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Tribal Justice

The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land

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Tribal Justice

By: Allison Herrera, Adreanna Rodriguez
Narrated by: Allison Herrera
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About this listen

Imagine being a citizen of a nation and not being allowed to have your case heard in that nation’s courts—because of your race. This is happening now, in Oklahoma, to a group of Black citizens of the Cherokee Nation. They’re called Freedmen, and Michael Hill is one of them.

On September 26, 2020, Michael was in a great mood. He’d recently returned home to Oklahoma after years in the military. He’d bought a house and had a job teaching and coaching basketball at the local high school.

But that night, Michael’s life would turn upside down. Around two o’clock in the morning, he heard people banging on the doors and windows of his home. He called 911 for help.

This is the story of what happened next, and why. To understand it, we have to go back to the Trail of Tears that the Five Tribes were forced to walk. To the enslaved Africans those tribes brought with them on that trail, who became Freedmen after the Civil War. To the 2020 US Supreme Court ruling that Oklahoma had illegally claimed more than three million acres of tribal land. And to what the restoration of that land has meant for policing and the courts.

Tribal Justice is essential storytelling that brings a new lens to understandings of race, sovereignty, power, and belonging.

This documentary is part of the Audible Podcast Development Program.

©2024 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC.
United States
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About the Creator

Allison Herrera is the former Indigenous Affairs reporter for KOSU in Oklahoma, where she covered the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma decision and its effect on tribal nations. In 2022, she worked on the Bloomberg and iHeart Media podcast In Trust about the loss of Osage land and wealth at the hands of white settlers in Oklahoma. She previously worked for PRX’s The World. She is currently a senior reporter for APM Reports.

About the Creator

Adreanna Rodriguez is a Lakota Sioux/Chicana journalist based in Oakland, CA. As a storyteller, her research, audio work, and filmmaking revolve around issues of social and climate justice for Indigenous communities, as well as femme stories. Adreanna holds an M.A. in visual anthropology from San Francisco State University and a Graduate Certificate in documentary studies from the Maine College of Art. While at VICE Media, she was a 2022 Ida B. Wells fellow through Type Investigations. Her reporting on access to abortion services in Indian Country was a finalist for a Third Coastal International Audio Award and the recipient of a Gracie Award.

About the Composer

Kyle Murdock has over 20 years of experience working professionally in sound. He started at XM Satellite Radio in the early aughts, before pursuing music production and engineering with the hip-hop group Panacea. Over the years, Kyle has taught audio courses and served as the radio station production director at his alma mater, Howard University. He has also worked as a sound designer with Vice Media, where his work won several awards, including a regional Emmy. Kyle’s work as an independent sound designer and composer has won both Signal and Webby awards. He was first inspired to create audio by his late uncle Melvin Lindsey, a radio icon and creator of the "Quiet Storm format."

What listeners say about Tribal Justice

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Truth be told

Thank you for doing the story, even though the outcome was probably not exactly what we all wanted. More stories like this should be shared.
The more awareness is brought to these situations the better.

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Facts over Fiction

The bravery to broach a subject so controversial is refreshing. The judicial impact on all Americans of Slave Descent is necessary to understand the full impact of injustice, fear, and hatred levied toward the descendants of people bred in and for the institution of slavery in America. The only true Americans. The rejection of those called Native Americans to include these Americans is in line with the historical context of our dehumanization and relegation to the bottom class. Our fear now is being replaced and not receiving concessions as our indigenous brothers and sisters have. Definitely, a gripping case reported well.

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Unbelievable

It shouldn’t be a shock to me that things like this is still happening in 2024. This is a must read for all. I pray for healing and peace for Michael

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National Spotlight on Indigenous Affairs in Oklahoma

I have followed Ms. Herrera's Indigenous Affairs reporting on KOSU for several years. I am happy to see her work available on an additional platform.

Too few Americans are aware of the history of the Freedmen, the impact of the McGirt decision or the combative stance of state government in relation to the tribes. This documentary is a good introduction to the complexities of daily life in Oklahoma.

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When will the US government stop supporting racism?

I liked that the victim was able to tell his story and show that this is current and relevant.

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Tribal justice in Oklahoma

Issues today were forged by attitudes toward native Americans a their slave captives a families those sentiments still exist and blur sovereignty and citizenship today with no end in sight. Oklahoma justice simply manipulates an entraps any one who tries to exercise tribal privilege.

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Colorism

Thank you for the follow up. Ppl who look like me often know what "Just Us" looks like: partial or simply injustice...
I don't see us ever being "fully inteintegrated" into a society that stole its way to the top & stole us & continuously regressed into either treating us like chattel or ignoring situations when we are treated like chattel. There are days when I hope we all come back as pets (knowing all of the bad actors) & avenge our mistreatment.

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Separate and Unequal

Michael's case is heartwrenching on several levels. Unfortunately, he's not alone. The ugly history of the United States disenfranchisement of Native people and of Black people collides here. I am a Black woman who sees and hears these stories too often. These kinds of outcomes leaves many Black people wary of me calling the police. He called for assistance and was met with officers who escalated the case and arresting him instead of helping Michael protect his property. It sounds like they need training themselves.

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New Info for me

Furthered my understanding of the American past and its original sins. Interesting dynamics of Native nations and Oklahoma.

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Rights of an largely ignored group

It is interesting that when you are black in the US the authorities will do anything to prevent you from exercising your legal and customary rights. Clearly Michael is a tribal citizen, on tribal lands, with rights to be tried by those courts.

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