“Shawnee Ribbon Bets,” 1948, Charles Banks Wilson (1918-2013), Courtesy Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa OK.
Messages from the Chiefs: Read the latest from the desks of Chief Ben Barnes and Second Chief Roy Baldridge.
The Shawnee Language Immersion Program is excited to announce their first Shawnee children’s story, Waakoce’fiifa Honatonehwaali Hokeeli. The video can be found on SLIPStream.
Golden Mesa Casino and Oklahoma Panhandle State University celebrated their partnership at the 2024 Oklahoma State Regents Business Partnership event on March 8. Golden Mesa Casino has supported OPSU in many facets, including OPSU Athletics, the Business Department, and the College of Business and Technology.
GILA RIVER, Ariz.—Chief Ben Barnes attended today’s event on the reservation of the Gila River Indian Community, where President Joe Biden delivered a historic speech and a formal presidential apology for 150 years of federal Indian boarding school policies which he called “a shame” and “a blot on American history.” “I’m delighted that President Biden’s […]
In recognition of the harm domestic violence causes to our communities, Chief Ben Barnes designated the month of October 2024 as “Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month” through Shawnee Tribe Proclamation 2024-10-03. “WHEREAS, the Shawnee Tribe recognizes domestic violence as a threat to tribal sovereignty and the basic human right of our citizens to thrive, […]
Chief Ben Barnes is at Gila River Indian Community and will attend tomorrow’s event where President Joe Biden is expected to deliver a historic presidential apology for the federal Indian boarding school era. “I’m pleased to be alongside so many boarding school survivors and allies to the cause of exposing the truth of this dark […]
Over two days in late August, the tribe and the OU School of Dance produced the Five Moons Dance Festival, a remarkable celebration of Shawnee heritage and the timeless legacy of five Oklahoma Indian ballerinas—Yvonne Chouteau (Shawnee), Rosella Hightower (Choctaw), Moscelyne Larkin (Eastern Shawnee & Peoria), and Osage sisters Marjorie and Maria Tallchief. Named after […]
🙌 We are nearing the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (#DVAM). Our Behavioral Health & Victim Services Department has spent every Friday in October highlighting influential Native American women and their contributions to the history and future of Indian Country. Our final featured individual is Mary Kathryn Nagle (Cherokee). Phenomenal women like Ms. Nagle have paved the way for the Shawnee Tribe to raise awareness and prevent violence against women.
Mary Kathryn Nagle is a renowned playwright and attorney dedicated to advancing the legal and cultural rights of Native American women, particularly through her work on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Her legal advocacy focuses on restoring tribal sovereignty and protecting Native women from violence. Nagle has been a key voice in pushing for stronger legal frameworks to address the jurisdictional challenges Native tribes face in prosecuting non-Native offenders who commit acts of violence on tribal lands.
One of Nagle’s landmark achievements was her involvement in the 2013 reauthorization of VAWA, which restored the ability of tribal nations to prosecute non-Natives for crimes of domestic violence committed within their jurisdictions. Nagle worked closely with other advocates and lawmakers to highlight the alarming rates of violence against Native women, who are 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual assault than non-Native women. Through her legal work, she has helped ensure that the rights of Native women are protected and that perpetrators are held accountable.
Beyond her legal work, Nagle raises awareness of Native issues through her plays, including “Manhatta,” “Sliver Of A Full Moon,” “Sovereignty,” and “On the Far End,” which explore the intersections of history, law, domestic violence and Native identity. Nagle’s storytelling serves as a powerful tool to complement her legal activism, giving voice to the often-overlooked experiences of Native women.
Nagle's work has been instrumental in shedding light on the crisis of violence against Native women and advocating for reforms that empower tribal nations to protect their citizens. Her dual roles as an attorney and a playwright amplify her impact, making her a pivotal figure in the fight for the safety and sovereignty of Native women.
Sources:
“Mary Kathryn Nagle (NIWRC)” 👉 www.niwrc.org/speakers/mary-kathryn-nagle
“What Will It Take to End Violence Against Native Women? (Boston Review)” 👉 www.bostonreview.net/articles/what-will-it-take-to-end-violence-against-native-women/
“A New Play Explores The Sacred, Complex Connection To Our Ancestral Lands (HuffPost)” 👉 www.huffpost.com/entry/manahatta-play-native-american-ancestral-land_n_65576f63e4b05723e4bce4c6
Chief Ben Barnes is at Gila River Indian Community and will attend tomorrow’s event where President Joe Biden is expected to deliver a historic presidential apology for the federal Indian boarding school era.
“I’m pleased to be alongside so many boarding school survivors and allies to the cause of exposing the truth of this dark chapter in our shared history,” says Barnes, who is a member of the board of directors for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.
“Survivors have said receiving an apology for the atrocities that occurred in these institutions is important to them,” Barnes continues. “I’m looking forward to hearing President Biden’s remarks tomorrow morning and hope he will propose further action to advance boarding school truthtelling and healing.”
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Media contact: media@shawnee-tribe.com
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