Muscogee Nation holds events in honor of National Suicide Prevention Week
The events lasted from Sept. 9 to Sept. 12, and included free lectures and activities to educate citizens
by Thomas Jackson, Mvskoke Media
OKMULKEE, Oklv. – National Suicide Prevention Week took place in the United States, starting on Sept. 8 and ending on Sept. 14. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation took part in this by holding activities to commemorate it.
Events within the Muscogee Nation began with the “Talk Saves Lives” lecture on Sept. 9, which was a suicide prevention training event where attendees could, in the words of MCN Health, “learn the necessary tools to help save a life”. This event was held both in the College of Muscogee Nation Lecture Hall and in the Creek Nation Community Hospital’s conference room in Okemah. It included not only ways to notice if someone is struggling with their mental health, but also ways to help prevent someone from potentially harming themselves, such as providing access to mental health care, providing family and community support, and simply being there for someone in need of help.
Following this, on Sept. 10, there was a self-care day, and a series of Yellow Ribbon activities held in honor of World Suicide Prevention Day. These events, held in the Solomon McCombs Building on the MCN Tribal Complex, as well as the Sapulpa and Okemah Clinics, were dedicated to helping people manage stress and take care of themselves.
The third event of the week took place on Sept. 11 outside the Mound Building in Okmulgee, at the Eufaula Clinic, at the Sapulpa Clinic, and at the Creek Nation Community Hospital in Okemah. The event, known as “Chalk Out the Stigma” was a chalk-drawing event for people to spread messages of hope, love, encouragement and awareness. This event was held in hopes of removing the stigma around mental health and suicide.
The final event of the week that was held by MCN Health was on Sept. 12. The Hope Walk, held at the Eufaula Clinic and outside the Mvskoke Dome in Okmulgee, was a walk dedicated to those who had lost their lives to suicide. In Okmulgee, the event included a talk by Michael D. Coon, a Muscogee citizen and Vietnam veteran, who has become a well-known advocate for veteran's mental health after his son, Michael K. Coon, an Army veteran who had served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf, committed suicide. This talk was then followed by the walk, which Michael participated in along with the other attendees.
At all of these events, MCN Health was there to provide information on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, with employees handing out information and free gifts in order to help spread awareness regarding suicide.
For those who are struggling with mental health or are in crisis, there is always someone willing to help. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Hotline 24/7.
Statewide initiative aims to increase Indigenous Oklahoma voters
Funded by a grant from the National Congress of American Indians, the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma is launching its “Warrior Up To Vote” campaign.
By Katie Hallum, KOSU
The bi-annual tour will stop at tribal complexes and headquarters across the state to inform Native communities about voter registration and Native legislation.
The initiative’s highlight event will be a tribal sovereignty symposium and candidate forum taking place at Muscogee Nation’s RiverSpirit Casino in Tulsa. During the symposium tribal members can interact with candidates and learn more about policy and legislation that affect Native communities.
The tour will culminate in mass voter registration drives in both OKC and Tulsa. But there will be events from Miami to Anadarko over the two-week tour.
The bi-partisan effort is meant to increase voter registration in Native communities. Oklahoma currently ranks 50th in voter turnout.
UINO leaders said in a news release that the number of issues facing Oklahomans related to education, health care and substance abuse could seem difficult.
"But registering to vote is a right,” said Ben Barnes, UINO Board Chairman. “We can impact taxation, our tribal compacts and tribal sovereignty when we vote, which helps all those issues that disproportionately affect Native Americans. Whether you are a young person or an elder, no matter your background or education, voting is something we can all do to uplift our communities, and it requires minimal effort."
See when the Warrior Up to Vote tour is at a tribal complex near you:
Cherokee Nation celebrates expansion of Cherokee Film Studios
Tribe opens second soundstage at Owasso campus
OWASSO, Okla. — Cherokee Nation and its businesses are celebrating the expansion of Cherokee Film Studios in Owasso. The tribe recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the addition of a second soundstage and more to its Owasso campus.
“Through our tribe’s breakthrough endeavors, Cherokee Nation remains at the forefront of the emerging film and TV industry in Indian Country,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “The present and future of Cherokee Nation, our neighboring tribes and Oklahoma are intrinsically intertwined, and this newly expanded campus demonstrates yet another example of our commitment to investing in that future. As we increase infrastructure, explore incentives, connect resources and remove barriers, we are helping grow and amplify television and film production in Oklahoma — the home state of 39 tribal nations — while making it possible for our citizens to be a part of it.”
The Cherokee Film Studios, Owasso Campus is the first of its kind in Oklahoma and Indian Country, including a state-of-the-art xR, or extended reality, virtual production LED volume studio crafted with industry-leading software and hardware technologies.
The recently completed expansion includes a second soundstage featuring 10,000 square feet, a 35-foot ceiling, full soundproofing to cinema standards, a modular truss system with chain hoists, a hair and makeup room, a multipurpose/flex space, restrooms, 14-foot bay doors for load-ins, and RV hookups for production trailers. Additional changes to the Owasso film campus include classroom space for the Cherokee Film Institute, a new lobby and waiting area for clients, a construction mill space equipped with a cyclonic air filtration system, production offices and conference rooms, wardrobe and storage spaces, an audio recording suite, a catering kitchen, and an additional greenroom.
"We are thrilled to welcome Cherokee Film's expansion and new soundstage to northeast Oklahoma," said Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell. "With the opening of this 10,000-square-foot facility, Cherokee Film now has nearly 20,000 square feet of dedicated, state-of-the-art production space, all located less than 20 minutes from the Tulsa International Airport. This is a major investment in diversifying Oklahoma's economy, and the jobs and economic impact we will see will benefit our state for many years to come."
Located within the Cherokee Nation Reservation, the tribal film campus already featured 14,000 square feet of dedicated virtual production and practical studio space with accompanying edit suites, a control room, a pro-grade audio booth, crew and client lounges, as well as hair and makeup facilities to meet the growing needs of production in Oklahoma.
Cherokee Film aims to become a global production hub at the center of the film, TV and entertainment industry that champions diversity and inclusion for underrepresented voices.
“In pursuit of our longtime mission of growing the tribe’s economy, Cherokee Nation Businesses invests in new and diverse opportunities across the globe,” said Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses. “We continually expand opportunities and advantages throughout northeast Oklahoma by supporting education, growing industries, providing jobs, improving health care, building infrastructure and more. As our businesses continue to grow and succeed, so does our ability to further support the tribe and remain a positive community partner for our state. The rapid and continued growth of Cherokee Film illustrates our continued dedication to creating new jobs, helping develop local economies and continuing to diversify our businesses.”
Cherokee Film Studios is part of the Cherokee Film ecosystem, based in the Cherokee Nation Reservation in Oklahoma. Cherokee Film includes four distinct branches — Cherokee Film Productions, Cherokee Film Studios, Cherokee Film Commission and Cherokee Film Institute — all working toward a shared goal of innovating narrative sovereignty while creating economic development within the tribe’s reservation.
Cherokee Film is owned by Cherokee Nation Businesses, the economic engine of the largest Native American tribe in the U.S. The tribally owned holding company remains a driver of community development, economic impact and cultural preservation, as well as a staple in the hospitality industry and leader in federal contracting solutions.
Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola announces Celebrity Chef Alex Guarnaschelli Restaurant Takeover
Enjoy a delicious four-course meal and interact with an Iron Chef
POCOLA, Okla. - Food enthusiasts will have a chance to enjoy a four-course meal from an Iron Chef when celebrity TV star Alex Guarnaschelli takes over Seven Ponies Restaurant inside Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola this November!
Guarnaschelli is a staple of Food Network, where she hosts three shows including Ciao House, Supermarket Stakeout and Alex vs. America. She is also a recurring judge on Chopped. Her prowess in the kitchen, honed by years of working in France and opening her own restaurant, Butter, in New York City, earned her the title of Iron Chef and made her a household name.
Guarnaschelli is bringing her talents to Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola in the style of a restaurant takeover, setting up shop in Seven Ponies and working alongside its chefs to offer two nights of her signature Italian comfort cuisine.
The restaurant takeover will be on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2 with seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. each night. As a special gift, every guest will receive an autographed advanced copy of her newest cookbook, “Italian American Forever.” Tickets are $125 per person and can be purchased here.
Guarnaschelli will make appearances in the dining room throughout the evening, while also working with Choctaw’s chefs to prepare her signature dishes. The menu will consist of classic calamari with marinara dipping sauce and a Brooklyn-style iceberg salad with red wine dressing and herbs to start. For the main course, guests will enjoy sauteed chicken marsala with braised mixed mushrooms and parsley pesto, as well as lasagna Bolognese with braised beef short ribs, roasted tomatoes and fresh basil. Dessert is a jumbo affogato with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and hot espresso.
After the restaurant takeover, foodies who missed out on the event will still have a chance to experience Guarnaschelli’s menu. Her specially designed four-course meal will be available at Seven Ponies until Nov. 24.
About Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola
Choctaw Casino & Resort in Pocola, Okla. is a one-stop entertainment destination that offers distinguished amenities, premier dining and gaming throughout the Fort Smith metro area. The property features a spacious casino floor, oversized rooms, a lounge, more than 7,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a variety of on-site restaurants. For more information, visit http://www.choctawcasinos.com/choctaw-pocola/.
