INTER-TRIBAL COUNCIL OF THE
FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES
CHEROKEE - CHICKASAW - CHOCTAW - CREEK - SEMINOLE

Leaders of the Five Tribes issue statement to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt declining participation in the One Oklahoma Task Force

Leaders of The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes on Jan. 9
submitted a formal notice to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt officially opposing the governor's task force on McGirt as outlined recently in his Executive Order 2023-32. The Five Tribes cannot participate in an effort that spreads falsehoods about the law, attempts to minimize tribal voices, and engages in political attacks instead of constructive government-to-government dialogue.

The Five Tribes - governments of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole Nations - have long been dedicated to advancing public safety for tribal citizens and all fellow Oklahomans. The tribes welcome opportunities to collaborate with state, federal, local and tribal governments toward this goal and have a long track record of doing so, both before and after the McGirt v Oklahoma decision. Our notice to Gov. Stitt clarifies once again that McGirt v Oklahoma was, at its core, a pro-public-safety ruling that restored tribal jurisdiction the state had illegally usurped for well over a century. Despite the Governor's Executive Order language which suggested the decision caused uncertainty, the McGirt decision finally restored legitimate legal jurisdiction under clear federal laws and the U.S. Constitution. Tribal nations have been empowered to enforce the law and deliver justice for victims.

When we have a willing partner at the State of Oklahoma, we are fully prepared to move forward, and we are eager to work with our friends and neighbors to improve coordination in public safety efforts.
#McGirt #Native #Indigenous #FiveTribes #IndianTerritory #Oklahoma

@Yehuda
4/
Stitt has consistently railed against the McGirt decision, which greatly expanded tribal jurisdiction in Oklahoma, particularly in eastern Oklahoma. Friday’s executive order says McGirt created a “broken system” and “continues to wreak havoc” with a “lack of jurisdictional clarity, which to date has crippled the state’s ability to resolve issues and continues to negatively impact crime victims, state and tribal law enforcement officials, and all Oklahomans.”

Others contend that the problems could be resolved if Stitt and other officials would accept the ruling and work toward agreement on how to proceed.

In that vein, Cherokee Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. responded to the executive order with both encouragement and criticism.

The “Cherokee Nation, in general, welcomes Gov. Stitt to join those of us who have continued to be engaged in collaborative problem solving since the U.S. Supreme Court issued the McGirt decision,” Hoskin said in a written statement. “Cherokee Nation has, since McGirt, maintained our 90 cross deputization agreements, negotiated 30 new ticket revenue sharing agreements, and provided grants of more than $13 million to our law enforcement and public safety partners. If the Governor is genuinely interested in following our lead, that would be a welcomed development.”

But Hoskin said he found Stitt’s language “troubling” and said it “suggests he is more interested in peddling a false narrative than seriously working together in the interest of public safety.”

https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/gov-stitt-announces-mcgirt-task-force/article_e90f0768-a110-11ee-9eb3-f3978bc998d0.html

#McGirt #Lighthorse #Cherokee #Mvskoke #Native #Indigenous

@Yehuda
3/
Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill

My statement in response to the Executive Order by Governor Stitt calling for a task force to examine the “impact” of tribal jurisdiction.

We welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with Governor Stitt. In fact, we’ve been asking for that for over three years. Given the failure of the Governors first taskforce, we’d like to offer some suggestions to make this one serious and substantial:

· Focus on promoting cooperation, not enflaming division.

· Engage tribes honestly. There are 39 unique tribes in Oklahoma, not just two. Eleven state agencies will be represented to speak for themselves. Tribes should be afforded the same opportunity.

· Focus on requiring state and local agencies to follow the law.

We believe that if he does these simple things, he will find that there is no crisis of law or “patchwork” gaps to solve--only a crisis of political will being fueled by the Governor’s own political campaign to have fewer police, fewer courts and fewer prosecutions by overturning tribal jurisdiction.

I remain steadfast and as resolved as ever to stand up against any threat to tribal sovereignty!

#McGirt #Lighthorse #Mvskoke #Native #Indigenous