Tribes hope Gov. Stitt's reelection will thaw relations
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Oklahoma’s Native American tribes reacted to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s reelection Tuesday with unease.
Gov. Stitt’s relations with Native tribes have been frosty at best. Many feel he doesn’t want to have relations with them, but their message to the governor is clear: all he has to do to gain their support is talk with them.
Margo Gray, chairwoman of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, said it’s important to remember Native tribes are self-governing.
“And when you take the two sovereigns, the tribes and the state,” she said, “it just works better when they work together.”
But that hasn’t happened yet. Gray said Stitt has served his entire four-year term without meeting with tribal officials.
Gray said Stitt’s lack of communication was the biggest reason the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole) took the unprecedented step of endorsing his opponent, Joy Hofmeister.
“She was open in the way that she communicated,” Gray explained. “I like that. I have never met Governor Stitt. I’ve never had a conversation with him.”
Chief Gary Batton of the Choctaw Nation released a statement Tuesday night, saying, “We hope Gov. Stitt’s second term will be marked by an understanding of the economic, cultural, and social benefits tribes provide to our state, and that he will agree to work with us on issues affecting all residents.”
So far, Gray said Stitt has only worked through the courts. She said he’s been using cases like McGirt v. Oklahoma to chip away at the tribes’ ability to govern themselves.
“Let’s talk about these issues that need to be discussed instead of litigating it,” she said. “It takes taxpayers’ money if he keeps going to court because he doesn’t like something. Go to the table, work it out at the table.”
Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. of the Cherokee Nation released a statement Wednesday echoing much of the same.
“Oklahoma tribal leaders have made it clear,” it reads, “that we want to have a less adversarial, and more collaborative relationship with our state government.
“We hope that now that the election is over,” it continues, “Governor Stitt will take a genuine interest in working with – not against – tribal governments. Oklahoma’s tribes remain united like never before to continue the fight to preserve our sovereignty from the attacks we have seen over the past four years. Though tonight’s election results are not what I hoped for, tribes have sent a clear message that politicians who attack tribal sovereignty will face fierce and determined opposition. Leaders can always choose a different path and seek common ground. It is incumbent upon all leaders in this state, including tribal leaders, to seek common ground where we can,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. in a press release.
The Muscogee Nation also sent NewsChannel 8 a statement on Wednesday.
“It took more than $10 million for the Republican governor to win reelection in solidly red Oklahoma," the statement reads.
“Citizens all across this state have sent a clear signal,” it continues, “that they value the cultural and economic contributions made by tribal governments. We hope Governor Stitt is ready to set the politics of the past aside and start working together.”
Gray said this somewhat forceful language may be necessary going forward.
“If the governor’s words will ring true from the debate where he said he’s ready to talk to the tribes, I think that we’re gonna have to hold him to that," she said. "You can’t just summon someone and say, ‘Oh, you need to be there at 10 o’clock in the morning.’ It’s more than that.”
Gray added that Gov. Stitt’s tribal relations may be strained, but it’s not too early to write them off.
“Let’s hit the reset button,” she said. “Let’s see how we can work together. We’re better together than we are on opposite sides. You never want to pit Oklahomans against Oklahomans. No one will win.”