Native Opinion Episode “EPISODE 86 THE STRUGGLE IS REAL. Just Wait!” How to Reach our show: hosts@nativeopinion.com Twitter: @nativeopinion Facebook:facebook.com/nativeopinionpodcast/ Webpage: nativeopinion.com Youtube: https://www.Youtube.com/c/NativeOpinion Leave us a voicemail: Call us! (860) 381-0207   Our Guest this episode is Marilyn Vann, President of the Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes Association. And President of African Indians of the 5 Civilized Tribes Foundation 10 2016 Marilyn serves as President and a director of the Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes Association, a non-profit corporation which educates the public on the history, culture, and political rights of the African Indian peoples of the 5 Nations (formerly known as the Five Civilized Tribes) whose ancestors were enrolled as “freedmen” tribal members by the US government Dawes Commission approximately 100 years ago. Marilyn is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. She is a descendant of Joseph Vann and Rider Fields, who were native Cherokee citizens by blood who immigrated to what is now Eastern Oklahoma prior to 1840.  Her father, a member of the Cherokee nation was born in what is now Nowata County and was listed on the Dawes “Final Rolls” of Cherokee citizens, the base tribal rolls prepared and recognized by the United States government and the Cherokee nation at the term of the 20th century. Marilyn Vann graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering with Distinction. She is the first known Female having African Descent to graduate from that discipline at the University of Oklahoma. After two years of employment with Exxon Mobil as an engineer, she was employed as a Federal Government Treasury Department engineer for 32 years in Oklahoma City before retirement. This employment included 8 years as a team leader with short-term management assignments. As a nonprofit board member, Marilyn has organized fundraisers and educational workshops on tribal history and genealogy. She organizes educational meetings throughout Eastern Oklahoma pertaining to tribal issues. To Learn More: Descendants of Freedmen website: www.freedmen5tribes.com Freedmen of the Five Tribes Facebook page Email: mkvann@gmail.com Phone: 405-227-9810     ARTICLE 1: TITLE: Governor signs Native regalia bill AUTHOR: Associated Press Published: 21 April 2017 SOURCE: https://www.nativetimes.com/current-news/14517-governor-signs-native-regalia-bill   ARTICLE 2: TITLE: Genetic Continuity Study Backs Up Oral Histories AUTHOR: Alexander Ewen DATE: April 25, 2017 SOURCE: https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/history/traditional-societies/genetic-continuity-study-backs-oral-histories/   MUSIC BREAK… ARTIST: KOMPLEX KAI TRACK PLAYED: Rise Up ARTISTS WEBSITE: http://www.komplexkai.com   ARTICLE 3: TITLE: President Trump promises 'freedom' for tribes seeking to exploit their resources DATE: Thursday, June 29, 2017 SOURCE: https://www.indianz.com/News/2017/06/29/president-trump-promises-freedom-for-tri.asp