Miami News-Digest

Nations Within a Nation Episode 5: The Modoc People A Miami News-Digest Educational Series on Federally Recognized Tribal Nations The story of the Modoc people is one of resistance, survival, and renewal—stretching from the volcanic landscapes of northern California and southern Oregon to present-day Oklahoma. Today, Modoc descendants are represented through the Modoc Nation in Oklahoma and as part of the Klamath Tribes in Oregon—two paths shaped by a shared history. Following the Modoc War, some Modoc people remained in Oregon while others were removed to Indian Territory, where the Modoc Nation is based today. ****Editor’s Note / Correction: Miami News-Digest has updated this article to reflect guidance from representatives of the Modoc Nation. While some Modoc people historically remained in Oregon, the Modoc Nation in Oklahoma is a separate, federally recognized tribal government and should not be described as associated with the Klamath Tri...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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—a...

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...

Data Is the New Oil — Tribal Nations Must Be Paid Accordingly Across the world, a new kind of resource boom is underway. In the past it was oil, coal, timber, and minerals. Today, the most valuable resource on earth is data . Technology giants such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have built trillion-dollar empires by collecting, storing, and processing massive amounts of information. The infrastructure that powers this modern economy is the data center — enormous facilities that require vast amounts of electricity, water, and land. As these facilities expand across the United States, companies are increasingly seeking locations with affordable land, reliable power, and room to grow. Rural regions and tribal lands are often attractive because of available space and access to energy infrastructure. For the citizens and leadership of the Five Tribes — the Cherokee Nation, Choctaw Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Seminole Nation ...

Breaking: Markwayne Mullin Selected as DHS Secretary MIAMI, Okla. — Miami News-Digest President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin will serve as the next secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security , replacing Kristi Noem . Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation , was selected to lead the federal agency responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, disaster response, and domestic counterterrorism. The nomination comes as Trump reshapes leadership within the department. Mullin must be confirmed by the United States Senate before formally assuming the role. Mullin has served in the Senate since 2023 after winning election to succeed retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe . Prior to that, he represented Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives for a decade. Before entering politics, Mullin ran his family busi...

Building Strong Families, Together: Inside the Eastern Shawnee Tribe’s Quietly Powerful Community Program By Sean K. Gray WYANDOTTE, Okla. — On a serene stretch off Bluejacket Road, families gather every few months for something both beautiful and increasingly rare: time, space, and support to learn how to grow stronger together as a family. The quarterly events, hosted by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma through its 477 Child Care Program, are part of an initiative now formally titled “Building Strong Families Together.” The program is designed to equip parents and caregivers with practical tools for navigating the everyday challenges of raising children and setting them on a positive path in life. “Every family can become stronger with the right tools and the right support,” said Dian Randall, Director of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe 477 Child Care Program. “That belief is at the heart of everything we do.” The events prioritize Native American families while remai...

Cherokee Nation Task Force Releases Registration Code Reform Report By Miami News-Digest The Cherokee Nation Registration Code and Process Reform Task Force has released its long-anticipated report on proposed updates to tribal enrollment rules, sparking discussion across the Cherokee community and beyond. The report, now publicly available on the Nation's official website, outlines potential changes to enrollment verification, revocation procedures, and expiration periods for registration. The task force was convened in response to growing concerns about clarity, fairness, and administrative efficiency in the Nation's registration system. The review focused on the legal framework governing enrollment, historical precedents, and the experiences of Cherokee citizens navigating current policies. According to the report, the Task Force examined a wide range of revocation criteria, including eligibility verification, procedural safeguards, and “s...