Sovereignty of the Muscogee Creek Nation
Current U.S. Supreme Court Case Information
In 1907, about half of the land in Oklahoma in the east, including the Tulsa metro area today, had belonged to the Five Civilized Tribes. There had been several decades of warfare and conflict during the 19th century over these lands between the Native Americans and the United States, including the Trail of Tears. By 1906, the United States Congress passed the Oklahoma Enabling Act, which had been taken to disestablish the reservations, and enabling Oklahoma's statehood. The former reservation lands, those of the Five Civilized Tribes as well as the other tribes in the state, were allocated into areas by tribe that were given suzerainty governing rights to the tribe to handle internal matters for Native Americans within the boundaries, but otherwise having the state retain jurisdiction for non-native Americans and for all other purposes such as law enforcement and prosecution.
On July 9, 2020, the U.S. Supreme court ruled 5-4 in a decision that addresses and resolves significant jurisdictional issues raised in McGirt v. Oklahoma. The Supreme Court today kept the United States’ sacred promise to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of a protected reservation. The decision honors our ancestors by maintaining our established sovereignty and territorial boundaries. The Nation and the State are committed to ensuring that offenders face justice for the crimes for which they are accused. We have a shared commitment to maintaining public safety and long-term economic prosperity for the Nation and Oklahoma.
McGirt v. Oklahoma Court Filing
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/18-9526_9okb.pdf
FAQ's In Regards to Recent Ruling
https://www.mcn-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCN-FAQ.pdf
Current U.S. Supreme Court Case Information
In 1907, about half of the land in Oklahoma in the east, including the Tulsa metro area today, had belonged to the Five Civilized Tribes. There had been several decades of warfare and conflict during the 19th century over these lands between the Native Americans and the United States, including the Trail of Tears. By 1906, the United States Congress passed the Oklahoma Enabling Act, which had been taken to disestablish the reservations, and enabling Oklahoma's statehood. The former reservation lands, those of the Five Civilized Tribes as well as the other tribes in the state, were allocated into areas by tribe that were given suzerainty governing rights to the tribe to handle internal matters for Native Americans within the boundaries, but otherwise having the state retain jurisdiction for non-native Americans and for all other purposes such as law enforcement and prosecution.
On July 9, 2020, the U.S. Supreme court ruled 5-4 in a decision that addresses and resolves significant jurisdictional issues raised in McGirt v. Oklahoma. The Supreme Court today kept the United States’ sacred promise to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of a protected reservation. The decision honors our ancestors by maintaining our established sovereignty and territorial boundaries. The Nation and the State are committed to ensuring that offenders face justice for the crimes for which they are accused. We have a shared commitment to maintaining public safety and long-term economic prosperity for the Nation and Oklahoma.
McGirt v. Oklahoma Court Filing
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/18-9526_9okb.pdf
FAQ's In Regards to Recent Ruling
https://www.mcn-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MCN-FAQ.pdf