Richard Ray Whitman joins us in the Pod Cave to tell the story of how a chance encounter with a LIFE Magazine cover led to a career in fine art, photography, poetry and acting. Whitman, a Yuchi-Muscogee, describes his journey from the tiny community of Gypsy, Oklahoma to a life of world-wide acclaim as a multidisciplinary visual artist. An eclectic life story told in this "Conversation from our Reservation!"

In this episode we discuss the unique dichotomy of spiritual life in Muscogee culture between traditional and ceremonial practices and Christianity and Muscogee churches. We talk with Rev. Chebon Kernell, a clergy and representative of the Native American Comprehensive Plan of The United Methodist Church, who is also an active member of Helvpe Ceremonial Ground, about the existence of the two ways of life and how they have shaped the culture of Muscogees today. It's a "Conversation From our Reservation" many years in the making, and it's only on The Muscogee Pod!

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The Rev. Kernell, an ordained Elder in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, is formerly the executive secretary of Native American and Indigenous Ministries for the denomination’s General Board of Global Ministries. In this role, he has worked with the World Council of Churches, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops assisting in a denominationally mandated effort to improve relationships with Indigenous communities through dialogue, study and local or regional acts of repentance acknowledging harms inflicted upon Indigenous communities.

He is a citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and is of Muscogee heritage.  In 2016 he was honored by receiving the Religious Literacy Award sponsored by the Westar Institute for, "his tireless efforts to educate the general public, including not only mainstream American Christians but also native peoples themselves, about the ‘deep and broad religious riches’ of Indigenous peoples in the context of reconciliation work and the recovery of native practices.“ 

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Oklahoma City University and a Master of Divinity from Phillips Theological Seminary.  He is a cultural practitioner and member of the Helvpe Ceremonial grounds.  He has been married to Sara for 18 years and has five children: Kaycee, Josiah, Raylen, and Solomon and niece Cali.

Among is many achievements, Chebon has also contributed to Steven Charleston's book, "Coming Full Circle: Constructing Native Christian Theology." You can purchase it here:  https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Full-Circle-Constructing-Christian/dp/1451487983/ref=asc_df_1451487983/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312009828129&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17936700929564702722&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026617&hvtargid=pla-523229888760&psc=1

The Native American Comprehensive Plan serves as the United Methodist entity that resources, strengthens and advocates for the local church in Native American communities. Find their website here: www.nacp-umc.org

It's TVLSE TIME on the Muscogee Pod! In Episode 2 of our Storyteller Series, we are joined by associate professor at the University of Alberta Dr. Russell Cobb. Cobb discusses his upbringing in Tulsa and how he uncovered the true history of the "Oil Capital of the World." We talk Tulsa's origins, land swindles, the struggle to tell Oklahoma's true history and how a Creek Town became an Oil Town in this "Conversation from our Reservation!"

More from Russell Cobb:

The Great Oklahoma Swindle: Race, Religion, and Lies in America's Weirdest State

In The Great Oklahoma Swindle Russell Cobb tells the story of a state rich in natural resources and artistic talent, yet near the bottom in education and social welfare. Raised in Tulsa, Cobb engages Oklahomans across race and class to elucidate their contradictory and often stridently independent attitudes. Interweaving memoir, social commentary, and sometimes surprising research around race, religion, and politics, Cobb presents an insightful portrait that will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about the American Heartland. 

Purchase HERE.

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History X: What they didn't teach you in school. 

History X amplifies true stories from history that have been repressed, suppressed, or simply forgotten. Host Russell Cobb discusses how our understanding of history is shifting in popular culture and what to make of the falling statues and renaming of places. History X explores the forgotten corners of dusty archives and talks to people with intimate knowledge of events outside the mainstream.

Listen HERE.

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“The Ghosts of Creek County: Revisiting Oil and Indigenous Sovereignty” 

This story concerns the legalized theft and swindles of land allotments granted to citizens of the Five Tribes. This presentation will examine two cases that exemplify the crosscurrents of Indigenous sovereignty, oil production, and cultural relations between American Indians, African Americans, and white settlers between 1907 and 1922. Speaker Russell Cobb will tell the stories of two Muscogee (Creek) women: Millie Neharkey and Minnie Atkins.

Watch HERE.

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Keep an eye out for Russell's new book "The Ghosts of Crook County: Bloodlines and Pipelines in Indian Country" coming in 2023!

Find Russell on Twitter @RussellSCobb!

Find out more about the Council Oak tree, dubbed "Tulsa's first city hall," and Council Oak Park HERE.