Tribal Leaders Hold Discussion About Supreme Court Jurisdiction Ruling

Leaders of the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations shared what’s next for the tribes and the state, six months after the Supreme Court’s ruling on tribal jurisdiction.

The tribes held a virtual discussion on the issue Thursday.

Oklahoma tribal leaders said there's a battle with big businesses to take away tribal sovereignty. They said the best option is to start legal compacts with the state.

In a virtual roundtable, tribal leaders from the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations said they have a common goal: to protect last year's historic win for tribal sovereignty.

"It does create some jurisdictional challenges," Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Hoskin Jr. said in Thursday's roundtable. 

Hoskin and Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said the oil and gas industry have been pushing against the ruling. The said the solution is to make compacts with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.

"Compacting around McGirt will be a great test of Governor Stitt's leadership and there's other leaders in the state that are encouraging him to approach this in a cooperative manner," Hoskin said. 

"Typically, we have made it to where they are win-win situations, and we expect the same thing with compacts on criminal jurisdiction," Anoatubby said. 

Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill weighed in, and said they need to fight for a stronger justice system, which can only be done by compacts. 

"We need to find a better jurisdictional system that makes better sense. I think the question is, do we have to live with this? Is this the way it has to be? We have to live with this complicated and outvoted scheme and our tribal leaders are saying 'no, there is a better path forward.'" Hill said. 

Cherokee leaders are planning to spend $35 million of the tribe's money each year to hire more Cherokee Nation Marshals, add legal staff, and improve their courts. 

"If it means us making some difficult decisions about our own budget, we will do it," Hoskin said. Meanwhile, Chickasaw Nation's senior counsel attorney Stephen Greetham their tribe's current focus is to help at-risk citizens.

"Instead of focusing on sentencing, how can we help people avoid some of the root causes that lead to criminal behavior - mental health and addiction issues," said Greetham. 

The tribes also answered questions on what they will do once a new president and administration take office in D.C. Hoskin said they plan on working with the government on funding and McGirt.

"Even with a new administration, our mission is the same; which is to protect tribal sovereignty and look for opportunities to work cooperatively," Hoskin said.

"When an administration changes, we have to familiarize them with us. It's a process, and we need to share with them our issues are," Anoatubby said. "We will do our best to educate and urge action to be taken."