OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and some of his most vocal opponents appeared eager to bury the hatchet and achieve change on numerous topics during the governor’s second term that stated Monday.
Well over a dozen tribal leaders from across the state, some of whom openly endorsed and funded Stitt’s Democratic opponent last fell, were on the stage Monday. Multiple tribal leaders told FOX23 they were on that stage as a way to “extend an olive branch.”
“I called the leaders of each of the 39 tribes, invited them to the ceremony, and I said to each of them, ‘Let’ work together now,’” Stitt said.
The last four years have seen very public feuding over the tribal gaming compact, criminal justice issues, tribal sovereignty over their lands and hunting and fishing licenses.
“This is the first day of the next four years,” Stitt said Monday night at his inaugural ball in Oklahoma City. “What happened in the past, let’s put it in the past. This is a bright new day for Oklahoma.”
Not only were numerous tribal leaders at the ceremony, some also attended Stitt’s inaugural ball in Oklahoma City after the ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the governor’s second term.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. attended the ceremony and said it was a show that this term is a brand new one. He also said the two sides need to work together.
“We always begin a new term of office with open optimism, and that’s what I brought in today,” Hoskin said being on stage on behalf of the Cherokee Nation.
Hoskin said the governor’s second inaugural speech was hopeful in tone. Over the past year, some tribal members felt the governor openly attacked tribal sovereignty from the podium in many speeches, but not only were the tribal nations recognized, there were no words about or even indicating the fighting will continue as it has been since Stitt, a Cherokee citizen himself, first took office.
The modern-day descendants of the Five Civilized Tribes openly endorsed former State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister (D) in the last election in attempt to deny Stitt a second term. Some of them also made donations to Hofmeister’s campaign.
Hoskin said an election happened, the people made their choice, and now it was time to move on.
Stitt and the tribal nations are expected to come together soon at least on two major topics, if not others, in the near future, and both sides are hoping to walk away feeling like the best path forward for Oklahoma was accomplished. There still needs to be an agreement between how tribal law enforcement agencies and state and local law enforcement agencies work together under the Supreme Court’s McGirt decision which declared Oklahoma’s Indian reservations were never disestablished by Congress when Oklahoma became a state. There is talk about a new criminal justice compact that will need to be forged for better handling of criminals and crimes.
There is also a bill filed with growing popularity in the state legislature that will be considered this year that would legalize sports betting in Oklahoma in partnership with tribal casinos. If the legislature approves of sports betting, the state’s tribal gaming compact would need to be updated to handle sports betting. Stitt has previously told FOX23 if that time comes, Oklahomans will need to get their fair share of the money brought in for things like education and economic development.
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