Conclusion

FIG. 16.18

One Daughter of the Earth

by Sharron Ahtone Harjo

One Daughter of the Earth by Sharron Ahtone Harjo. The Oklahoma Historical Society commissioned this mural by the artist in 1985. “I am reflecting my environment, traditional and symbolic nature of my heritage, and concerns of past, present and future,” Harjo said about the mural. “I feel this piece of work is a statement of our time and could also make an additional statement to generations to come.”

Courtesy Oklahoma Judicial Center, Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Early twenty-first-century Oklahoma has experienced many changes and challenges. Indigenous contributions to the state’s economy and culture continue to grow. The population and the economy continue to diversify. The artistic contributions of the state have received national and international recognition. However, public health challenges, including alcohol and drug addiction, reproductive health restrictions, and COVID-19, have put significant strains on Oklahomans. Many Oklahomans are dealing with new or growing political and social divisions. Debates over teacher pay and school curriculum have played a major role in recent state and local elections. One of the most significant changes in recent history has come with the historic 2020 McGirt decision handed down by the Supreme Court. The decision marked a major victory for tribal sovereignty. Critics, including Governor Kevin Stitt (an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation), have expressed concern that the ruling will complicate law enforcement efforts in the state. While it is not yet clear how exactly the McGirt decision might reshape criminal justice in Oklahoma, it is important for other reasons. We began this book with a discussion of the first inhabitants of the land that became Oklahoma. And we end this book with the recognition that whatever the future holds for Oklahoma, it will remain closely tied to its rich Indigenous culture.