October News Byte 2024
Celebrating culture and gearing up to vote!
Happy Halloween, Verified News Community!
As Election Day draws closer, we want to start by thanking you for your continued support and remind you to engage in a little self-care during this time.
Whether you are voting early or heading to the polls on November 5, make sure you are informed of the impact US presidents have in Indian Country. Our team worked hard to create VNN’s Indian Country Voter Guide this month. We encourage you to give it a look!
VNN took to Dream Keepers Park this month to hand our guides out. And celebrate Tulsa Native American Day with our community members.
In case you don’t recognize that face on the left, that is Trista Vaughn. And we are so happy to celebrate her promotion to VNN Community Engagement and Cultural Coordinator this October!
Trista is United Keetoowah Band, Hualapai, Chickasaw, and a proud mom with a background of community service to underrepresented communities. Trista is also committed to uplifting Native voices through her work as a VNN Oklahoma journalist.
We are continuously impressed with Trista's willingness to take on new projects- and how she excels at them. Thank you for all you do, Trista! We know you are going to help make 2025 an incredible year in your new role!
This month was a historic one for our Indigenous communities.
President Joe Biden issued a public apology to Native American communities across the United States, acknowledging and apologizing for Federal Indian boarding school policies.
This was the first time in US history that a president did that. Indian Country leaders both celebrated the move and called for more action to remedy the historic and generational trauma caused by the so-called schools.
On the topic of Indian boarding schools, 17-year-old Albert Mekko, who died at Carlisle Indian School in 1881, finally returned home this October. Seminole Nation led a motorcade from Council Oak Park, a sacred Muscogee site, back to the reservation in partnership with grassroots organizers, Muscogee Nation, Tulsa Police, and Strong Hands.
Albert is one of three known Seminole children who have died in Indian boarding schools. The Seminole Nation is still working to return at least one other Seminole child, Wallace Perryman, who is still at Carlisle.
October was also a month for inspiration.
On October 24, Oklahoma-born Chef and TV celebrity Pyet DeSpain returned to Indian Country to speak at Tulsa’s Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit. This summit highlighted the working being done to address Native food insecurity and the important role food plays in Indigenous cultures.
The summit also highlighted the need to invest in tribal communities beyond traditional food banking, as well as barriers to food security including historical mistrust from weaponized food distribution and racism.
We are getting ready for a community-focused Native American Heritage Month.
On November 21, VNN is partnering with the Irish American Club of Tulsa, the Choctaw Cultural Center, and the Tulsa City-County Library to hold our annual Exploring Indigenous Allyship Dinner and Discussion. This year, our discussion will include the story of the Great Hunger, the Choctaw Nation Gift, and the enduring and enlightening connection between the Irish and Native Americans.
Spots are limited, so sign up here today to reserve your seat. We hope to see you there!
To keep up with the latest news in Indian Country and beyond, don’t forget to subscribe and follow our work if you haven’t already, and bookmark our Latest News Feed in your browser. You can also save our app directly to your mobile home screen.
Have a safe and spooky night! Thank you for being part of the VNN family.
