Posts

Nations Within a Nation Episode 4: The Tlingit People

-
Image
Nations Within a Nation Episode 4: The Tlingit People A Miami News-Digest Educational Series on Federally Recognized Tribal Nations In the coastal rainforests and island archipelagos of southeastern Alaska, the Tlingit people developed one of the most sophisticated social and ceremonial systems in North America—defined not by scarcity, but by abundance, structure, and meaning. Today represented federally through the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska , the Tlingit people remain deeply connected to their ancestral lands, languages, and traditions. A Society of Structure and Meaning Anthropologists have long noted that Tlingit society is highly organized around kinship, clan identity, and reciprocal obligation. The society is divided into two primary moieties—Raven and Eagle (or Wolf, depending on region)—which govern marriage, social roles, and ceremonial responsibilities. Wealth, status, and identity were not simply accumulated, but expressed...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nations Within a Nation Episode 3: The Chickasaw Nation

-
Image
Nations Within a Nation Episode 3: The Chickasaw Nation A Miami News-Digest Educational Series on Federally Recognized Tribal Nations Continuing its series on federally recognized tribal nations, Miami News-Digest turns to another of Oklahoma’s most historically significant tribal governments: the Chickasaw Nation . Headquartered in Ada, Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation represents more than 70,000 citizens and maintains a strong presence across south-central Oklahoma. Ancient Homeland The Chickasaw people traditionally lived in what is now the southeastern United States, primarily in northern Mississippi, western Tennessee, and parts of Alabama and Kentucky. Known as skilled warriors and strategic allies, the Chickasaw maintained a powerful presence in the region for centuries prior to European contact. Removal to Indian Territory In the 1830s, the Chickasaw were forced to leave their ancestral homelands under federal removal policies, traveling we...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nations Within a Nation Episode 2: The Osage Nation

-
Image
Nations Within a Nation Episode 2: The Osage Nation A Miami News-Digest Educational Series on Federally Recognized Tribal Nations Continuing its series on federally recognized tribal nations, Miami News-Digest turns to one of Oklahoma’s most historically influential and economically unique tribal governments: the Osage Nation . Headquartered in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, the Osage Nation governs a reservation that spans all of Osage County—the largest county in the state. The Nation today continues to exercise sovereignty while preserving a culture deeply rooted in tradition, resilience, and adaptation. Ancient Origins The Osage people are part of the Dhegiha Siouan linguistic group and originally lived in regions of present-day Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Historically, the Osage were known as powerful hunters, traders, and diplomats, with influence stretching across much of the central United States. Removal and Reservation Like many trib...
Post a Comment
Read more

Miami Moves Forward with Municipal Fiber Network

-
Image
Miami Moves Forward with Municipal Fiber Network By Miami News-Digest MIAMI, Okla. — The Miami Special Utility Authority has approved contracts totaling more than $3 million for the materials and construction of a new high-speed fiber optic system that will be owned and operated by the authority. According to a news release issued by the City of Miami, trustees approved a $1,145,316 contract with Border States for materials and a $1,934,554 contract with Benton Triage for construction to begin the project. “This project will bring faster, more reliable and affordable high-capacity fiber services to Miami, something we’ve long needed to better serve our community,” Miami City Manager Tyler Cline said. “High speed, high-capacity fiber optic services are a major driving force in economic vitality and keeping Miami competitive. Fiber will also benefit our customers who use fiber services for streaming, telehealth, remote work, online learn...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Saint, a People, and a Witness

-
Image
A Saint, a People, and a Witness: The Deeper Meaning of St. Patrick’s Day By Miami News-Digest | March 17 Each year on March 17, streets across America turn green. From small towns in Oklahoma to the river cities of the Midwest and the parishes of the South, St. Patrick’s Day arrives with parades, family meals, and a sense of shared celebration that stretches far beyond Ireland itself. Yet behind the music and color stands a figure whose life speaks less about festivity and more about faith, endurance, and quiet transformation: Saint Patrick. A Life Marked by Captivity and Calling Patrick was not Irish by birth. He is believed to have been born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century. As a teenager, he was captured by raiders and taken to Ireland, where he lived as a shepherd in slavery for six years. It was in that isolation, he later wrote, that he turned seriously to prayer. After esca...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nations Within a Nation Episode 1: The Cherokee Nation

-
Image
Nations Within a Nation Episode 1: The Cherokee Nation A Miami News-Digest Educational Series on Federally Recognized Tribal Nations For the first installment in a new educational series exploring every federally recognized tribal nation in the United States, Miami News-Digest begins with one of the most historically significant and largest tribal governments in the country: the Cherokee Nation . Headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation represents more than 450,000 citizens around the world and maintains a reservation covering 14 counties in northeastern Oklahoma. Today it operates a modern government with extensive programs in health care, education, housing, and economic development. But the story of the Cherokee people stretches back thousands of years, long before Oklahoma became home. Ancient Homeland The Cherokee people originally lived in the southeastern United States, primarily in the southern Appalachian region—areas that no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Data Is the New Oil — Why Cherokee Citizens Deserve a Digital Resource Dividend

-
Image
Data Is the New Oil — Why Cherokee Citizens Deserve a Digital Resource Dividend Across the world, a new kind of resource boom is underway. The 20th century was powered by oil, minerals, and timber. The 21st century is being powered by data . Massive artificial intelligence infrastructure and hyperscale data centers are spreading across the United States as companies race to build the computational backbone of the digital age. These facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity, land, water, and fiber infrastructure. They generate billions of dollars in revenue each year while storing, processing, and training the algorithms that power the modern economy. In many ways, these data centers are the oil wells of our time. If this new digital resource boom comes to the lands of the Cherokee people, then it is reasonable to ask a simple question: Should Cherokee citizens share in the prosperity created from infrastructure built on our land? The answe...
Post a Comment
Read more