Quapaw Nation

Native American tribes and communities are creating formal programs that focus on their traditional foods to not only combat systemic food insecurity, but also connect people to their culture.

Quapaw voters went to the polls on Saturday and re-elected their current chairman, Joseph Byrd. But, tribal citizens will have a new secretary-treasurer and a new committee member serving alongside Byrd for the next two years.

The leader of the Quapaw Nation will be decided on Saturday, as incumbent Joseph Byrd seeks another term.

Tribal leaders across Oklahoma and beyond are reacting to last week's Supreme Court decision in the Castro-Huerta case, saying the ruling upends more than 100 years of federal Indian law.

Businessman Guy Barker, who currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Quapaw Nation, announced his candidacy Monday.

A 2020 landmark Supreme Court ruling returned criminal jurisdiction to six Oklahoma tribes. The Quapaw Nation wants to use their re-affirmed sovereignty to better steward the land they're on and enforce more environmental regulation over time.

A number of tribal nations have decided to close their offices and are asking citizens to travel only if necessary as Oklahoma experiences its second day of cold, winter weather.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let a lower court ruling stand that said McGirt v. Oklahoma could not be applied retroactively.

The Quapaw Nation's Downstream Casino in northeastern Oklahoma serves as the gateway to Indian Country in Oklahoma. The casino was supposed to be a sound investment for the tribal nation. But, records show a loan for the development had a high interest rate and cut into profits.

Earlier this month, the Quapaw Nation had their reservation reaffirmed in a ruling by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Their new Ki-ho-ta justice center is set to meet the demand brought by this decision.