Cheyenne, Arapaho Tribes join legal fight over Bureau of Indian Education cuts
By Sarah Liese (Twilla) KOSU
Three tribal nations and five affected students are suing the Secretary of the Interior, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education over slashes to the Bureau of Indian Education.
At the heart of the lawsuit is the failure of the federal government to consult tribes before deciding to cut Bureau of Indian Education employees, which greatly impacted the tribes left out of the conversation.
Pueblo of Isleta, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes — located in New Mexico, Kansas and Oklahoma, respectively — are the tribal nations who initiated the lawsuit, and they argue the lack of consultation violated multiple “statutory obligations and the rights of Tribal Nations and students.”
The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are the only tribal nation involved in the legal battle in Oklahoma.
Lieutenant Governor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Hershel Gorham said they have joined this fight because they have tribal citizens at Haskell University in Kansas and Riverside Indian School in Anadarko.
“A lot of their classes were disturbed because a lot of them had professors [at Haskell] that were terminated,” Gorham said in a phone interview. “And then, because their professors were terminated, their classes were canceled. For some of them, it's putting them in a bind in a position some of them are not able to get their financial aid as a result.”
At Haskell University, about three dozen employees were laid off in the Department of Government Efficiency’s firing spree. Yet, following notable national coverage of the layoffs and devastating impacts students faced, about a third of the members who lost their jobs have been asked to return to work.
The American Indian Higher Education Consortium, an organization that supports tribal colleges and universities, including Haskell, believes more action needs to be taken.
“The American Indian Higher Education Consortium is thrilled to hear that 25 positions recently terminated at Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute have been reinstated,” the AIHEC said in a statement. “However, there are nearly 30 positions who serve critical needs at these institutions that still need to be addressed. We urge the Bureau of Indian Education to continue to address the abrupt cuts to funding and support.”
Some tribal leaders worried about financial cuts to Anadarko’s Riverside Indian School, which is the only bureau-operated school in the state.
Gorham said amid the Trump Administration layoffs and budget cuts, tribal nations need to unify.
“I hope that the rest of the tribes realize this is something that we're all in together, that is not something that one tribe can fight alone, or in this case— three tribes can fight alone,” Gorham said. “Everybody needs to come together, literally come together, and fight for the overall rights that the federal government owes to the Indian tribes collectively, whether or not it impacts them directly or not.”
ICYMI: Trump Administration Rolls Back Executive Order on Tribal Sovereignty and Self-Governance
By Levi Rickert, Native News Online
The White House on Friday revoked 18 executive actions from the Biden administration, including an order designed to strengthen tribal sovereignty and expand self-determination for the nation’s 574 federally recognized tribes.
The sweeping revocation included Executive Order 14112 of Dec. 6, 2023 — “Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination.” This executive order was signed in a room full of tribal leaders at the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit.
Biden’s executive order directed federal agencies to “promote compacting, contracting, co-management, co-stewardship, and other agreements with Tribal Nations that allow them to partner with the Federal Government to administer Federal programs and services.”
Biden’s order was meant to expand tribal self-determination across the 574 federally recognized tribes by making it easier for Native Americans to access federal funding and have greater autonomy over how to use the federal funds.
“Today, Tribal Nations still face many barriers to fully exercise their inherent sovereignty, especially in federal funding programs. Far too many of the federal funding and support programs that Tribes rely on are difficult to access, have overly burdensome federal reporting requirements, have unnecessary limitations, or impose requirements on Tribes that drain Tribal resources and undermine their ability to make their own decisions about where and how to meet the needs of their communities,” the executive order stated.
Former Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Indian Community) weighed in on Trump's revoking of Biden's executive order to Native News Online on Saturday morning:
"This Executive Order was intended to reduce government interference with how Tribes spend their money, and to ensure that federal agencies are actually meeting their legal obligations for Tribes. It made the government more efficient for Indian people. Rolling back this Executive Order increases federal interference with local actions."
Trump’s action Friday was among 18 Biden administration orders rescinded by Trump in his “Additional Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions.” The rescission follows a previous Jan. 20 executive order in which Trump revoked 78 other presidential orders and memoranda from the Biden administration.
This is a developing story.
Chickasaw Nation celebrates Women’s History Month
Chickasaw pilot recognized as early contributor to Oklahoma’s aviation industry
Recognized as the youngest person to fly solo in the United States in 1929, Eula “Pearl” Carter Scott’s contributions to aviation landed her into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in 1995. A Chickasaw citizen, her contributions to Oklahoma history, and to the Chickasaw Nation, are celebrated by the Chickasaw Nation during Women’s History Month.
“Pearl Carter Scott, a Chickasaw woman, was taught to live according to the high standards our ancestors placed on making a better life for ourselves and our community,” LaDonna Brown, Chickasaw Nation Director of Anthropology, said. “She exemplified this in the way that she became the youngest pilot in the U.S. and worked in our community by becoming one of the first Community Health Representatives (CHR).”
According to Oklahoma.gov, aerospace and aviation are two important industries in Oklahoma. The two industries have become the second largest and fastest growing within the state. Together, they employ more than 200,000 Oklahomans, contributing an estimated $44 billion to the state’s economy. Pearl’s accomplishments placed Oklahoma on the map at a time when the industry was just beginning to take off.
Pearl was taught to fly by legendary aviator and family friend Wiley Post. When Post met Pearl for the first time, he was impressed by her daring nature and wisdom for someone so young. Born in 1915, Pearl was officially granted her student pilot’s permit by the age of 13. She was the first Chickasaw aviator.
By age 14, Pearl was working as a commercial pilot, ferrying packages and passengers across Oklahoma. She also became a favorite attraction at air shows as one of the youngest performing barnstormers.
Her aviatrix career ended when she began her family. Married with one child and another on the way, she decided flying was too dangerous a profession. Her family depended on her, and the dangers were too great.
“Pearl took on our cultural, societal roles when she became a mother and a community health representative,” Brown said. “These are characteristics that our female ancestors took on and that have been passed down for thousands of years.”
Pearl had a professional career that was more than just aviation. During her time as a community health representative for the Chickasaw Nation, Pearl was often on call 24 hours a day and averaged more than 2,000 miles a month in travel. She connected tribal citizens to all Chickasaw Nation resources.
Pearl’s service to the tribe continued after her retirement. She was asked to run for office for the Chickasaw Legislature in 1983 by Chickasaw Nation Governor Overton James and then Lt. Governor Bill Anoatubby. Pearl was elected and served three terms in office. During her tenure, she helped oversee tremendous growth in tribal operations and services.
She passed away in March 2005 at age 89.
In addition to the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame, Pearl was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 1995. Pearl was a member of the International Women’s Air and Space Museum and a charter member of the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian.
Pearl’s legacy lives on
In 2007, Chickasaw Press published “Never Give Up! The Life of Pearl Carter Scott.” This was followed by an award-winning feature film, “Pearl,” in 2010. Both are available to purchase online at ChickasawMarket.com.
The Chickasaw Nation has created educational resources and documentaries available to teachers and scholars. Included among them is “On Top of the World: Pearl Carter Scott.” This documentary includes a corresponding lesson plan that can be found at Chickasaw.net/ Curriculum.
“Pearl Carter Scott reinforced our understanding of being an outstanding Chickasaw woman in her field by attaining and being successful in her goal, becoming a mother then attaining training to become a CHR. She has revealed our core values within her lifetime achievements,” Brown said.
39th Annual Red Earth Festival
March 21-23, 2025
Red Earth's signature event features Native American artists and dancers from throughout North America. Celebrate the richness and diversity of their heritage with the world on March 21-23, 2025, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
Festival guests will experience the artistic creations of some of America’s most celebrated Native artists as they offer their creations for sale. Liichokoshkomo’, the Museum’s interactive outdoor venue, showcases the diversity of the West with inter-tribal native dwellings serving as a backdrop for hands-on arts and craft stations, artist demonstrations, live music and special presentations of tribal dance throughout the weekend.
Tickets are $20 for the day or $45 for all three days. Children 5 and under are free with a paid adult.
