{"id":35880,"date":"2024-02-20T22:00:28","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T03:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=35880"},"modified":"2024-02-21T11:31:35","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T16:31:35","slug":"heartbroken-leader-of-cherokee-nation-mourns-death-of-young-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/20\/heartbroken-leader-of-cherokee-nation-mourns-death-of-young-student\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Heartbroken&#8217;: Leader of Cherokee Nation mourns death of young student"},"content":{"rendered":"<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/20\/heartbroken-leader-of-cherokee-nation-mourns-death-of-young-student\/olympus-digital-camera-11\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-35909\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1652\" data-attachment-id=\"35909\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/20\/heartbroken-leader-of-cherokee-nation-mourns-death-of-young-student\/olympus-digital-camera-11\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21\/OwassoOklahoma.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1652\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;C-5000Z&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1140764985&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;23.4&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.003125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Owasso, Oklahoma\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Owasso, Oklahoma&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;A view of Owasso, Oklahoma. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/pixelpackr\/103785520\/&gt;Janice Waltzer&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21\/OwassoOklahoma-1024x661.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21\/OwassoOklahoma.jpeg\" alt=\"Owasso, Oklahoma\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-35909\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> A view of Owasso, Oklahoma. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/pixelpackr\/103785520\/>Janice Waltzer<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">&#8216;Heartbroken&#8217;: Leader of Cherokee Nation mourns death of young student<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Tuesday, February 20, 2024<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe leader of the <a href=https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/>Cherokee Nation<\/a>  is &#8220;heartbroken&#8221; over the passing of a <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/20\/teen-students-death-under-investigation-in-oklahoma\/>16-year-old student who died within reservation boundaries in Oklahoma<\/a> under circumstances that are being investigated.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8220;The death of Nex Benedict is a tragedy,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/our-government\/executive-branch\/principal-chief-chuck-hoskin-jr\/\">Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.<\/a> said  in a <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\/posts\/pfbid0Bgrnf56ijst336oR8LvJ26JaXJSB8V3kkJtZhuwJ1z3YsXT1LGApXm6SxFzT9ojpl>statement on Tuesday<\/a>, using one of the preferred names for the student who passed away following an incident at a public high school earlier this month. &#8220;As parents, the First Lady and I are heartbroken.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;As Chief, the health and welfare of all children within the Cherokee Nation Reservation is of concern,&#8221; Hoskin continued.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheCherokeeNation%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0Bgrnf56ijst336oR8LvJ26JaXJSB8V3kkJtZhuwJ1z3YsXT1LGApXm6SxFzT9ojpl&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"601\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\"><\/iframe>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBut  Hoskin noted that the Cherokee Nation has not found any records indicating that the student was a tribal citizen. Earlier on Tuesday, <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/20\/teen-students-death-under-investigation-in-oklahoma\/>Indianz.Com reported on the lack of verifiable     information<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;Upon searching our database, we have no indication that Nex was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation,&#8221; Hoskin said. &#8220;However, Nex was a child living within our reservation and deserved love, support and to be kept safe.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nA Cherokee citizen who had posted about the tragic death told Indianz.Com that she wasn&#8217;t sure of tribal affiliation either. Robin McLain Smith, who is an administrator of an <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/RecapsfromCherokeeNation>unofficial social media page<\/a> for  meetings of the <a href=https:\/\/legislative.cherokee.org\/>Cherokee Nation Council<\/a>, said she had heard about the student from fellow citizens.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cI got the info from a couple other Cherokee citizens who said they were &#8212; but I am not 100 percent sure how because I too talked with officials at Cherokee Nation and so far can\u2019t find them as being a citizen,&#8221; Smith told Indianz.Com on Tuesday afternoon. &#8220;We have not ruled out possibly another tribe.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n Following Indianz.Com&#8217;s inquiry, Smith updated her <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/RecapsfromCherokeeNation\/posts\/7550804254970059\/>social media post about the student<\/a> to explain that she wasn&#8217;t able to verify Cherokee citizenship.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_indianz-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/20\/teen-students-death-under-investigation-in-oklahoma\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/02\/owassooklahoma.jpg\" alt=\"Teen student\u2019s death under investigation in Oklahoma\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/20\/teen-students-death-under-investigation-in-oklahoma\/\">\n\t\t\tTeen student\u2019s death under investigation in Oklahoma\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/20\/teen-students-death-under-investigation-in-oklahoma\/\">\n\t\t\t<p>Authorities in Oklahoma are investigating the death of a 16-year-old student who passed away under unexpected circumstances.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Indianz.Com\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tIndianz.Com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBut by the time Chief Hoskin shared his statement, the claims about Cherokee affiliation had spread far and wide. Even <a href=https:\/\/mn.gov\/governor\/about-gov\/peggyflanagan\/>Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan<\/a> (D), a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/whiteearth.com\/>White Earth Nation<\/a> who is the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/13\/video-lt-gov-peggy-flanagan-at-national-congress-of-american-indians\/>highest-ranking Native woman in executive office<\/a>, conveyed her condolences about the young person&#8217;s death.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;Nex Benedict should be alive today. My deepest condolences to their friends, family, and to the Cherokee Nation,&#8221; Flanagan said in a post that showed up on her social feeds in the early morning hours on Tuesday. &#8220;May we honor their memory by continuing the work to ensure that every child is safe to be who they are no matter where they grow up. Lord have mercy.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nFlanagan&#8217;s posts on <a href=https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C3jokiusWNi>Instagram<\/a> and  <a href=https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@peggyflanagan\/post\/C3jpIPgs1tL>Threads<\/a> included a graphic created by <a href=https:\/\/www.freedomoklahoma.org>Freedom Oklahoma<\/a>, which advocates for 2S (Two Spirit) and LGBTQ+ rights in the Sooner State. The <a href=https:\/\/www.freedomoklahoma.org\/news\/nex-benedict>group originally identified the student<\/a> as being a &#8220;citizen of the Cherokee Nation&#8221; and featured what it said was a &#8220;Cherokee rose motif&#8221; on the image.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAs of early Tuesday evening, Freedom Oklahoma had not responded to an inquiry placed via email earlier in the day about the online posts. A Cherokee Nation citizen admonished the group for sharing unverified information.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;This [is] horrible, but Nex wasn\u2019t a citizen of Cherokee Nation,&#8221;   <a href=https:\/\/www.fordfoundation.org\/fellows\/jen-deerinwater\/>Jen Deerinwater<\/a>, a  Two Spirit and  multiply-disabled  journalist who spent formative years on Cherokee homelands  in Oklahoma, wrote in a <a href=https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C3iR5dduqSn\/c\/18108589666369463\/>comment on  the group&#8217;s post<\/a>. &#8220;The tribe has even put out a statement about this.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8220;Confirm tribal enrollment before you publish!&#8221; added <a href=https:\/\/truthout.org\/authors\/jen-deerinwater\/>Deerinwater, who currently lives and works<\/a> in Washington, D.C. &#8220;This has been extra traumatizing and triggering for some of us who are 2LGBTQIA citizens of Cherokee Nation.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><P><\/P>\r\nLater on Tuesday, Freedom Oklahoma acknowledged the error in tribal affiliation. Yet while the  group   insisted  on <a href=https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C3lljcFgzCY\/>social media that the student was a &#8220;citizen of the Choctaw Nation&#8221;<\/a>  its website admitted that even that information has not been verified.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nIn an <a href=https:\/\/www.freedomoklahoma.org\/news\/nex-benedict>update to the original post<\/a>, the group said &#8220;we ultimately do not have confirmation of citizenship from the Choctaw Nation,&#8221; adding: &#8220;We respect tribal sovereignty with regard to recognizing who is and is not a citizen of a tribal nation, and we don\u2019t wish to suggest infringing on that sovereignty in any way.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nIndianz.Com placed an inquiry via email to the <a href=https:\/\/www.choctawnation.com>Choctaw Nation<\/a> late in the afternoon on Tuesday to ask about   affiliation. The <a href=https:\/\/www.choctawnation.com\/about\/reservation\/>Choctaw Reservation<\/a> lies to the south of the <a href=https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/about-the-nation\/frequently-asked-questions\/common-questions\/>Cherokee Reservation<\/a>. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBut with  the student&#8217;s passing on Cherokee lands, Cherokee   Chief Hoskin has directed the <a href=https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/all-services\/marshal-service\/>Cherokee Nation Marshal Service<\/a> to offer support to local law enforcement. The Owasso Police Department is investigating the   death, which it <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02BEyW2agsSe5dR6ufGscM4gahi5qm37Bqrc16HPQjKFTsvmECmLaguVvRUTdyq2sDl&#038;id=100064599824990>said occurred following a &#8220;physical altercation&#8221;<\/a>  at the Owasso High School in Owasso, located on the Cherokee Reservation.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8220;The facts relating to Nex&#8217;s death are not yet fully clear,&#8221; Hoskin said in the statement. &#8220;We should take care to support law enforcement and other authorities as they investigate this matter.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;However, the public sentiments expressed in response to Nex\u2019s death move me to reaffirm a statement I made in January on the subject of celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion in public education,&#8221; Hoskin continued.  &#8220;\u2018All children .. benefit from learning in environments in which we <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChuckHoskin_Jr\/status\/1738563585867989324>celebrate diversity and recognize the dignity of everyone\u2019s experience<\/a>.\u2019&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"gfm-embed\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/dagny-benedict\/widget\/large\"><\/div>\r\n            <script defer src=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/static\/js\/embed.js\"><\/script>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/oklahoma.gov\/governor\/about\/governor.html>Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt<\/a> (R), a Republican who happens to be a Cherokee citizen, has repeatedly derided efforts to address  <a href=https:\/\/oklahoma.gov\/governor\/newsroom\/newsroom\/2023\/december2023\/governor-stitt-signs-anti-discrimination-executive-order--takes-.html>diversity, equity and inclusion as discriminatory<\/a>.  During his tenure, the state   has become known for adopting   <a href=https:\/\/www.hrc.org\/press-releases\/human-rights-campaign-condemns-oklahoma-governor-stitt-for-signing-gender-affirming-care-ban-into-law>anti-Two Spirit and anti-LGBTQIA  policies<\/a>, including the enactment of  a new state law that bans  gender-affirming  health care.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n  Hoskin&#8217;s statement strikes against such sentiments, utilizing the  preferred name for the student who died on Cherokee lands. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;The more we learn about Nex\u2019s life, the more we come to know a wonderful child whose experience and identity mattered and was worth celebrating,&#8221; the Cherokee chief said. &#8220;Above all, Nex deserved to live a full life.  It was cut tragically short.  May Nex rest in peace.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSue Benedict, who is <a href=https:\/\/www.moweryfs.com\/obituaries\/Dagny-Benedict\/#!\/Obituary>Nex&#8217;s mother<\/a>, also embraced her child&#8217;s gender identity, which has been described online as <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-binary_gender>non-binary<\/a>. In an update on Tuesday, she pledged to use <a href=https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/dagny-benedict>some of the money being raised on her behalf<\/a> to help other youth affirm their choices and experiences.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;I lost my child, the headstone will have correct name of their choice,&#8221; the update stated. &#8220;The rest of monies will go to other children dealing with the right to be who they feel they are, in Nex Benedict\u2019s name.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@crushingcolonialism\/video\/7337833298065902879\" data-video-id=\"7337833298065902879\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;\" > <section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@crushingcolonialism\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@crushingcolonialism?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">@crushingcolonialism<\/a> We are devastated at the anti-queer violence that led to the lose of Nex Benedict\u2019s life. While Nex was not a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, they still lived on the tribe\u2019s reservation. \u201cHow Nex died impacts every Cherokee Nation citizen and 2LGBTQIA+ person as it\u2019s meant to strike fear into us and to silence us. We cannot be silent. We must fight like hell for the living and honor our ancestors and those lost.\u201d said founding executive director, @Jen Deerinwater. <a title=\"nexbenedict\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nexbenedict?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#NexBenedict<\/a> <a title=\"fyp\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/fyp?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#FYP<\/a> <a title=\"twospirit\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/twospirit?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#TwoSpirit<\/a> <a title=\"lgbttiktok\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/lgbttiktok?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#LgbtTikTok<\/a> <a title=\"nativetiktok\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nativetiktok?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#NativeTikTok<\/a> <a title=\"indigenoustiktok\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/indigenoustiktok?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#IndigenousTikTok<\/a> <a title=\"crushcolonialism\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/crushcolonialism?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#CrushColonialism<\/a> <a title=\"nonbinary\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nonbinary?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">#NonBinary<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c original sound - Crushing Colonialism\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7337833330304748318?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener\">\u266c original sound &#8211; Crushing Colonialism<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nGrowing up on the Cherokee Nation,  <a href=https:\/\/www.jdeerinwater.com\/>Deerinwater<\/a> lived  in Collinsville and in Owasso, where Nex was attending high school. In a  <a href=https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@crushingcolonialism\/video\/7337833298065902879>video shared on social media<\/a>, the journalist expanded on the struggles that Two Spirit and LGBTQIA youth face on reservations and in Oklahoma.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8220;We can&#8217;t just tell our children: &#8216;Life will get better some day,'&#8221; Deerinwater said in the video posted by <a href=https:\/\/crushingcolonialism.org\/>Crushing Colonialism<\/a>, an organization  they founded in the nation&#8217;s capital. &#8220;We need to do better for them now.  Because their blood is on our hands.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIn an update on Tuesday, <a href=https:\/\/www.owassops.org>Owasso Public Schools<\/a> confirmed reports of a &#8220;physical altercation&#8221; that took place at the high school in the community on February 7.  The <a href=https:\/\/www.owassops.org\/apps\/news\/article\/1887342>new statement<\/a> said one parent was urged to take their child to a &#8220;medical facility for further examination&#8221; but no identifying information was provided in light of the ongoing law enforcement investigation.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8220;We understand that for many, additional questions remain, however these are the facts that we are able to communicate at this juncture,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;We will continue to cooperate fully with the Owasso Police Department\u2019s investigation.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"fb-video\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kjrhtv\/videos\/1153820222275749\/\" data-width=\"auto\" data-show-text=\"false\"><blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kjrhtv\/videos\/1153820222275749\/\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kjrhtv\/videos\/1153820222275749\/\">16-year-old Owasso student laid to rest after unexpected death<\/a><p>With few answers after an Owasso student&#039;s unexpected death last week, friends and family are remembering Dagny Benedict, who was lost too soon. \r\n\r\nMore &gt;&gt;&gt; https:\/\/bit.ly\/48p77rU<\/p>Posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kjrhtv\">KJRH<\/a> on Friday, February 16, 2024<\/blockquote><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">KJRH: <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kjrhtv\/videos\/1153820222275749>16-year-old Owasso student laid to rest after unexpected death<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nEarlier on Tuesday, the police department said it responded on February 7 to a &#8220;local hospital&#8221; in connection with a student who had been involved in the altercation at Owasso High School.\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02BEyW2agsSe5dR6ufGscM4gahi5qm37Bqrc16HPQjKFTsvmECmLaguVvRUTdyq2sDl&#038;id=100064599824990>statement<\/a> did not provide identifying information but said the same young person was &#8220;rushed back to a hospital&#8221;  the following day before passing away.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nIn an <a href=https:\/\/www.moweryfs.com\/obituaries\/Dagny-Benedict\/#!\/Obituary>obituary<\/a>, Nex&#8217;s family identified their  loved one&#8217;s passing as having occurred on February 8. The funeral took place last Thursday.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nIn the statement, the Owasso police did not say whether they were taking the victim&#8217;s possible status as a tribal citizen into account. It only referred to the results of the investigation being submitted to state authorities in Tulsa County for &#8220;prosecution review.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nBut since Nex&#8217;s death occurred   on a reservation,   federal authorities might also play a role. Tulsa County falls within the  <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ndok\/about>Northern District of Oklahoma<\/a>, where the <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ndok\/>U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office<\/a> has taken on additional work prosecuting crimes in Indian Country following a <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/news\/2020\/07\/09\/on-the-far-end-of-the-trail-of-tears-nat.asp>historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling<\/a> that   led to the reaffirmation of tribal boundaries &#8212; including those of the Cherokee Nation &#8212; in the state.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nWhether the U.S. government can exercise <a href=https:\/\/www.tribal-institute.org\/lists\/jurisdiction.htm>jurisdiction over a crime in  Indian Country<\/a> depends on multiple and occasionally conflicting factors. The tribal status of the victim, as well as   any perpetrators, along with the nature of the offense, are all taken into account. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSome <a href=https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-principal-chief-hoskin-seeks-changes-to-federal-major-crimes-act>federal criminal laws in Indian Country<\/a> also have been interpreted    to require a  <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/usao-wdok\/legacy\/2014\/03\/25\/Indian%20Country%20Criminal%20Jurisdiction%20ChartColor2010.pdf>certain degree of Indian &#8220;blood&#8221;<\/a>  for determining U.S. jurisdiction. Neither the Cherokee Nation nor the Choctaw Nation base tribal citizenship on blood quantum.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<STRONG>Note: The author of this story serves on the board of Crushing Colonialism, a non-profit founded by Jen Deerinwater, who serves as executive director. The board position is a volunteer, unpaid position.<\/strong>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Related Stories<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"related-story\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/02\/20\/teen-students-death-under-investigation-in-oklahoma\/\" title=\"Teen student\u2019s death under investigation in Oklahoma\">Teen student\u2019s death under investigation in Oklahoma<\/a> (February 20, 2024)<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The leader of the Cherokee Nation is \u201cheartbroken\u201d over the passing of a 16-year-old who died within reservation boundaries in Oklahoma.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35909,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,13,1],"tags":[530,77,428,76,101,1016,1020,795,397,560,511,104,4083,243,127,1458,47,85,4658,220,105,422,102],"class_list":["post-35880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-law","category-national","tag-blood-quantum","tag-cherokee","tag-choctaw","tag-chuck-hoskin","tag-crime","tag-gender","tag-hate-crime","tag-jen-deerinwater","tag-jurisdiction","tag-kevin-stitt","tag-law-enforcement","tag-lgbtq","tag-lgbtqia","tag-media","tag-oklahoma","tag-peggy-flanagan","tag-race","tag-republicans","tag-robin-mclain-smith","tag-sovereignty","tag-two-spirit","tag-us-attorneys","tag-youth","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/21\/OwassoOklahoma.jpeg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-9kI","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35880"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35914,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35880\/revisions\/35914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}