(TVLSE, Okla.) As Oklahoma closes the book on another year of ‘89er Day” celebrations, the real history of the land continues to be overlooked by most, including the state’s governor. “The first land run in our state was in 1889— it opened the unassigned lands to pioneers and settlers
(BROKEN ARROW, Okla.) Though officially platted as a townsite in 1902, like many other cities and towns in Northeast Oklahoma, Broken Arrow’s first permanent residents were Indigenous people. In the case of Broken Arrow, those people were the Muscogee (Creek), who settled in the area during the 1820s and
Pictured is Owasso mother Natasha Rogers and teen daughter (OWASSO, Okla.) A community is in mourning following the death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict, an Owasso High School student who died a day after an alleged fight at school. Benedict, a binary student who went by they/their pronouns, was taken
Note: An earlier version of this story identified the deceased as a Cherokee citizen following citizenship reports from their obituary, local community members and organizations. VNN has been unable to confirm this information from official sources and updated this report to reflect the facts available at this time. Tribal affiliation
(MUSCOGEE NATION) Update: Legislation to codify same-sex marriage in Muscogee Creek Nation failed to pass the Business, Finance, & Justice Committee Thursday night, with one in favor of the legislation and three against. Muscogee Creek Nation Council Representative Dode Barnett (Creek District Seat A), who sponsored the legislation, was the
(MUSCOGEE NATION) It was a probate scandal that sent shockwaves across the nation. Evidence of assault, suspected murder, and a complete disregard for the humanity and rights of American Indians were investigated and compiled into the Indian Rights’ Association’s 1924 report “Oklahoma’s Poor Rich Indians”. Support for change
Trigger Warning: This story discusses domestic violence and other related abuse, which may be distressing and triggering for some individuals. Please proceed with caution and prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. If you need support, consider speaking to a mental health professional by calling 988, texting the Crisis Text Line
(TULSA, Okla.) Living in Oklahoma, a state that frequently tops the list in female incarceration, Maria Morris knows first-hand how easy it is to suddenly be facing decades in prison. In 2018, Morris’ 1-year-old daughter Carabelle died in a house fire. To make matters worse, she was arrested and charged
(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) An Oklahoma lawmaker filed legislation to create the "Common Sense Freedom of Press Control Act" Wednesday, aimed at mandating journalism licensing, propaganda-free training, and drug testing for news media workers and companies. The bill, filed by Oklahoma State Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow), is directed
(TULSA, Okla.) When VNN and Osage News teamed up with several other organizations to hold an “Exploring Indigenous Allyship” community dinner and discussion at Philbrook last fall, the goal was to simply start conversations about conversations. With the second largest American Indian population in the United States, Oklahoma’s municipal,
(OSAGE NATION) Actress Lily Gladstone (Blackfeet/Nez Perce) made history Sunday night, becoming the first Indigenous actress to win a Golden Globe. Gladstone won Best Performance by a Female Actor – Motion Picture, Drama for her role as Mollie Burkhart in Martin Scorsese's blockbuster film "Killers of the
(TULSA, Okla.) One year ago, Lashay Peters made the difficult decision to move from California to Oklahoma, where she and her four children had been living in their vehicle. “I came out here for the better,” Peters said. “Me and my kids was in the car for two months and