Tribal controversy brewing in Oklahoma

A message to members of the United Kee-too-wah Band of Cherokee Indians put out on Friday by Chief Jeff Wacoche.

The United Keetoowah Band or “UKB” is a federally recognized tribe of Cherokee Native Americans based in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Wacoche’s message says the Cherokee Nation and U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin have proposed appropriations language that would terminate the UKB’s rights to trust lands  within the Cherokee Reservation.  He called it a “deliberate, targeted act of tribal termination.

He wrote in his message:

“Access to trust land is not merely a legal issue; it is the cornerstone of our economic empowerment. It means our ability to build homes, foster businesses, and create opportunities for our members. It means the freedom to honor our traditions and invest in our future.

“Claims that this provision is necessary to “protect the integrity of the reservation” or “avoid confusion in jurisdiction” are thinly veiled attempts to consolidate power while undermining our sovereignty. The UKB’s pursuit of economic development has never threatened the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma — indeed, both tribes are stronger when all Cherokee people can prosper.

“This maneuver does not serve the broader Cherokee people, it divides us. It is an attempt to achieve through legislation what could not be justified in the courts, through regular order of Congress or the Executive Branch. The UKB will not stand idly while our rights are threatened. We will defend our sovereignty, our land, and our future.

“We will defend our sovereignty, our land, and our future —and we need you to act. I urge every Member to see this provision for what it is: an attack on the sovereignty and future of our tribe.”

Wacoche called for UKB members to send letters to Mullin and the Cherokee Nation.