Promised Land | March

(OKLAHOMA) These stories are part of the Oklahoma Media Center’s Promised Land collaborative effort, which shows how the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma decision affects 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 March:

'This is our backyard': Quapaw Nation asserts more control over environment within its reservation

KOSU | By Allison Herrera

When federal judge Stephen Friot denied Oklahoma an injunction against the U.S. Department of the Interior after they stripped the state's right to regulate mining inside reservation boundaries, it brought up questions about who has the right to clean up the environment on reservations affirmed by the McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling and who gets the federal money to do the work.

Read the full story here.

Congress funds tribes to support McGirt decision

Mvskoke Media | By Morgan Taylor

Tribal nations were allocated $62 million in the U.S. Congress spending bill that was announced on Wednesday March 9. The bill will help improve the criminal justice systems and assist in the overload of cases caused by the landmark McGirt Decision.

Read the full story here.

Indigenous communities celebrate reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act 

KOSU | By Allison Herrera 

Native communities are celebrating President Biden’s signing of an update to to the Violence Against Women Act. Advocates for women and Indigenous people have waited nearly 10 years for the reauthorization of the act, which is commonly known as VAWA. The 2022 version extends new rights to tribal authorities.

Read the full story here. 

Congress extends reach of tribal courts over sex assault, trafficking cases

The Oklahoman | By Molly Young

Tribal courts can now prosecute all people accused of sexually assaulting and trafficking Native Americans on tribal lands. They can also try non-Native defendants charged with abusing Native children, stalking Native people, obstructing justice and assaulting tribal police.

Read the full story here. 

SCOTUS to hear Castro-Huerta case in April

KOSU | By Allison Herera

The U-S Supreme Court has set a date to hear Oklahoma’s challenge to a landmark 2020 ruling upholding tribal jurisdiction in a wide swath of eastern Oklahoma.

Read the full story 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.