ethel Claiborne Dameron Lecture Series is held annually in memory of the founder of the West Baton Rouge Historical Association and West Baton Rouge Museum. This year’s event centered on the dedication of a historical marker honoring the 311 lives lost in the tragic wreck of the steamboat Monmouth, which happened on the Mississippi River near Profit Island on October 31, 1837.
Tobacco compact negotiations stall between Nation and state
(OSAGE RESERVATION) Communications have ceased. That is how Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear explained the current negotiations for the Nation’s Tobacco Products Excise Tax Compact with the State of Oklahoma.
The Nation’s tobacco compact extended negotiation deadline of March 31 has come and gone. Without a tobacco compact, there is no revenue sharing agreement in place, state tax liability becomes murky, and a competitive advantage could be lost to those tribes who do have compacts, to name a few detrimental factors.
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Two ODOC prison publications named finalists for national journalism award
(OKLAHOMA) The Oklahoma Department of Corrections proudly announces that The Warrior Standard and The Mabel Bassett Balance have been nominated as 2025 Stillwater Award recipients in the New Prison Publication category.
The Stillwater Awards, now in their second year, are presented by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Prison Journalism Project to recognize outstanding journalism created within the incarcerated community.
UPDATES FROM SOURCES WE TRUST
Over the past week, several developments have emerged concerning President Donald Trump's executive actions that impact Indigenous communities:
Navajo Nation Council responds to HHS restructuring and job cuts
The Navajo Nation Council has raised concerns about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) recent restructuring, which includes significant job cuts and agency mergers. The Council argues that these changes, made without adequate consultation with tribal nations, could harm healthcare services and deepen disparities in Native communities. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a government-to-government relationship with tribes and urge HHS to engage in dialogue with tribal leaders to prioritize Native American health care needs.
Ed Department won't address Native discipline disparities
This week, the U.S. Department of Education under President Donald Trump withdrew from a civil rights agreement with the Rapid City Area School District in South Dakota. The agreement aimed to address disciplinary disparities affecting Native American students, who were found to be disproportionately suspended and arrested compared to their white peers. The administration cited concerns that the agreement was improperly based on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. This decision has raised concerns among Indigenous communities about the federal government's commitment to educational equity.
DOGE cuts hit Native Hawaiian programs
Proposed funding cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are threatening humanities programs vital to Native Hawaiian communities. The Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities, which relies on support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), may be forced to halt grant-making, lay off staff, and reduce services that preserve Hawaiian culture and history. Programs at risk include Hawai‘i History Day, the Hawai‘i State Poet Laureate initiative, and community dialogues in correctional facilities.
The summaries in the UPDATES FROM SOURCES WE TRUST section above were generated using Artificial Intelligence to provide a quick overview, and our team has reviewed them for accuracy. Help us improve our AI transparency! Share your thoughts on our use of AI by taking this quick survey.
ICYMI
VNN Oklahoma Seeks Indigenous Input on Civic Issues
(OKLAHOMA) Community events are a core part of the work Verified News Network (VNN) Oklahoma does. This year, VNN Oklahoma is hosting a Listening and Learning Tour on three reservations thanks to a grant from the Walton Family Foundation (WFF).
The first tour stop will be at Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness in Tulsa on Thursday May 1, 6-8:30 PM.
Additionally, there will be tour stops in Eufaula on the Muscogee Nation Reservation, Pawhuska on the Osage Nation Reservation and on the Cherokee Nation Reservation.
NATIVE COMMERCE NEWS
Native-owned diagnostics company celebrates expansion at new facility
Native Commerce News is sponsored by the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma (AICCO), dedicated to expanding Indian Country commerce across the globe.
(OKLAHOMA) April 14 will be a big day for AICCO Native Business Tribal Diagnostics, the only Native American-owned diagnostic laboratory in operation. The company will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of its new 25,000 square foot facility in Oklahoma City.
“When we founded in 2015, we had nothing,” said Cory Littlepage, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and the founder and CEO of Tribal Diagnostics.
WEATHER ACROSS AMERICA
(NATIONAL) Moderate to heavy snow over the western portion of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, snow over parts of the Central Rockies, a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians, and critical fire weather conditions are forecast over parts of the Southwest to the Southern High Plains.
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