Author: Vivian Morris

Vivian Morris // vmorris@okpolicy.org

Vivian Morris joined OK Policy as the Tribal-State Policy Analyst in August 2021. She is Alabama (federally recognized as Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town), Mvskoke-Seminole, and Diné (Navajo). Raised in rural Oklahoma, she describes herself as a nomadic Este-cate (Mvskoke-Seminole for Native/Indigenous). She completed her Master of Public Administration degree with a Public Policy concentration from the University of Oklahoma in May 2022 and holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Women and Gender Studies and Environmental Studies, with a minor in Native American Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Vivian was a member of the 2022 AICCO Leadership Native Oklahoma class, recipient of the 2022 OU-WGS Alice Mary Robertson award, and Metriarch’s 2023 Breakthrough Maven award. In her free time you will likely hear her elongating her As and Es with good company, around a fire, or both. Contact Vivian

Recent Articles

The 2023 legislative session included significant tribal-state bills and a respect for tribal sovereignty from state lawmakers

By: Vivian Morris
November 21, 2023 // Updated: November 22, 2023
Oklahoma has the second-highest share of tribal citizens of any state, which helps shape the fabric of our state’s culture and communities. This year, the Oklahoma legislature demonstrated this influence by including and valuing Native Oklahomans and tribal leaders in… Read more [More...]

No more delayed justice, HB 1077 is good tribal-state policy

By: Vivian Morris
May 1, 2023 // Updated: May 15, 2023
Across the United States, justice has lagged and gaps in response to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/People (MMIW/P) persist as a result of a legacy of institutionalized disregard for Indigenous lives. In 2018, Oklahoma was among the top 10 states… Read more [More...]

Medicaid expansion improved access to care for Indigenous Oklahomans

By: Vivian Morris
December 1, 2022 // Updated: December 1, 2022
Leading up to when Oklahoma expanded Medicaid coverage, Oklahoma had a large uninsured population of American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). But as a consequence of Medicaid expansion and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s (OHCA) inclusion of — and consultation… Read more [More...]

Tribal-state coordination to prioritize Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare is one way to improve child well-being

By: Vivian Morris
June 28, 2022 // Updated: June 28, 2022
Note: References to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in this article will focus on the federal laws, unless otherwise specifically referencing Oklahoma’s state laws related to the Indian Child Welfare Act. — As a state with a high population… Read more [More...]

Tribal health systems need more resources to fight public health emergencies, but there are still long-standing barriers that need to be addressed

By: Vivian Morris
April 7, 2022 // Updated: April 8, 2022
Tribal health’s innovation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic benefitted all Oklahomans, yet tribal citizens experienced disproportionate hardships. These disparities should be addressed through better resources, data collection, and addressing long-standing discrimination and underinvestment. [More...]

Oklahoma Policy Institute now includes tribal-state policy advocacy

By: Vivian Morris
February 1, 2022 // Updated: January 31, 2022
OK Policy’s newly created Tribal-State Policy Analyst role will be pivotal in providing research and analysis on tribal priorities within a state policy context. [More...]