THAN APPLY THEM AS YOU DO.

EMMA.

BASED ON THE JANE AUSTEN NOVEL, YOU MUST STOP THIS AT ONCE.

THIS MATCHMAKING.

EMMA SUNDAY EVENING AT SIX ON OETA OETA IS JUST A CLICK AWAY.

VISIT US ONLINE.

NEW TECHNOLOGY TO LIMIT THE USE OF ILLEGAL CELL PHONES IN OKLAHOMA'S DETENTION CENTERS.

IT'S AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS SITUATION.

IT PUTS IT PUTS OUR OFFICERS AND OUR STAFF IN DANGER, AND IT PUTS OTHER INMATES IN DANGER AS WELL.

HOW THE CHEROKEE NATION INFLUENCED KEN BURNS VERSION OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

SO BEING ABLE TO SEE HOW OUR TRIBES PLAYED A PART IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

REMEMBERING A TULSA ICON MOTHER VIOLA FORD FLETCHER.

IF YOU CAN MANAGE IN ALL OF THE CRAZINESS AND ALL THE INJUSTICE AND ALL THE WICKEDNESS, IF YOU CAN MANAGE TO STILL LOVE PEOPLE, THAT'S WHO SHE WAS.

THESE CLAREMORE TEACHERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A STATE PROGRAM TO RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT STIPENDS.

I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE SCHOOLS WHO ARE NOT PARTAKING IN THIS PROGRAM THAT REALLY THEY SHOULD BE.

PLUS, AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH NATIVE AMERICAN HONOREES.

NEXT, ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ CONTRABAND CELL PHONES CREATE LOTS OF PROBLEMS INSIDE OF OUR STATE'S 23 DETENTION CENTERS, BUT NEW JAMMING TECHNOLOGY IS BEING EMPLOYED TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW TO SHOW US HOW IT WORKS.

STEVE RICH.

ILLEGAL OR CONTRABAND?

CELL PHONES ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE INSIDE PRISON WALLS FOR INMATES.

THERE'S PROBABLY NOTHING MORE VALUABLE.

YOU SEE THIS LITTLE THING RIGHT HERE?

THAT'S A DRONE THAT WE HAVE FLYING.

JASON SPARKS IS CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

LAST JULY, THE D.O.C.

SPENT $312 MILLION TO TAKE OVER WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE RED ROCK CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN LAWTON.

SO THESE GREEN SPOTS ARE BODY CAMERAS, AND THAT'S THE BODY CAMERAS THAT ARE ISSUED THROUGHOUT THAT.

THROUGHOUT THAT FACILITY, RED ROCK HOUSES 2600 INMATES, THE LARGEST IN THE STATE, WHERE DRONES ARE NOW USED TO SPOT POTENTIAL THREATS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THOSE WALLS.

WE'RE THE FIRST IN THE US RIGHT NOW TO DO A PILOT LIKE THIS WITH DRONES.

SPARKS SAYS.

DOC STAFF HAS TO DO WHATEVER IT CAN TO KEEP UP WITH EVER PRESENT CRIMINAL THREATS.

A VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CONTRABAND IS IS EITHER THROWN OVER THE FENCE, DROPPED BY A DRONE, RIGHT, OR BROUGHT IN BY VISITOR OR STAFF MEMBER.

A LOT OF THOSE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES TAKE COORDINATION, WHICH IS WHY CONTRABAND CELL PHONES ARE SO VALUABLE INSIDE THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM THAT CURRENTLY HOUSES 22,000 INMATES AND 23 FACILITIES.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT CONTRABAND CELL PHONES AND WE START LOOKING, DIVING INTO THESE CONTRABAND CELL PHONE INVESTIGATIONS, CONTRABAND INTRODUCTION, INVESTIGATION AS A WHOLE, IT'S JUST LIKE ON I MEAN, IT'S JUST LIKE IT IS ON THE OUTSIDE WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY USE THESE PHONES TO ORCHESTRATE DROPS, CONTRABAND DROPS AT OTHER FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, AND WE WORK WITH OBION.

WE WORK WITH DEA, WORK WITH FBI.

WE WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO TO IN INVESTIGATIONS TO CATCH THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CONFISCATES 4 TO 5000 CONTRABAND CELL PHONES EACH YEAR.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A CONTINUOUS PROCESS.

WELL, IT'S YES, I GUESS IS A WAY TO PUT IT.

IT'S A IT'S EXTREMELY SERIOUS SITUATION.

IT PUTS IT PUTS OUR OFFICERS AND OUR STAFF IN DANGER.

SPARKS SAYS THE DOC HAS BEEN TRACKING CONTRABAND CELL PHONES FOR A DECADE.

THE TECHNOLOGY IT TAKES TO JAM UP CONTRABAND CELL PHONE SIGNALS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT, THOUGH, FORBID THAT TECHNOLOGY FROM BEING USED BECAUSE OF CONCERNS IT WOULD INTERFERE WITH LEGITIMATE COMMUNICATIONS.

SPARKS SAYS THE TECHNOLOGY IT TAKES TO JAM ILLEGAL CELL PHONES IS NOW MUCH BETTER THAN IT USED TO BE, AND A LOT CHEAPER.

WE'RE CURRENTLY ABOUT TO DO A PROJECT AT TWO DIFFERENT FACILITIES TO WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO IDENTIFY AS MANY CELL PHONES, CONTRABAND CELL PHONES AS POSSIBLE, WIRELESS DEVICES, ANYTHING THAT USES AN RF SIGNAL OR A CELLULAR SIGNAL AND AND TERMINATE THOSE, SPARKS SAYS.

FENTANYL ISN'T THE ONLY DEADLY DRUG PROBLEM INSIDE OKLAHOMA PRISONS.

ANOTHER DRUG CALLED K2 IS ALSO A KILLER THAT'S TAKING ITS TOLL.

IT'S A SYNTHETIC.

IT'S A SYNTHETIC DRUG.

THEY USE THEY PUT IT ON PAPER AND THEY SOAK PAPER WITH IT.

SOAP, SOAP, PAPER WITH IT.

SO WE RECENTLY BANNED PAPER PRODUCTS FROM GOING INSIDE OUR FACILITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS K2, YOU KNOW, EIGHT AND A HALF BY 11 SHEET OF PAPER, THEY'LL CUT IT IN, THEY'LL SOAK THAT PAPER AND THEY'LL CUT IT INTO HALF INCH SQUARES AND THEY'LL THEY'LL SEND THOSE, THEY'LL SELL THOSE SQUARES INSIDE FOR $5 A PIECE.

SO, I MEAN, YOU DO THE MATH.

EIGHT AND A HALF, EIGHT AND A HALF BY 11.

PIECE OF PAPER CUT INTO HALF INCH SQUARES IS LIKE 300 AND SOMETHING SQUARES, I THINK.

AND AT $5 A PIECE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING UP THERE CLOSE TO $2,000 A SHEET.

WE PUT PEOPLE IN PRISON TRYING TO REHABILITATE THEM, NOT TO KILL THEM.

BOB CLEVELAND IS A FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR AND MEMBER OF OKLAHOMA CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS, WHICH IS A DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WATCHDOG GROUP THAT'S BEEN CRITICAL OF THE D.O.C.

FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

AND WE'RE JUST SITTING ON A POWDER KEG OF THE WAY THAT THEY THEY ARE RUNNING THINGS.

CLEVELAND SAYS A BIG REASON FOR THAT CRITICISM IS HE SAYS THE D.O.C.

REMAINS WOEFULLY UNDERSTAFFED.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING SAFE LIKE IT SHOULD BE UNTIL THEY GET ENOUGH EMPLOYEES.

THEY SAY THEY'RE TRYING LIKE THEY'RE THEY'RE LITERALLY INTERVIEWING ALL THE TIME.

THEY'RE HIRING ALL THE TIME, AND THEY'RE FIRING ALL THE TIME.

THEY FIRE PEOPLE FOR NO REASON.

WELL, WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY HIRING, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ONE OF THE THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, I GUESS, DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY HIRING.

WE WE RUN SEVERAL ACADEMY CLASSES A YEAR.

I THINK IT'S EIGHT.

WE RUN EIGHT ACADEMY CLASSES A YEAR, THROWING OUT ANYWHERE FROM 30 TO 50 CLASS, YOU KNOW, SOLID, WELL-TRAINED CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND, YOU KNOW, FINDING PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THAT AND WANT TO DO THAT.

IT'S HARD AND IT'S HARD NOT JUST IN OKLAHOMA.

IT'S HARD NATIONWIDE.

SPARKS SAYS STARTING CORRECTIONAL OFFICER PAY IN OKLAHOMA IS NOW JUST UNDER $45,000, WHICH HE SAYS IS COMPETITIVE WITH NEIGHBORING STATES, INCLUDING TEXAS.

IT'S A MISNOMER THAT THAT WE'RE NOT WE CONTINUOUSLY HIRE AND WE DON'T WE DON'T STOP RECRUITING.

I MEAN, WE RECRUIT ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS.

SO ANYBODY THAT TELLS YOU THAT THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE AND AND WE'RE NOT RECRUITING PEOPLE, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

WE CONTINUOUSLY RECRUIT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T TURN PEOPLE AWAY.

THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WILL SOON COME UP WITH A LIST OF RULES THAT CONTRABAND CELL PHONE JAMMING TECHNOLOGY WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW TO OPERATE INSIDE OKLAHOMA PRISON FACILITIES.

IT COULD BE WEEKS OR JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

RICH, STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

KEN BURNS HAS DIRECTED MORE THAN 40 DOCUMENTARIES.

THE LATEST, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, DEBUTED ON OETA LAST WEEK, AND AN IMPORTANT THEME IN IT IS THE IMPACT AND INFLUENCE OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES ON THE OUTCOME THAT LED TO AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN.

BURNS COLLABORATED WITH THE CHEROKEE NATION ON THAT ASPECT OF THE DOCUMENTARY.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US FROM OUR NEWSROOM NOW WITH THE DETAILS.

JASON.

RICH KEN BURNS AMERICAN REVOLUTION DOES TELL THE STORY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE THROUGH MULTIPLE VIEWPOINTS, INCLUDING THAT OF TRIBAL NATIONS, WHICH HELPED INFLUENCE NOT ONLY THE DIRECTION OF THE WAR, BUT ALSO HOW AMERICA'S GOVERNMENT WAS FORMED.

SO, JIM, THANKS A LOT FOR HAVING US OUT HERE TO CHEROKEE FILM.

THIS IS AWESOME.

YEAH, I ALWAYS HAVE TO PINCH MYSELF EVERY TIME I WALK IN HERE.

CHEROKEE FILMS SENIOR DIRECTOR JEN LOREN GOT THE CALL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO FROM KEN BURNS PRODUCTION COMPANY.

THEY WANTED HELP ON A NEW DOCUMENTARY CALLED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

FROM A SMALL SPARK KINDLED IN AMERICA, A FLAME HAS ARISEN.

NOT TO BE EXTINGUISHED.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WORKING WITH KEN BURNS, DAVID SCHMIDT AND SARAH BOTSTEIN WAS NEXT LEVEL.

THEY ARE SO INTELLIGENT.

THEY'RE SUCH FANTASTIC STORYTELLERS AND THEY'RE QUICK, SO I HAD TO KEEP UP WITH THEM.

LOREN AND CHEROKEE FILMS STEPPED UP AND HELPED TO UNCOVER THE NATIVE AMERICAN SIDE OF THE STORY.

FOR THE DOCUMENTARY MAKERS.

THEY ASKED ME TO COME ON AS AN ADVISOR ON THE PROJECT, ALONG WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER ADVISORS, AND THEY ALSO ASKED THE CHEROKEE FILM COMMISSION TO CONSULT.

SO THE COMMISSION PROVIDED FACT CHECKING.

WE WE CONNECTED THEM WITH SOME OF OUR CHEROKEE HISTORIANS AND LITERATURE AND ARTISTS WHO DEPICT CHEROKEES ACCURATELY.

SHE SAYS BURNS LATEST PROJECT PROVIDES A PERSPECTIVE NOT OFTEN TOLD IN HISTORY TEXTBOOKS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS DOCU SERIES DOES IS IT REALLY REFRAMES THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS A WAR ABOUT NATIVE LAND.

THIS WAS ABOUT TAKING OF THE AMERICAN LAND, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY INDIGENOUS LAND.

JEN LOREN IS REALLY WONDERFUL, JUST REALLY KIND.

SHE WAS WILLING TO LISTEN TO US WHEN SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO, AND REALLY WILLING TO OFFER SUCH A WEALTH OF BOTH EXPERIENCE AS A HISTORIAN AND AS A FILMMAKER AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MATERIAL, TOO, THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ACCESS TO OTHERWISE.

DAVID SCHMIDT IS ONE OF THE PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS ON THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WHICH HE HOPES WILL ENGAGE MORE PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE.

WE CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY.

IT'S OUR BIG NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

EVERY YEAR.

WE SEE THE FLAG EVERYWHERE WE GO.

THAT FLAG IS FROM THE REVOLUTION.

AND YOU KNOW, GEORGE WASHINGTON IS ON OUR CURRENCY.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WITH US ALWAYS.

BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT WE REALLY, MOST OF US HAVE A FULSOME UNDERSTANDING OF THE OF THE HISTORY.

SCHMIDT SAYS JEN LOREN AND CHEROKEE FILMS ASSISTANCE LED TO FINDING THE STORIES OF NATIVE AMERICANS INVOLVED IN THE REVOLUTION, SO WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SURFACE SOME TESTIMONY FROM INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

JOSEPH BRANT, THE HAUDENOSAUNEE.

WE GET TO KNOW WHAT DRAGGING CANOE WAS THINKING IN 1776.

HE'S CHEROKEE.

WHITE EYES IS SOMEBODY WHO LEFT HIS MARK ON THE TREATY OF FORT PITT.

SO THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS OF OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE STORY WHO LEFT THEIR MEMORIES BEHIND.

HE KNOWS THAT THE LEADER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY FORCES WANTED TO KNOW WHAT TRIBAL LEADERS THOUGHT ABOUT THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PATRIOTS AND THE BRITISH FORCES.

I AM NOW EMBARKED ON A TEMPESTUOUS OCEAN, FROM WHENCE PERHAPS NO FRIENDLY HARBOR IS TO BE FOUND.

GEORGE WASHINGTON, YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR EXPERIENCE, AND WHAT THEY WERE THINKING WAS ON THE MINDS OF SOMEBODY LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON, AND IT WOULD BE A MISCARRIAGE OF THE HISTORY FOR US TO LEAVE THAT STORY OUT WHEN WE KNOW IT'S PART AND PARCEL TO THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

YOU PROBABLY HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY, AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY ALSO.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE SOURCE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE OVER 600 NATIVE NATIONS IN WHAT IS NOW THE UNITED STATES, WHAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING, HOW IT IMPACTED THEM.

DONNA, WRITING IN HAIR, IS A PROFESSOR AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZING IN AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES.

SHE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF NATIVE AMERICANS IMPACT ON THE COUNTRY, AND APPRECIATES THAT THE KEN BURNS DOCUMENTARY INCLUDES THAT VIEWPOINT.

THERE WERE A LOT OF NATIONS HERE, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE NATIONS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE LAND THAT WE'RE ON.

THE DOCUMENTARY SHOWS NATIVE TRIBES HAD WORKING GOVERNMENTS BEFORE EUROPEANS STARTED SETTLING AMERICA.

HE PRESENTS NATIVE PEOPLE AND OUR LEADERS AS SOVEREIGN NATIONS WITH LEADERS JUST LIKE HE DOES FRANCE.

AND IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT THAT RECOGNITION OF OUR NATIVE TRIBES AS SOVEREIGN NATIONS AND HOW WE PLAYED INTO OUR HISTORY.

SEVERAL OF THE TRIBES CREATED A CONFEDERACY OF SOVEREIGNS, WHICH CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF OUR NATION'S FOREFATHERS AS THEY BEGAN TO CONSIDER WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THE AMERICANS DEFEATED THE BRITISH.

I THINK BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN PARTICULAR, WHO WAS A DIPLOMAT IN INDIAN COUNTRY WELL BEFORE THE WAR AND ALSO PRINTED THE THE TREATIES OF OF LANCASTER AND A FEW OTHER ONES, AND SO CERTAINLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT NATIVE PEOPLE WERE SAYING AND UNDERSTOOD THE HAUDENOSAUNEE CONFEDERACY IN PARTICULAR.

BUT THERE WERE DIVISIONS.

IT SPLIT THEM UP BECAUSE SOME WENT WITH THE BRITISH AND SOME WENT WITH THE AMERICANS.

HARE SAYS.

THERE APPEARS TO BE A RISING INTEREST TO LEARN ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES IN THEIR HISTORY.

MORE DOCUMENTARIES AND OTHER ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA ARE HELPING TO REINFORCE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE AND MOVING BEYOND PAST STEREOTYPES.

IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO SEE IT, AND RIGHT NOW AND IT GOES ALONG WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, LIKE WITH STERLIN HARJO AND AND, YOU KNOW, THE 1490 ONES AND ALL THE OTHER DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME INTO THE MEDIA AND, YOU KNOW, TELLING OUR STORIES.

LOREN HOPES OKLAHOMANS FEEL A CONNECTION TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

BOTH THE DOCUMENTARY AND THE HISTORY FOR OKLAHOMANS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE INDIGENOUS HISTORY AND HOW WE WERE PART OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

A LOT OF THE TRIBES ENDED UP HERE IN OKLAHOMA, AND THAT'S A REALLY UNIQUE ASPECT OF OUR STATE.

SO BEING ABLE TO SEE HOW OUR TRIBES PLAYED A PART IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

BY THE WAY, IF YOU MISS THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION SIX EPISODE RUN, YOU CAN STILL FIND IT FOR FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME ON THE PBS STREAMING APP.

RICH.

REALLY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JASON.

MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR MOTHER VIOLA FORD FLETCHER WERE HELD IN TULSA AND BARTLESVILLE LAST SATURDAY.

FLETCHER PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 111 ON NOVEMBER 24TH.

SHE WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO LIVING SURVIVORS OF THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE, AND WAS LOVED AND REVERED IN HER COMMUNITY.

AND YOU DON'T LIVE TO BE 111 BY BEING TIMID.

LISTEN TO THIS STORY SHARED BY HER FRIEND, STATE SENATOR REGINA GOODWIN OF TULSA.

SHE WAS 105 YEARS OLD IN THE MIDST OF COVID, AND SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO GO TO AFRICA.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S VERY DAUNTING.

BUT SHE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH VERY GENEROUS FOLKS SHE WAS AFFORDED SHE AND HER BROTHER WERE ALLOWED TO GO TO GHANA IN THE MIDST OF COVID, AND WE HELPED FACILITATE THAT IN TERMS OF GETTING VACCINATIONS AND ALL OF THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS A PRECIOUS TREASURE.

AND THE FACT THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO GO TO AFRICA, SHE MET KINGS, SHE MET THE PRESIDENT OF GHANA, SHE WAS A STOOLED, MEANING SHE WAS CROWNED AS A QUEEN MOTHER THERE AND TREATED WITH GREAT RESPECT AND REGARD.

AND SHE ENJOYED THAT TRIP AND IT WAS JUST FASCINATING TO SEE WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO AND HOW HOW COURAGEOUS SHE WAS, HOW COURAGEOUS SHE WAS TO TAKE THAT TRIP IN THE MIDST OF COVID.

LESSIE BENNINGFIELD RANDLE IS NOW THE LAST LIVING SURVIVOR OF THE MASSACRE.

SHE TOO, IS 111 YEARS OLD.

IN MID-NOVEMBER, THE GREATER TULSA INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION HELD ITS 28TH DREAMKEEPERS AWARD CEREMONY HONORING LEADERS IN OKLAHOMA'S NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH SEGMENT.

WE'VE INVITED SOME OF THIS YEAR'S HONOREES TO JOIN US IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT THEIR CAREERS, THE WORK THEY'VE DONE, AND THE WORK THEY STILL HOPE TO DO.

HERE'S A PREVIEW OF THAT CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

MAN, IT STILL HASN'T REALLY SUNK IN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I WHEN THEY CONTACTED ME IN MAY, IT'S JUST I'M THINKING, WOW, YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

JIM THORPE, JUST THE NAME.

AND THEN TO ACTUALLY GET THE AWARD, IT'S JUST, I DON'T KNOW, JUST FELT LIKE THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

LIKE ME, LIKE MY NAME IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GREATEST ATHLETE.

IT WAS A HUGE HONOR.

YOU KNOW, YOU JUST KIND OF WORK HARD ALL YOUR LIFE AND TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND THEN JUST KIND OF ONE DAY SOMEBODY RECOGNIZES IT.

AND IT WAS VERY HUMBLING AND ACTUALLY MEANT A WHOLE LOT TO MY FAMILY.

MY HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION ARE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE INSPIRED TO BE A LEADER IN WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO DO, AND THUS INSPIRING MORE INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME GREAT NATIVE LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, THE OKLAHOMA TEACHER EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, OR OTEP, WAS CREATED IN 2022 BY THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE.

IT ENABLES TEACHERS TO RECEIVE PAY INCREASES RANGING FROM 3 TO $10,000.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS.

NOAH.

YEAH, RICH, THIS IS OTEP THIRD YEAR, AND THERE ARE SOME TWEAKS TO THE PROGRAM FREEING UP MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PARTICIPATE.

ONE OF THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS CLAREMORE.

THEY AWARDED 32 TEACHERS WITH STIPENDS, INCENTIVIZING THOSE TEACHERS TO STAY IN THEIR ROLES AND FOSTERING WHAT THE DISTRICT SAYS IS A ROBUST CULTURE OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT.

COME ON IN.

COME THIS WAY, PLEASE.

PLEASE COME THIS WAY.

WOW, YOU GUYS ARE HOLDING HANDS.

THAT'S CUTE.

THAT'S REALLY INTIMIDATING.

I LOVE THAT TAKEN OUT OF CLASS AND LED TO A TABLE FURNISHED WITH FLOWERS AND BUNDT CAKES.

THESE FOUR TEACHERS HAD NO CLUE WHAT TODAY WOULD BRING.

SO THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS DISTRICT THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE TEACHERS AND THE QUALITY OF OUR TEACHERS.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM EVERY SINGLE DAY, DOESN'T MATTER WHO THE PRINCIPAL IS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO THE SUPERINTENDENT IS, DOESN'T MATTER WHO THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT IS.

WHAT MATTERS IS WHO THE TEACHER IS AND WHAT THEY DO AND THE QUALITY THAT THEY DO IT.

OVER 40 APPLICANTS, ONLY 32 ARE WINNERS, AND YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST AND ONE OF THE 32.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK.

THESE SMILES ARE A PRODUCT OF THE OKLAHOMA TEACHER EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, OR OTEP, A TEACHER INCENTIVE INITIATIVE THAT AWARDS QUALIFYING TEACHERS A STIPEND UP TO $10,000 HAND DELIVERED.

OH MY OTEP WAS BORN OUT OF A BILL AUTHORED BY REPUBLICAN SENATOR ADAM PUGH.

THIS IS YEAR NUMBER THREE.

THE LEGISLATURE MODIFIED THE PROGRAM LAST SESSION, NIXING A PROVISION THAT REQUIRED DISTRICTS TO MATCH STATE PAYOUTS.

I DID HAVE A NUMBER OF SUPERINTENDENTS THAT WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, BUT I COULD I COULD TELL IT WAS CAUSING A STRESS FOR, ESPECIALLY SOME SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT DISTRICT MATCH.

NOW ALL THE MONEY IS PROVIDED BY THE STATE AND GOES INTO THE POCKETS OF THESE TEACHERS.

THIS IS HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS.

THERE'S A POT OF MONEY STEWARDED BY THE STATE, 58 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR.

THEN DISTRICTS APPLY, RECEIVE APPROVAL, THEN INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS APPLY AND THEN RECIPIENTS ARE DETERMINED.

AND THIS IS THE ENTICING PART FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IS THEY GET TO DESIGN THE METRICS THAT DECIDE THE RECIPIENTS.

I THINK OUR GOAL IS THOSE THAT ARE DOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.

WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, RIGHT.

MR.

BRIAN FRAZIER, CLAREMORE SUPERINTENDENT, SAYS THE DISTRICT'S CRITERIA EMPHASIZED NOT STUDENT GROWTH, BUT TEACHER INVOLVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.

SO WHEN YOU START TO SAY, I'M GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO TO MAKE $15,000 AND YOU I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW TO MAKE $15,000 BECAUSE YOU TEACH PE.

I MEAN, THAT'S A CULTURE KILLER.

SO WE WERE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THAT IN THAT OUR GOAL IS, IS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENT OF NOT ONLY THEMSELVES CAREER WISE, BUT ALSO OTHERS.

AND SO THAT THAT TEACHER LEADER COMPONENT IS WHAT WE WERE AFTER.

SO THIS DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, A TEACHER SEEKING OUT EXTRA CREDENTIALING TO COACH STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES OR A TEACHER TAKING A NEW HIRE UNDER THEIR WING.

THEY QUANTIFIED THESE ELEMENTS AND MESHED THEM TOGETHER WITH TEACHER EVALUATION SCORES AND ATTENDANCE, TO CREATE A RUBRIC TO SEND TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR REVIEW.

THERE ARE THREE TIERS TEACHERS FELL INTO WHEN APPLYING ADVANCED LEAD AND MASTER 3000, 5000, AND $10,000, RESPECTIVELY.

OKAY, SO WE COULD TALK MORE, OR WE COULD JUST HAND OUT SOME ENVELOPES THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME NUMBERS ON THEM, I DON'T KNOW, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

32 TEACHERS ACROSS SIX SCHOOLS IN CLAREMORE RECEIVED CHECKS.

THIS IS THE DISTRICT'S THIRD YEAR TAKING PART IN OTEP.

ACCORDING TO SENATOR PUGH, ONLY ABOUT 80 SCHOOL DISTRICTS APPLIED A SMALL FRACTION OF THE OVER 500 ACROSS OKLAHOMA.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF TEACHERS AROUND THE STATE REACH OUT TO ME AND ASK WHY THEIR SCHOOL ISN'T PARTICIPATING, AND I CAN'T REALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR THEM.

BUT I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE SCHOOLS WHO ARE NOT PARTAKING IN THIS PROGRAM THAT REALLY THEY SHOULD BE OTEP IS FUNDED BY SURPLUSES COMING IN FROM THE OKLAHOMA LOTTERY, PUT INTO WHAT IS CALLED THE TEACHER EMPOWERMENT REVOLVING FUND.

THIS FUND IS INCREMENTALLY GROWING.

HOWEVER, IF AND WHEN MORE SCHOOLS JUMP ON BOARD IN THE COMING YEARS, THAT MONEY COULD DWINDLE.

IS THERE A FEAR FACTOR AS A SUPERINTENDENT, THAT MAYBE ONE DAY THAT FUND IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE?

YOU BET.

ABSOLUTELY.

SENATOR PUGH ASSURED CLAREMORE TEACHERS THAT THEIR DISTRICT WILL SEE CONTINUED BENEFIT FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OTEP.

NOW, WHAT I'VE TOLD OTHER SCHOOLS THAT DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IS I'M GOING TO GRANDFATHER IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE ALREADY PARTICIPATING AND SAY, YOU CAN HAVE MORE.

FOR NOW, CLAREMORE IS REAPING THE REWARDS OF OTEP RATHER LOW PARTICIPATION, STRENGTHENING TEACHER RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT BECAUSE IF NOT EVERY DISTRICT IS GOING TO DO THAT, IF I'M A SCHOOL, IF I'M A TEACHER AND I'M A HIGH PERFORMING TEACHER WITH GREAT TL SCORES, I'M GOING TO GO TO CLAREMORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DO A GREAT JOB, AND THEN I'M GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN A PROGRAM THAT I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME MONEY, ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CALLING OF BEING A TEACHER, BUT IT CERTAINLY HELPS.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

ONE OF THE 32 LUCKY RECIPIENTS IS BIOMEDICAL TEACHER BRUCE RIGGS.

CLAREMORE HIGH SCHOOL HAS A HEALTH CARE TRACK, AND MR.

RIGGS IS THERE TO GUIDE STUDENTS THROUGH THAT JOURNEY.

YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO MENTOR, MENTOR YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN.

WE'VE GOT A YOUNG MAN LAST, LAST YEAR THAT WE WORKED AS A SCHOOL TO HELP HIM GET TO THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, AND WE'VE WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO, YOU KNOW, OU MED SCHOOL, THE OSU MED SCHOOL, DIFFERENT PLACES.

SO THAT IS VERY SATISFYING AS A TEACHER TO BE ABLE TO HELP THESE STUDENTS REALLY LIVE OUT THEIR DREAMS.

AND MR.

RIGGS WON'T BE THE ONLY ONE BRINGING HIS HOUSEHOLD A HOLIDAY SURPLUS.

SO MR.

RIGGS WIFE ONE EARLIER TODAY.

SO.

THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO.

SO THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE SAID.

I'M JUST SO HAPPY FOR HER.

AND OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO END UP FIGHTING OVER THE MONEY.

SHE SHE PROBABLY.

I WANT A NEW TRACTOR.

SHE WANTS LAND.

SO WE'LL SEE WHO WHO WINS OUT IN THE LONG RUN.

THE CLAREMORE ZEBRAS HAVE SOMETHING A LITTLE EXTRA TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

YAY!

OKAY, CLAREMORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DOES HAVE INTENTIONS TO CONTINUE PARTAKING IN OTEP FOR AS LONG AS THE FUND IS ACTIVE.

SUPERINTENDENT FRAZIER TELLING ME THEY'RE LOOKING TO REFINE THEIR CRITERIA IN THE COMING YEARS.

RICH?

NO THANKS.

GREAT PRESENT HEADING INTO THE HOLIDAYS, RIGHT?

OKLAHOMA CITY REVEALS THE DESIGN PLANS FOR A NEW MULTI-PURPOSE DOWNTOWN STADIUM.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE.

WE NOW HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT OKLAHOMA CITY'S MAPS FOR MULTI-PURPOSE STADIUM WILL LOOK LIKE ONCE IT'S BEEN BUILT JUST ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BRICKTOWN AREA, THE CITY RELEASED FIVE RENDERINGS OF THE STADIUM SHOWING VARIOUS FEATURES, INCLUDING A LIGHTED FACADE AND CANOPY WHICH COVERS 90% OF THE SEATS.

THE STADIUM WILL BE HOME FOR OKLAHOMA CITY'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM, AND WILL BE USED TO HOST CONCERTS AND OTHER EVENTS.

THE $121 MILLION PROJECT IS BEING PAID FOR WITH $41 MILLION FROM THE MAPS PROGRAM.

ADDITIONAL FINANCING FROM THE 2025 OKC BOND ISSUE, TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, AND PRIVATE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES.

OKLAHOMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TICKED UP A 10TH OF A PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER TO 3.2%, BREAKING A FOUR MONTH STREAK AT 3.1%.

THE REPORT SHOWS.

MORE THAN 64,300 OKLAHOMANS WERE UNEMPLOYED.

THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ALSO ROSE BY A 10TH OF A PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER TO 4.4%.

STATE LEVEL UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES HAVE BEEN DELAYED DUE TO THE SUSPENSION OF DATA BY THE U.S.

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE BLS PROVIDES INFORMATION SO THAT STATES CAN CALCULATE THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT RATES.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED RILEY EXPLORATION PERMIAN IS SELLING ITS NEW MEXICO MIDSTREAM ASSETS TO TARGA NORTHERN DELAWARE, LLC.

THE TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO BRING IN APPROXIMATELY $111 MILLION FOR RILEY PERMIAN.

THE COMPANY PLANS TO USE THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE TO REDUCE BORROWING FROM ITS CREDIT FACILITY AND PAY THE INCOME AND TRANSACTION COSTS RELATED TO THE SALE OF THE DOVETAIL MIDSTREAM ASSETS.

RILEY PERMIAN MADE THE MOVE TO BETTER FOCUS ON ITS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION IN NEW MEXICO.

THE PARENT COMPANY OF OG AND E WILL BE PAYING OUT A DIVIDEND TO INVESTORS IN JANUARY.

OGE ENERGY CORPORATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS DECLARED A 42.5 CENT PER SHARE PAYOUT.

THE DIVIDEND WILL BE PAID ON JANUARY 30TH, 2026 TO INVESTORS WHO HAVE THE STOCK IN THEIR PORTFOLIO AS OF JANUARY 5TH.

DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, THERE WERE 79,906 TOTAL GUESTS VISITING THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO, SETTING AN ATTENDANCE RECORD FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS SET IN NOVEMBER OF 2024, WITH 76,246 GUESTS, SEVERAL NEW BABIES, AND THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO'S SAFARI LIGHTS HELPED ATTRACT A RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

JASON.

THANK YOU.

THE AIRLINES, THEY WERE DOING BIG BUSINESS DURING THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, AND NOW OKLAHOMA'S MAJOR AIRPORTS ARE GEARING UP FOR CHRISTMAS.

MORE THAN 23,000 PASSENGERS FLEW OUT OF WILL ROGERS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LAST WEEK, SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR, WHICH IS POSITIVE NEWS IN THE WAKE OF AN HISTORIC 43 DAY GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

WE DIDN'T SEE TOO MANY EFFECTS HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

WE HAD A FEW FLIGHTS CANCELED TO DFW AND TO CHICAGO, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, EVERYBODY GOT OUT OF OKC JUST FINE.

I THINK WE'RE OUR PASSENGERS.

SAW THE HICCUP WAS IF THEY WERE CONNECTING OUT OF A MAJOR HUB LIKE DFW, CHICAGO, DENVER, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON, THOSE LEGS COULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED OR WERE CANCELED.

BUT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT REOPENED, IT TOOK US ABOUT 24 HOURS AND WE HAD ALL OF OUR FLIGHTS BACK UP AND RUNNING AND NO PROBLEMS.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS TRAVEL.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A REAL ID NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BE CHARGED AN EXTRA $45 TO GET THROUGH SECURITY.

THE DREAMKEEPERS AWARDS HAVE BEEN BESTOWED DURING A CEREMONY IN TULSA FOR 28 YEARS.

THEY ARE GIVEN TO RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS OF THE LEADERS IN THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

AND THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THIS YEAR'S HONOREES.

HERE'S MODERATOR CASSIDY MUD RICH.

JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION IS MICHAEL EDWARDS, A PROFESSIONAL BOWLER AND THIS YEAR'S JIM THORPE SPORTS EXCELLENCE AWARD.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY MARK ROGERS, THE CEO OF THE OSAGE NATION HEALTH SYSTEM.

MARK RECEIVED THIS YEAR'S ROBERTA PRATT AMERICAN INDIAN VETERANS AWARD.

LATER ON, WE'LL BE JOINED BY MISS JANICE FIELDS, WHO RECEIVED THIS YEAR'S RENNARD STRICKLAND EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AWARD.

FOR NOW, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE ON IN-DEPTH.

TO START, CAN EACH OF YOU SHARE WHAT RECEIVING THE DREAMKEEPERS AWARD MEANT FOR YOU?

MIKE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

JUST MAN, IT STILL HASN'T REALLY SUNK IN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I WHEN THEY CONTACTED ME IN MAY JUST THINKING, WOW, YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

JIM THORPE, JUST THE NAME.

AND THEN TO ACTUALLY GET THE AWARD, JUST, I DON'T KNOW, JUST FELT LIKE THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

LIKE ME, LIKE MY NAME IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GREATEST ATHLETE IN OUR HISTORY AND OUR TIME.

I MEAN, IT'S A HUGE DEAL.

AND WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT YOUR AWARD IN TODAY.

I MEAN, IT'S A BIG DEAL.

LOOK AT THIS THING.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

WE'VE GOT YOUR NAME ON THERE AND IT'S IT'S A REALLY IT'S A HUGE HONOR.

YEAH.

I MEAN IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE IT LIKE I SAID, IT HASN'T REALLY HIT ME YET, BUT BECAUSE THAT JUST HAPPENED LAST MONTH OR SO.

YEAH.

IT HAPPENED REALLY RECENTLY.

YEAH.

IT HAPPENED REALLY RECENTLY.

WELL, MARK, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

IT WAS A HUGE HONOR.

YEAH.

YOU JUST KIND OF WORK HARD ALL YOUR LIFE AND TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND THEN JUST KIND OF ONE DAY SOMEBODY RECOGNIZES IT.

AND IT WAS VERY HUMBLING.

I'M IN THE PUBLIC A LOT AS A CEO OF A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

I'M PRETTY MUCH BEHIND THE SCENES GUY.

I TRY TO PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON ALL MY FOLKS, AND I'M NOT OUT THERE IN A LOT, BUT IT WAS IT WAS VERY NICE TO BE HONORED AND ACTUALLY MEANT A WHOLE LOT TO MY FAMILY.

AND IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.

AND SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU JOINING US TODAY.

WILL.

MARK, HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY HERE TODAY AT THE OSAGE NATION, IN THE MILITARY, YOU HAVE A MILITARY FAMILY.

YOU SEE THAT A LOT IN, YOU KNOW, BAND OF BROTHERS.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT OUR MILITARY SISTERS AND IT'S A FAMILY AND IT'S A COMMUNITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AND YOUR SHARED EXPERIENCES BRING YOU CLOSER TOGETHER AND YOU SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE, WHETHER IT'S A YEAR OR 10 OR 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, YOU NEVER LOSE THAT.

IT'S JUST LIKE FAMILY THAT THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE.

AND WHEN YOU'RE SERVING THE COMMUNITY, IT'S THE SAME WAY, ESPECIALLY IN INDIAN COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE WORKING IN ANYWHERE FROM AROUND THE STATE.

WORKING WITH TRIBES REALLY HELP OUR COMMUNITIES ECONOMICALLY.

AND.

MUTUALLY SUPPORTING.

I THINK THAT THE MILITARY EXPERIENCE HELPED ME RECOGNIZE AND EMBRACE THAT THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, WITH MY MILITARY COMMUNITY OR MY NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY OR JUST SERVING COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, I THINK THAT WAS REALLY WELL PUT.

WELL, MIKE, LOOKING BACK ON YOUR ATHLETIC CAREER, WAS THERE A MOMENT THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO YOU THAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT AS YOU WERE RECEIVING THIS AWARD?

WELL, ACTUALLY, ONE OF MY FIRST NATIONAL TITLE, AND IT HAD TAKEN ME ABOUT TEN YEARS TO GET TO THAT POINT.

LIKE SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS QUICK WITH CERTAIN PLAYERS, BUT IT JUST TOOK ME A FEW ABOUT TEN YEARS TO WIN MY FIRST TITLE.

AND THEN I THOUGHT, WOW, IT'S LIKE ALL THAT WORK AND HARD WORK AND PRACTICE.

AND HOW DID YOU KEEP GOING?

BECAUSE TEN YEARS IS KIND OF A LONG TIME.

HOW DID YOU KEEP DECIDING, LET'S DO IT?

I WAS LIKE, I WAS LIKE, THAT WAS MY MAIN GOAL WAS TO WIN A PROFESSIONAL TITLE.

AND IT JUST THAT JUST MOTIVATED ME TO KEEP BECAUSE I FINISHED SECOND LIKE 4 OR 5 TIMES.

OKAY.

UP TO THAT POINT.

AND I'D MADE NUMEROUS NATIONAL SHOWS AND ALL THAT, AND BUT I WAS CLOSE.

I WAS LIKE, I JUST, I GOT TO GET THERE.

SO THAT JUST KEPT ME.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO WIN?

I MEAN, OTHER THAN WINNING, WHY?

IT'S JUST THE SATISFACTION.

THE SATISFACTION.

IT'S LIKE I, YOU KNOW, I DID THIS AND IT'S I DID IT MYSELF AND WINNING.

IT'S LIKE, I, I LIKE TO WIN IN, LIKE, ANYTHING.

SO IT WAS JUST THE FACT IS COMPETITIVE.

PART OF ME, IT'S LIKE I JUST I GOT TO WIN.

LIKE, I JUST HAVE TO I'VE GOT TO DO IT.

AND YOU'RE SO CLOSE EACH TIME AND YOU'RE LIKE, I LOVE THAT.

YOU KNOW, THAT DETERMINATION AND THAT DILIGENCE.

YOU'RE LIKE, I'M NOT GIVING UP A DOG WITH A BONE.

I'M NOT GOING TO LET IT GO, I LOVE THAT.

WELL, MARK, WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT IN YOUR CAREER AS WELL?

KIND OF THE SAME QUESTION THAT I ASKED MIKE, BUT WAS THERE A MOMENT THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU AS WELL WHEN YOU WERE RECEIVING THIS AWARD THAT REALLY MADE YOU THINK THIS?

YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME.

IT WAS HEARING SOMEBODY ELSE DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT I FEEL INSIDE AND SERVING AND TAKING CARE OF OTHERS.

AND I'VE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE HAD LIFELONG DISABILITIES DUE TO MEDICAL MISTAKES.

I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HEALTHCARE AND PATIENT SAFETY.

PATIENT QUALITY IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY DRIVE WITH OUR OUR FOLKS.

DON'T BE SOMEONE ELSE'S BAD EXPERIENCE.

AND TO SEE SOMEBODY RECOGNIZE SOMETHING THAT IS JUST PART OF WHO I AM AND WHAT I DO AS A HEALTH EXECUTIVE LEADER, THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.

AND I LOVE THAT YOU KIND OF TALKED ON THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU MADE THAT DECISION TO MOVE FROM THE SERVICE INTO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

WHAT WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT MADE YOU REALLY DECIDE THAT, OR WAS IT MORE ON THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES FROM YOUR FAMILY?

IT WAS ACTUALLY STOP LOSS.

I WAS IN THE SECURITY FORCES, MILITARY POLICE YEARS AGO IN ANTI-TERRORISM SPECIALIZED UNIT AND MAKING A RECAPTURE RECOVERY TEAM, SECURITY POLICE, SECURITY FORCES.

AND I WAS GOING TO DEPLOY AND MY COMMANDER WAS SICK AND HAD TO MEDICALLY RETIRE IN MY UNIT.

AND THE GENERAL I WORKED FOR WAS GOING TO COMMISSION ME, AND I WAS GOING TO BE CHIEF OF POLICE AND DEPLOY AS THE COMMANDER.

AND STOP LOSS CAME AND LOCKED ME IN.

AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BECAUSE I ALREADY WORKED IN POLICE ADMINISTRATION, THEY QUALIFIED ME TO BE A HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATOR, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO GIVE ME A DIRECT COMMISSION.

AND THEN I WAS GOING TO RESIGN MY COMMISSION, AND THEN THEY FEEL ME OVER TO THE LINE COMMISSION TO BE MADE CHIEF OF POLICE.

AND THEN I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEPLOY WITH MY SPECIALIZED UNIT.

AND STOP LOSS FROZE ME IN PLACE.

THEY SENT ME TO THE AIR FORCE'S HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR SCHOOL, CERTIFIED ME AS A HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATOR, AND JUST BECAME WHAT I DID.

IT WAS SUCH A CHANGE FROM THE CAREER FIELD AND THE THINGS THAT I HAD DONE, AND IT ALIGNED WITH SOME THINGS I WAS INTERESTED IN THAT, THAT I HAD I NOT BEEN IN THE MILITARY, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE NEVER GONE INTO HEALTHCARE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

IT WAS JUST KIND OF HAPPENING.

THE MILITARY CROSS TRAINING, CAREER BROADENING IS A HUGE PUSH TO LEARN AND DO AS COMPETENT AS POSSIBLE IN SO MANY MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AREAS, JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS.

SO IT WAS ACTUALLY BY ACCIDENT AND BY STOP LOSS THAT I GOT STUCK IN HEALTHCARE.

I'VE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.

WELL, WE'RE THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE THERE.

WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT THAT HAPPY ACCIDENT HAPPENED.

WELL, MY THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS, IT TOOK YOU DILIGENCE.

IT TOOK YOU TIME.

IF YOU WERE TO GIVE SOME ADVICE TO ANY YOUNG PEOPLE OR ANY YOUNG ATHLETES ABOUT BEING COMPETITIVE, BUT ALSO BEING GROUNDED IN WHO THEY ARE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE I GREW UP WITH YOU HAVE TO STICK WITH YOUR PROGRAM, DEVELOP A PROGRAM, STAY WITH IT.

THAT WILL KEEP YOU LIKE INSTEAD OF GETTING SOMETHING, GET TOO HIGH TO GET TOO LOW.

IF YOU HAVE YOUR SAME ROUTINE OVER AND OVER, STAY WITH THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE IF YOU'RE COMPETITIVE, YOU JUST GO FOR IT.

YOU SHOULD KEEP GOING FOR IT AND FIND THAT COMMUNITY AS WELL.

REACHING OUT TO LIKE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO ARE HERE AND CAN SUPPORT THEM.

WELL, WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

BUT MARK, WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS DO YOU THINK WOULD BE MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FOR VETERANS IN OKLAHOMA?

WELL, WE HAVE AMERICAN LEGION, DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS.

AND I THINK THAT THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER AND PROVIDING SERVICES AND OUTREACH, THERE'S LOCATIONS FROM NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST OF THE STATE WHERE PEOPLE CAN MEET AND BE A RESOURCE FOR VETERANS.

AND I JUST THINK THAT ALL THOSE GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER AND BEING IN HOLDING, YOU KNOW, PERIODIC MEETINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR VETERANS TO BE ABLE TO AND ADVERTISING THOSE AND BEING A, A, A SOURCE OF REFERENCE, YOU KNOW, WEBSITES AND PAMPHLETS ARE ARE GOOD AND IT DOESN'T NEED PHYSICALLY SITTING DOWN AND TALKING WITH SOMEBODY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE FOR VETERANS, BUT THERE'S THERE'S NO SITTING DOWN AND TALKING TO SOMEBODY ABOUT YOUR NEEDS OR YOUR SPECIAL SITUATION IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO I'D LIKE TO SEE ALL THE VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, WORK TOGETHER, DOING MORE HEALTH FAIRS AND DOING MORE PHYSICAL OUTREACH IN OUR STATE.

OKAY.

WELL, THIS IS THE LAST QUESTION IS FOR BOTH OF YOU, BUT I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU COULD LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH THE NEXT LEADERS OF THIS GENERATION WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS.

WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

MIKE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

OH, GOD.

JUST BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

LIKE BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

MARK, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

I WOULD SAY, DON'T FORGET YOUR VETERANS.

NEVER FORGET YOUR VETERANS.

WE DON'T HAVE A DRAFT.

WE HAVE ALL VOLUNTEER MILITARY.

AND IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON.

1% OF OUR POPULATION IS STEPS UP AND STANDS TO THE BREECH FOR FREEDOM FOR OUR COUNTRY.

LET'S NOT FORGET OUR VETERANS.

WELL, GENTLEMEN, I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

CASSIDY, JOINING US FOR THE REST OF THIS DISCUSSION IS MISS JANICE FIELDS, WHO IS THE FORMER INDIAN EDUCATION DIRECTOR AT COLLINSVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

NOW, JANICE, WE STARTED THIS DISCUSSION OFF EARLIER WITH THE SAME QUESTION, BUT I WANTED TO SEE WHAT IT MEANT TO YOU TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD.

THE DREAM KEEPER AWARD IS A VERY HONORABLE AWARD GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS THAT EXCEL AT WHAT THEY DO IN EVERYDAY LIFE.

ANOTHER RECIPIENT AT THE AWARD CEREMONY SAID, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M BEING AWARDED FOR SOMETHING I LOVE DOING AND I FEEL THE SAME WAY.

THAT'S CRAZY BECAUSE THAT'S ACTUALLY THAT'S WHAT MIKE HAS BEEN SAYING AND THAT'S WHAT MARK SAID EARLIER.

THEY'RE LIKE, THIS IS JUST SOMETHING WE DO EVERY DAY.

SO IT'S AMAZING TO BE NOTICED FOR THAT.

THAT IS SO AWESOME.

WELL, HOW ARE YOU HELPING STUDENTS OR HOW HAVE YOU HELPED STUDENTS TO STAY ENGAGED, ESPECIALLY WHEN WORKING TO BALANCE SCHOOL WITH CULTURAL OR FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES?

MOSTLY I PROVIDED SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE ALSO HAD IN SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL SERVICES LIKE HELP WITH THEIR HOMEWORK, TUTORING, TEACHING THE LANGUAGE, CHEROKEE LANGUAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WELL, MIKE, HOW HAVE YOU PERSONALLY SEEN ATHLETICS GOING BACK TO ATHLETICS AND SPORTS?

HOW HAVE YOU SEEN ATHLETICS STRENGTHEN, STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY?

OH, WELL, JUST I THINK IT JUST BRINGS EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM YOU SOONER.

SO IT'S LIKE YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE WE AND LIKE ONCE YOU'RE SOONER YOU'RE EVERYBODY'S SOONER.

IN SPORTS ALWAYS BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER GOOD OR BAD.

BUT I THINK IT'S JUST WHAT SPORTS JUST DOES.

IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING.

YOU'RE A PART OF SOMETHING.

YEAH, YOU'RE PART OF IT, YOU KNOW.

EXACTLY.

AND SO THAT'S LIKE A REALLY THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.

AND ESPECIALLY RECEIVING THIS AWARD.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU WHENEVER YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT MENTORING STUDENTS AND MENTORING ATHLETES?

OH, MAN, I JUST I JUST TRY TO TELL THEM LIKE JUST KIND OF CLICHE, BUT JUST DO YOUR BEST.

JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, DO YOUR BEST, STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW AND JUST TRY TO THRIVE ON IT.

AND JANICE, ENCOURAGING STUDENTS IN EDUCATION, HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

WELL, WE TRANSPORT TO DIFFERENT AREA EVENTS.

THAT WERE GOING ON FOR LIKE ACT, TEST OR LANGUAGE BOWLS, CHALLENGE BOWLS.

SO JUST INVOLVING THEM IN THE CULTURAL STUFF AND AND EDUCATIONAL STUFF THAT THEY, THEY CAN USE.

WELL, WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

BUT JANICE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS STUDENTS?

THAT THEY ARE GREAT LEARNERS AND THE MORE SUPPORT GIVEN ENCOURAGES THEM TO TRY HARDER?

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO AGREE WITH THAT.

WELL, MIKE, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ANOTHER QUESTION AS WELL.

BUT WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK ATHLETES NEED MOST RIGHT NOW TO FEEL SUPPORTED AND ENCOURAGED?

WOW.

ATHLETES RIGHT NOW IT'S LIKE THE EVERYTHING'S CHANGING SO FAST RIGHT NOW AND DYNAMICS COLLEGE PROFESSIONALS JUST.

I DON'T KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE IT'S HARD TO SAY.

IT'S LIKE, I THINK YOU JUST GOT TO DO YOUR JOB, STAY WITH IT, DO THE BEST YOU CAN AND STAY GROUNDED BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, THERE IS A LOT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT GETTING INTO COLLEGE NOW.

YOU KIND OF FORGET ABOUT THE SPORTSMANSHIP AND THE TEAM, THE TEAM PART OF THAT.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

YEAH.

WELL, THE I MEAN YEAH, IT'S MAN IT'S LIKE YOU SEE THE KIDS NOW THEY'RE JUMPING FROM COLLEGE TO COLLEGE TO COLLEGE COACHES.

IT'S YOU NEED TO STAY WITH THE TEAM.

FEEL LIKE A TEAM LIKE WORK TOGETHER THROUGH THE GOOD AND BAD.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF GOOD A LOT OF BAD.

SO YOU GOT TO STAY TOGETHER, BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER AND STICK WITH IT.

STICK WITH IT AND STICK WITH IT.

WELL, THIS QUESTION I ASKED YOU EARLIER, BUT, JANICE, THIS LAST QUESTION WOULD BE FOR YOU, BUT IS THERE IS THERE A MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE WITH ANY FUTURE LEADERS THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS RIGHT NOW?

I'D SAY MY HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, OR THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE INSPIRED TO BE A LEADER IN WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO DO, AND THUS INSPIRING MORE INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME GREAT NATIVE LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, THAT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION.

WELL, THE ISSUE OF GOVERNMENTS RECOGNIZING THEIR SOVEREIGNTY HAS LONG BEEN A PROBLEM FOR NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

AND IT TURNS OUT IN THE STATE OF MAINE AS WELL.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL TO THE PINE TREE STATE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AN ART EXHIBIT DEDICATED TO THAT STRUGGLE, COURTESY OF OUR FRIENDS AT MAINE PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THE EXHIBIT TELLS A STORY THROUGH ART, THROUGH BASKETRY.

THE TITLE OF THE EXHIBIT IS AFTER MY BOOK, IN THE SHADOW OF THE EAGLE, THAT I WROTE WHEN I WAS A TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PENOBSCOT NATION IN THE MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE.

DURING THAT TIME, I WAS ABLE TO GET A FIRST HAND VIEW OF THE TRIBAL STATE RELATIONS.

THEY DIDN'T SEE THE SOVEREIGNTY.

THEY NEVER DID, EVEN FROM THE THE FIRST TREATY, 1818 TREATY.

THEY CAME TO THAT TREATY SAYING, THIS IS REALLY A DOCUMENT OF SURRENDER FOR THE PENOBSCOT.

AND THE PENOBSCOT CAME TO THE TABLE THINKING, THIS IS A WAY TO PRESERVE OUR TRUST LANDS AND OUR SOVEREIGNTY.

SO THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND REALLY, IT SET US ON A COURSE OF LITIGATION FOR THE NEXT COUPLE HUNDRED YEARS.

AND THE SYMBOLISM OF THE EAGLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL, BECAUSE TO THE WABANAKI, THE EAGLE REPRESENTS A SACRED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS, BETWEEN US AND THE SPIRIT, OUR CREATOR.

THEY SEE US THROUGH THE EYES OF THE EAGLE, AND THE EAGLE APPEARS AT CERTAIN TIMES WHEN WE REALLY ARE LOOKING FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE.

SO THE EAGLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN OUR LIVES, AND THE MEANING THAT IT HAS FOR US IS NOT THE SAME MEANING THAT IT HAS FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

TO THEM, THE EAGLE IS A SYMBOL OF POWER AND CONTROL, AND IT'S A MAJESTIC BIRD.

IT'S A BIRD OF PREY, A TOTALLY DIFFERENT VISION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, MAINE TRIBES, WABANAKI PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS PUSHED IN COURT IN ANYWHERE ELSE THEY COULD FOR THE STATE TO RECOGNIZE OUR SOVEREIGNTY.

BUT I THINK THE ABBEY HAS A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE OF HELPING TO AMPLIFY WABANAKI VOICES.

SO THINKING ABOUT THE ARTS AND CULTURES OF THESE COMMUNITIES, BOTH IN THE PAST AND PRESENT, I THINK IT'S JUST A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF MAINE'S STORY, THE NORTHEASTERN STORY, AND ALSO THE STORY OF WHAT'S NOW THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

STORIES ARE IMPORTANT, AND I DON'T CARE HOW YOU TELL YOUR STORIES, WHETHER IT'S IN A BOOK, WHETHER IT'S ON TV, IN THE NEWSPAPER, ON THE RADIO, STORIES ARE IMPORTANT.

AND THIS IS ONE ASPECT OF IN ONE WAY OF TELLING OUR STORY.

OUR STORY IS MORE COMPLICATED, AND THE STORY OF THIS PLACE IS MUCH OLDER THAN THE FORMATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND THAT HOW WABANAKI PEOPLE SEE THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ALWAYS NEGATIVE, NOT ALWAYS POSITIVE, BUT IS A SUBTLE STORY, A POWERFUL STORY ABOUT THEIR OWN PERSISTENCE, RESILIENCE, AND THAT THEY'RE STILL HERE AND THEY WILL STILL BE HERE.

I HOPE PEOPLE WALK AWAY WITH A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF WHO WABANAKI PEOPLE ARE, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE STILL HERE AND WE'VE LIVED HERE THROUGH THIS, THESE CENTURIES OF OF ATTEMPTING TO ERASE US.

AND IT'S REALLY A MIRACLE THERE WAS STILL HERE.

IT IS UP TO US TO OVERCOME OUR INVISIBILITY.

IT IS UP TO US TO USE OUR VOICES TO TELL OUR STORIES.

IT IS UP TO US TO RISE FROM THE ASHES OF GENOCIDE AND PROCLAIM THAT WE ARE STILL HERE.

IT IS UP TO US.

SO WE WILL TELL OUR OWN STORY WITH OUR OWN VOICE, SO YOU CAN HEAR US, SO WE CAN SHINE A LIGHT ON THOSE DARK DEEDS THAT WERE DONE TO US.

IT IS UP TO US TO TELL OUR OWN STORY, NOT TO CHANGE HISTORY, BUT TO BE SEEN AND HEARD.

IT IS UP TO US TO SET OUR GOALS, TO ENLIGHTEN OTHERS.

IT IS UP TO US TO TELL OUR HISTORIC TRUTH.

IF THIS RESULTS IN CHANGE OF ANY KIND, IT WILL BE MORE THAN WE HAVE HOPED FOR.

IT IS UP TO US.

THE POEM SAYS IT ALL.

YOU KNOW.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO TELL OUR STORIES.

HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE STORIES AND LEARN SOMETHING.

AND I HAVE THIS SAYING IT'S CALLED COMMUNICATION.

AND EDUCATION EQUALS UNDERSTANDING.

NOW, WE MAY NOT ALL AGREE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

ONCE CONSIDERED WHITE ELEPHANTS, LARGE SHOPPING MALLS ARE ENJOYING A RESURGENCE IN POPULARITY.

WHAT'S BEHIND THE RETURN OF CONSUMERS TO MALLS LIKE PENN SQUARE?

STEVE SHAW REPORTS FRIDAY AT SEVEN, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE RECENT DEDICATION OF THE CLARA LUPER STITT MEMORIAL IN OKLAHOMA CITY, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA JASON STEWART AND CASEY FERGUSON.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, OETA TV.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO WATCH ANY OF THE REPORTS IN THIS NEWSCAST AGAIN, THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL BY MONDAY EVENING.

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK, I'M RICH.

LENZ HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

I TOLD OUR KIDS, WE'RE GOING TO PRACTICE NONVIOLENCE BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT.

WE'RE GOING, WE ARE GOING TO PRACTICE SOMETHING THAT'S AS OLD AS TIME ITSELF AND AS FRESH AS TODAY'S NEWSPAPER.

THE GROUP MET AT MY HOUSE ON A HOT AUGUST DAY, AND ON THAT DAY MY DAUGHTER MERLYN SAID, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S GO DOWN TO CAT STROKE STORE AND TAKE US A SEAT, BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY DON'T SEE US.

AND THAT WAS ONE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD.

YOU SEE, I BELIEVE THAT WHITE OKLAHOMA HAD NEVER SEEN US.

THEY HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT US.

YOU GO DOWN THERE, YOU'RE WHITE, YOU GO DOWNTOWN, YOU WANT TO EAT, YOU SIT DOWN AND EAT AND YOU SCHOOL.

YOU NEVER THINK ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THOSE PRIVILEGES.

AND I SAY, DO Y'ALL REALLY WANT TO DO IT?

HE SAID, YES.

HE SAID, OKAY, YOU HAVE MY APPROVAL.

IT WAS OVER TO 19, 1958, AND WE WENT TO KATZ DRUGSTORE.

VERY VERSATILE DRUGSTORE.

YOU COULD BUY SHOES AND YOU COULD GET YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED.

YOU COULD BUY ANYTHING.

AND THEN THEY HAD A LITTLE COUNTER THERE, BUT YOU COULDN'T EAT.

AND WHAT KIND OF SENSE DOES THIS MAKE?

SO I FELT WHEN I WALKED IN KATZ DRUGSTORE, THAT I HAD AS MUCH RIGHT IN THAT STORE AS ANY OTHER PERSON.

HI, MY NAME IS JENNIFER MULLINS.

I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS HERE AT OETA, AND THE GENTLEMAN WITH ME NEEDS NO