OKMULGEE – The application for a new $500 grant to support classroom and educational activities throughout the Mvskoke Reservation is now available for eligible teachers through July 31, 2025, via the Muscogee (Creek) National Council website.
MCN citizens who are certified teachers for grades K-12 in public schools within reservation boundaries are eligible to apply. Those with an emergency certification and technical degree that meet all other requirements are eligible as well.
National Council Representative Dode Barnett appeared on Mvskoke Media’s Live Wire to discuss the grant and application process.
Rep. Barnett explained that while structuring the grant it came to light that demographics for Native teachers are not currently available from the Oklahoma State Department of Education. That led to the inclusion of demographic information in the application.
“That demographic information on the application process will also help better inform our education department on how many teachers we have on the reservation, what they teach, what grades they teach, where they teach on the reservation. So, I’m really excited to see the applications,” said Barnett
In addition to the completed application a copy of the MCN citizenship card, teacher certification, and verification provided by a school official’s signature/seal/stamp must be submitted by the deadline. A budget narrative is also required. All receipts must be turned in within sixty days of expenditure to maintain eligibility for the next school year.
The turnaround time for funding is dependent upon the amount of approved applications received but the goal is to get the funds to teachers by mid-August.
Detailing the process Barnett stated, “At the end of business, July 31st the application will be closed. All of those applications will be reviewed by the Health Education and Welfare committee. All of the ones that get approved will be sent to the controllers office. The controllers office will then run a batch of checks and based on the information given then those checks will go out at that point. So we’re hoping it’ll only be maybe about the middle of August.”
The application and further information is available on the National Council site. Completed applications and supporting documentation need be emailed to OfficeofNC@muscogeenation.com by close of business Thursday, July 31. Questions should be directed to the Office of the National Council at 918-758-1410.
