#Cherokee Nation

[reasonsforhope]

"Growing up, Mackenzee Thompson always wanted a deeper connection with her tribe and culture.

The 26-year-old member of the Choctaw Nation said she grew up outside of her tribe’s reservation and wasn’t sure what her place within the Indigenous community would be.

Through a first-of-its-kind program, Thompson said she’s now figured out how she can best serve her people — as a doctor.

Thompson is graduating as part of the inaugural class from Oklahoma State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation. It’s the first physician training program on a Native American reservation and in affiliation with a tribal government, according to school and tribal officials.

“I couldn’t even have dreamed this up,” she said. “To be able to serve my people and learn more about my culture is so exciting. I have learned so much already.”

Thompson is one of nine Native graduates, who make up more than 20 percent of the class of 46 students, said Dr. Natasha Bray, the school’s dean. There are an additional 15 Native students graduating from the school’s Tulsa campus.

The OSU-COM graduates include students from 14 different tribes, including Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, Alaska Native, Caddo, and Osage.

Bray said OSU partnered with the Cherokee Nation to open the school in 2020 to help erase the shortage of Indigenous doctors nationwide. There are about 841,000 active physicians practicing in the United States. Of those, nearly 2,500 — or 0.3 percent — are Native American, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

When American Indian and Alaska Native people visit Indian Health Service clinics, there aren’t enough doctors or nurses to provide “quality and timely health care,” according to a 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office. On average, a quarter of IHS provider positions — from physicians to nurses and other care positions –are vacant.

“These students here are going to make a generational impact,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told the students days before graduation. “There is such a need in this state and in this region for physicians and this school was created out of a concern about the pipeline of doctors into our health system.”

The Cherokee Nation spent $40 million to build the college in its capital of Tahlequah. The walls of the campus feature artifacts of Cherokee culture as well as paintings to remember important figures from Cherokee history. An oath of commitment on the wall is written in both English and Cherokee.

The physician training program was launched in the first year of the pandemic.

Bray said OSU and Cherokee leadership felt it was important to have the school in the heart of the Cherokee Nation, home to more than 141,000 people, because students would be able to get experience treating Indigenous patients. In Tahlequah, students live and study in a small town about an hour east of Tulsa with a population of less than 24,000 people.

“While many students learn about the problems facing these rural communities,” Bray said. “Our students are getting to see them firsthand and learn from those experiences.”

While students from the college are free to choose where to complete their residency after graduation, an emphasis is placed on serving rural and Indigenous areas of the country.

There’s also a severe lack of physicians in rural America, a shortage that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Association of American Medical Colleges has projected that rural counties could see a shortage between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034. An additional 180,000 doctors would be needed in rural counties and other underserved populations to make up the difference.

Bray said OSU saw an opportunity to not only help correct the underrepresentation of Native physicians but also fill a workforce need to help serve and improve health care outcomes in rural populations.

“We knew we’d need to identify students who had a desire to serve these communities and also stay in these communities,” she said.

Osteopathic doctors, or DOs, have the same qualifications and training as allopathic doctors, or MDs, but the two types of doctors attend different schools. While MDs learn from traditional programs, DOs take on additional training at osteopathic schools that focus on holistic medicine, like how to reduce patient discomfort by physically manipulating muscles and bones. DOs are more likely to work in primary care and rural areas to help combat the health care shortages in those areas.

As part of the curriculum, the school invited Native elders and healers to help teach students about Indigenous science and practices...

Thompson said she was able to bring those experiences into her appointments. Instead of asking only standard doctor questions, she’s been getting curious and asking about her patient’s diets, and if they are taking any natural remedies.

“It’s our mission to be as culturally competent as we can,” she said. “Learning this is making me not only a better doctor but helping patients trust me more.”

-via PBS NewsHour, May 23, 2024

[messyturtlequilts]

Our Flag, Our People

The quilt was my entry in the 2024 Cherokee Nation Homecoming Quilt show. The theme for the weekend was "Weaving our Future."

I used the colors of the Cherokee flag - orange, yellow, brown, green, white and black. The extra red stripe was in honor of MMIW. You probably can't tell, but the white fabric actually has symbols from the Cherokee Syllabary on it, which I ordered from Spoonflower.

Pattern was Plaidy Cake by Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew

[cachien]

deep in my feelings about hurricane helene, wondering if people even know about cherokee, nc, and the res that was affected there

i went to college in north alabama and frequently took trips into the mountains, coming in via the "tail of the dragon," a winding section of hwy 111 connecting tn to west nc. it spits you out near tapoco dam and about an hour away you can loop through cherokee and bryson's city to get to clingman's dome, the highest point in smoky mountains national park. i went through there probably a half-dozen times in college and went back for my honeymoon in june.

i just saw a video of the flooding at cherokee island park and it just broke my heart. as far as i know, the res in that area depends largely on tourism. there's a lot of emphasis on cherokee cultural heritage, some of which does seem over-emphasized because it's good for tourism. there's dozens of absolutely beautiful waterfalls, some of them 100+ ft, near the town. there's always elk nearby, especially in the fall the road from cherokee to bryson city has a field where there's almost always entire herds of elk and cars lining the shoulder for miles as people take pictures.

and i don't know how bad the damage is there but i know their economy is going to suffer so intensely. the damaged roads are preventing people from getting there. local musicians are hosting free concerts with donations to help the town and people can't get there to donate. my heart was already aching for asheville and boone, places incredibly special to me from the years i lived in south carolina and would travel up there for mountain vacations, but seeing floods in cherokee just broke my heart.

i've never a single time posted to tumblr asking people to donate but please, if you can, help these communities recover. the cherokee people in nc have such a rich, beautiful display of who they are and it's agonizing to think of them losing that, after losing so much else, because of the economic repercussions of helene blocking transportation to the area and resource scarcity in the mountains making it detrimental for tourism to happen right now in many areas. cherokee has said they're open to visitors, but be watchful if you visit the mountains of where you travel through and where you take resources from.

anyway here's a video from the chief of the EBCI (eastern band of cherokee indians) in cherokee nc talking about relief efforts and progress and from the link in bio he says you can find more info about how to help

[nando161mando]

[wicked-witch-ofthe-east]

How steeped in colonialism is our country? Spot what’s missing from Andrew Jackson’s biography on the White House webpage: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/andrew-jackson/

ANSWER: There is no mention of the Indian Removal Act - a law signed into place in 1830 (the second year of his eight year ruling!) allowing Jackson to set aside tribal land west of the Mississippi in exchange for tribal lands occupied in the East. The Cherokee Indians of the Georgia state region took this up with the Supreme Court in a case titled “Cherokee Nation v. Georgia.” The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cherokee Nation granting them the right to self-govern on their land and stating that Georgia’s extension of state law was unconstitutional. Jackson refused to enforce the courts decision and thus the Trail of Tears began. Keep in mind, the Cherokee Nation had just played a pivotal role in helping Andrew Jackson win the war of 1812. They were allies for the man, and this is how he treated them.

The Cherokee Nation did everything right according to the “system” and still, an abuse of power lead to destruction. This was one of the first legal precedents of our system exploiting and undermining the marginalized.

My life is steeped in hipocracy. Uphold Cherokee v. Georgia!! Accountability for abusive presidents!!

[harriswalz4usabybr]

Sunday, August 11, 2024 - Tim Walz

This is the ‘official’ schedule of Tim Walz s today on the campaign trail. With some added detail for press purposes. Additionally, the Governor is traveling with Secretary of the Interior Deb Harland on this trip to gain some valuable insight into the region while traveling and meeting with voters. Walz's travel today will be focused on Montana.

Event #1 (Bozeman, MT) Event Location: Montana State University Event Type: Town Hall Event Event Time: 9:00-10:00 MT

Event #2 Event Location: The Baxter Event Type: Educator’s Lunch with Discussion Event Time: 11:00-15:00 MT *Note this event has a target audience of 250 attendees who are school district superintendents and principals as well as teachers who have completed 20 years of service. These educators will come from across the state!

Event #3 (Billings, MT) Event Location: TEN and Crow Nation Event Type: Dinner with Native American Leaders Event Time: 17:00-21:00 MT *A tour of Crow Nation was also taken by the campaign.

Bozeman, MT Q: "Governor Walz, rural America often feels overlooked by national politicians who focus on urban areas. How can we trust that the Harris-Walz campaign is truly invested in the needs of rural communities like ours?" A: "Thank you for that question. I want to be absolutely clear: our campaign is committed to representing every American, no matter where they live. Kamala Harris and I understand that rural communities have unique challenges, and we are determined to ensure that your voices are heard and your needs are met. That’s why, unlike many campaigns, Kamala has pledged to visit all 50 states and each U.S. territory during this election cycle. And I will be visiting many of our rural communities personally because your issues matter to us. We know that access to broadband, healthcare, and education are critical issues in rural America, and these are front of mind for both Kamala and me. We will work tirelessly to expand broadband access so that every home, farm, and business has the connectivity needed to thrive in the 21st century. Our administration will also invest in rural healthcare infrastructure and educational opportunities, ensuring that no American is left behind. Rural America is the backbone of this country, and together, we will make sure that the future is brighter for all Americans, regardless of their zip code."

Billings, MT Press Release: Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz believe that the time has come to correct the historical injustices faced by Native American nations. During a tour of Crow Nation and a dinner with Native American leaders in Billings, MT, Governor Walz reaffirmed the Harris-Walz administration’s commitment to investing in the forgotten nations that are home to America’s first peoples. This meeting marks a critical step in the campaign’s broader mission to ensure that the promises made to Native communities are honored and that their voices are respected and uplifted.

The Harris-Walz administration will establish a dedicated team to review past treaties, such as those made at Hopewell in 1785 and Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830, and to address any unfulfilled promises or inaction. No longer will these communities be neglected or trampled upon by those in power. The campaign is also committed to visiting other Native Nations across the country to ensure that all are heard and supported. Additionally, the Harris-Walz administration explicitly supports honoring the commitments of the Treaty of Hopewell and the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, including the provision of congressional delegates for these nations. Together, we can build a future where all Americans, including our first Americans, are respected and empowered.

~BR~

[lyledebeast]

October 11: Part One

I have a lot of activities today since I don't have to go to either of my jobs. First up, I'm having a ruiniously expensive latte from my second favorite coffee shop in my city's downtown. Look at these lemon lime-ass ginko trees.

They turn the most gorgeous shade of gold in the fall, but even in the middle of October, we're not there yet 😭.

This is the statue commemorating the namesake of our county, the ones Andrew Jackson forced out because speaking English and converting to Christianity still didn't make them white enough to hold on to their ancestral land.

Sorry the front pic is bad. The sun is stupid, and I hate it.

[corythesaxon]

I think this is the group my Grandparents and dad belong to. I think. My grandparents are dead and my dad doesn’t talk to me anymore so I’m not sure.

If anyone sees this could you maybe help me figure stuff out? Like, I’m lost.

[writerofscreen]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cherokee Nation (@thecherokeenation)

Cherokee Storytelling

[polyglot-thought]

Cherokee Language Meme 😊

[stuffbhappenin]

[reasoningdaily]

https://x.com/stacyleeds/status/1683559079007092739?t=sQFVXOBWqrxqh_OKB-WYWA&s=09

[geezerwench]

[divinequo]

"language barriers"

Weeee love how it turned out!<333

Joke explanation: "Agali" is the word for sunshine in my native language, (tsalagi) but since it's pronounced "ah-guh-le" execpt unlike the English word the beginning has more of a "ah" sound, it pretty much just sounds exactly like the English word for ugly, hence the reactions lol

[twizteddreamz]