On May 5, the Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) held the second OML Tribal Municipal Symposium at Lawton City Hall. The first forum was held in January which was brought about by Mayor Stan Booker.
The topic for the second forum was Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform where tribal and municipal leaders from across the state discussed collaborative efforts for community safety, health & welfare of shared citizenry & residents, and victim services. The goal of the symposium is to combine resources and ideas to build our communities together and strengthen our relationships with one another.
The event started with the opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance done in the Comanche language. The agenda included different panels to discuss public safety, mental health, cross deputization, influences on our youth, and a presentation from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Organization (MMIW)(MMIP).
Speakers at the event included:
- Brandon Berryhill, Chief of Police, Broken Arrow, Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation
- Dr. Kathleen Elliott, OML Tribal-Municipal Affairs Specialist, Citizen of Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Daniel McClure, OML General Counsel, Citizen of the Choctaw Nation
- Arvo Mikkanen, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Senior Counsel for Tribal Relations, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Oklahoma, Kiowa/Comanche and an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe
- Daniel Wind, Deputy Chief, Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse
- Mark E. Woommavovah, Comanche Nation Chairman
Each panel had a Q&A section to collaborate solutions and share knowledge.
With many tribal and municipal leaders in attendance, attendees were encouraged to sit next to someone they have not met yet to build relationships and forge bonds.
Original source can be found here.
