For Immediate Release July 8, 2025
Media Contact: Jason Salsman | (539) 286-4559
OKMULGEE, OK — The Muscogee Nation commemorated the fifth anniversary of the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma decision today with a Sovereignty Day celebration at the College of the Muscogee Nation’s STEM Building Lecture Hall. The event brought together tribal leadership, citizens, and special guests to honor the ruling that reaffirmed the Nation’s reservation boundaries and strengthened the legal foundation of tribal sovereignty across Indian Country.
Principal Chief David W. Hill reflected on the significance of the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision and its lasting impact on tribal self-determination.
“McGirt didn’t give us sovereignty—it confirmed what our ancestors, our leaders, and our people have always known,” said Chief Hill. “We’ve governed ourselves, served our citizens, and protected our lands long before any courtroom acknowledged it.”
The program included a panel discussion titled ‘Sovereignty in Action,’ which highlighted how departments across the Nation are putting sovereignty into practice through justice, health care, language preservation, and economic development. The event also featured remarks from Riyaz Kanji, lead counsel in the McGirt case.
“When we argued the case, it really wasn’t that hard,” Kanji said. “All we did was tell the truth about what the Nation was already doing—governing its people, protecting its lands, delivering services, and honoring its treaties. The facts spoke for themselves.”
As part of the commemoration, the Muscogee Nation sealed a time capsule containing items contributed by departments across the Nation—photographs, letters, artwork, and program materials —all representing the work being done today to protect and advance sovereignty. The capsule will remain on display in the new Citizen Services Building until it is opened in 2050 on the 30th anniversary of the McGirt ruling.
Today’s event amplified the Muscogee Nation’s ongoing commitment to protecting its sovereignty and shaping a strong future for generations to come.
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