Muscogee Creek Nation Inaugurates New Principal Chief

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has inaugurated a new elected principal chief and other recently elected tribal officials.

New Principal Chief James Floyd replaces George Tiger and was sworn in Saturday during the ceremony in Okmulgee with Second Chief Louis Hicks, who was re-elected during the Sept. 19 tribal general election.

Also sworn in were the 16 members of the Nineteenth Session of the Muscogee (Creek) National Council. The session members elected Rep. Lucian Tiger as speaker and Rep. David Hill as second speaker.

The new leaders of the Muscogee Creek Nation say their administration is about progress and preservation. As for the multi-million-dollar projects underway, they say they're still full-speed ahead.

Thousands of Creek citizens watched and celebrated as the nation swore in its new principal chief on Saturday.

In November, Floyd was elected by a landslide -- over incumbent George Tiger with more than 62 percent of the vote.

Tribe members say the new leadership is a breath of fresh air.

"It signifies a new beginning,” Ed Bear said. “A new beginning for the future of the Creek Nation."

Susan Anderson added, "This is like a new era for the Creek people. We are so proud of our new chief, who has not only mobilized all of our community and citizens together, but he's breathed new life into our whole nation."

Floyd outlined his priorities for the new administration in his inauguration speech: Housing for Creek citizens, caring for tribe elders and making money.

The tribe expects to open its 27-floor Margaritaville hotel and casino by the end of this year -- a $365 million project.

And its $22 million plan to revitalize the Jenks Riverwalk with a golf-themed entertainment complex is on schedule to wrap up early this year.

The tribe is also building two new health care facilities and remodeling another.

"We have already begun having regular project meetings so that we can stay on top of those that we have throughout the nation,” Floyd said.

Most tribe members seem to be on board with these ventures. In fact, they're hoping the Creek Nation will invest in even more.

"I think if you buy property, you need to put it to use, and you need to make profit from it,” Bear said.

"We have a lot of amazing enterprises right now in the Creek Nation, so I think he'll even take us into a greater, next step with all of that,” Anderson said.

The principal chief and his second chief say they'll announce their cabinet members first thing on Monday morning.