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Tribal Justice

By: Allison Herrera, Adreanna Rodriguez
Narrated by: Allison Herrera
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Publisher's summary

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.
  • Original Recording Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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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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The Backward Trail "Home"

The presence of Ancestral commitment to honor the land, truth, Courage hums "We are still here." ... no matter how big and powerful the enemy pretends to be,
The reality of our within is cultivated by many bearers offering degrees of hot and icy water,
Brenda-Catherine

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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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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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4 people found this helpful

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The next great battleground for Native America and Racial Justice

Perfect combination of investigative journalism and storytelling. The history of the governments treatment of Native Americans and African Americans each have there tragic and horrendous histories. This story brings those two together in the shadow of the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion in McGirt v. Oklahoma.

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We need more of these works and readings

If you are interested in the true history that formed the politics and laws of today this is a must read. A true analysis of Oklahoma’s corrupt legal systems.

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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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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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Sad but Common Theme

Unfortunate circumstances that our minorities encounter every day and there’s not enough support for them in the justice system to fight against the majority.

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What a great documentary

I’m so saddened at how we’ve treated indigenous people in the past AND still do. It’s ridiculous.

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VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Everyone in the USA needs to hear this. I am sure that the majority of people have no idea that members of the five civilized tribes owned black slaves and fought for the Confederacy of slave owning States in the US Civil War. The stain of slavery is still being sorted out 159 years after the end of the war.

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