Promised Land | December

(OKLAHOMA) These stories are part of the Oklahoma Media Center’s Promised Land collaborative effort, which shows how the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma decision will affect both tribal and non-Indigenous residents in the state.

Here is a look at some of the stories that have been published through the collaborative this December. 

Tribes: Stitt to not renew fishing and hunting compacts with Cherokee, Choctaw Nations

KFOR | By K. Querry-Thompson

A long-standing agreement with two Native American tribes is coming to an end. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that he will not renew standing hunting and fishing compacts with the governments for the Five Tribes after they expire this year.

Full article here. 

Supreme Court sets date with Oklahoma to respond to 40-plus McGirt appeals

Tulsa World | By Curtis Killman 

The state of Oklahoma, with more than 40 petitions filed seeking to overturn or limit the McGirt ruling, is getting its shot next month after the U.S. Supreme Court last week picked a date to consider appeals related to its landmark decision. 

Full article here. 

'An ancestral fight': Tribal members condemn death penalty following Jones' clemency 

The Oklahoman | By Jana Hayes and Jessie Christopher Smith

The beating of the elk hide hand drum, symbolizing “the heartbeat” of then-death row inmate Julius Jones, combined with singing in the Pawnee and Seminole languages made for a powerful prayer outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on the day Jones was scheduled to be put to death. 

Full article here. 

Hofmeister disagrees with Stitt on tribal compacts, McGirt issues 

McAlester News-Capital | By James Beaty

Oklahoma State School Superintendent and Democrat gubernatorial candidate Joy Hofmeister says she disagrees with Gov. Kevin Stitt's decision not to renew the state's hunting and fishing compacts with the Choctaw and Cherokee tribal governments after the compacts expire Dec. 31. 

Full article here. 

“Promised Land” is a project of the Local Media Foundation with support from the Inasmuch Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation and the Democracy Fund. 

Print, digital and broadcast media partners include: CNHI Oklahoma, Cherokee Phoenix, Curbside Chronicle, The Frontier, Griffin Communications, KFOR, KGOU, KOSU, The Lawton Constitution, Moore Monthly, Mvskoke Media, the Native American Journalists Association, NonDoc, The O’Colly, Oklahoma City Free Press, The Oklahoma Eagle, Oklahoma Gazette, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma Watch, Osage News, StateImpact Oklahoma, Tulsa World, Telemundo Oklahoma, University of Oklahoma Student Media and VNN.

Read more about the Promised Land project here.