Muscogee (Creek) Nation condemned for changes at media outlet

Tuesday, November 13, 2018  

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is coming under fire for placing its award-winning media outlet back under the control of the tribe's elected leadership.

Mvskoke Media has been operating as an independent outlet, albeit one funded by the tribal government. That will be changing after the Muscogee (Creek) National Council last week passed an emergency bill, which was quickly signed into law, that places it under the control of the executive branch.

"Indigenous journalism plays a critical role in supporting tribal sovereignty and self-determination. From holding the powerful accountable to disseminating stories of cultural significance, a free and independent Indigenous press supports the goals of tribal nations by providing an open public forum for community voices," the Native American Journalists Association said in a statement on Friday. "The Muscogee (Creek) National Council’s actions undermine this role and demean this sacred responsibility. Like many tribes, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation is bound by a common history catalogued by stories – stories of joy, pain, happiness, and ultimately triumph."

OUR #FreePress IS IN JEOPARDY! For more info, visit our FB or https://t.co/4tZ4wT0jLW!

Please spread the word! #MvskokeMedia#Censorship #NAJA #SPJ #NativeMediaOutlet #Independence #NativeAmerican #Indigenous #Media #News #Newspaper #Okmulgee #Oklahoma #MuscogeeCreekNation pic.twitter.com/rN8rdqDle8

— Mvskoke Media (@MvskokeMedia) November 8, 2018

Tribal leaders defended their actions, with Council Speaker Lucian Tiger denying that the bill, known as NCA 18-180, represented a setback for freedom of the press. He had been the subject of a #MeToo story in the outlet last fall.

"Nothing in NCA 18-180 disbands of restricts Mvskoke Media's ability to act as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's media outlet despite attempts to brand the legislation as restrictive or suppressive of freedom of speech," Tiger said in a November 9 statement.

But Mskvke Media must now seek tribal approval before publishing any material, Indian Country Today reported. Sterling Cosper resigned as manager of the outlet in protest of NCA 18-180, which surfaced just hours before the vote on its passage.

“Like any other government, there are checks and balances and there needs to be formal platform for people to discuss their differences and have the proper information to do so," Cosper, who is a tribal citizen, told ICT.

Principal Chief James Floyd, whose Department of Commerce will oversee Mskvke Media, also defended the legislation, The Tulsa World reported. As a member of the National Council, he had voted in support of the tribe's free press law in 2015.

“I have not interfered with any story, tried to stop any story whatsoever and it (Mvskoke Media) will continue to be the same regardless of where it’s at,” Floyd said in a video posted by Mskvke Media after the council held an emergency session on the bill.

Muscogee (Creek) Nation passes bill removing press freedom from Mvskoke Media (Indian Country Today November 13, 2018)
Muscogee (Creek) Nation repeals press freedom for tribal media (The Tulsa World November 9, 2018)
Bill proposed to move Mvskoke Media under Commerce Secretary (Mvskoke Media November 8, 2018)