Muscogee Nation Issues Official Rejection to Participate in Governor's Task Force on Tribal Jurisdiction

January 8, 2024

“As a matter of principle, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation welcomes any opportunity for collaboration to improve the public safety for all Oklahomans.

Unfortunately, the Governor’s taskforce on McGirt is based on a false premise and seeks misguided political objectives through a structure intended to divide rather than unify. This task force cannot adequately serve the public good unless these flaws are corrected.

We cannot participate in any endeavor aimed at weakening tribal nations and, by extension, harming public safety.

At its core, the McGirt decision is a pro-public safety ruling. By restoring tribal jurisdiction that the State had illegally usurped for decades, the decision has meant more police, prosecutors, and courts to enforce the law and deliver justice to victims.

Adding more public safety resources through tribal jurisdiction did not create “uncertainty” or a patchwork solution.

The laws on how tribal jurisdiction can work collaboratively with Oklahoma’s other agencies are crystal clear. Unfortunately, rather than focus on how to incorporate tribal authority to benefit the public, the State has wasted far too much time and energy finding ways to evade, reject, or minimize the positive impact of tribal jurisdiction. This taskforce is just the latest example of that.”