MVSKOKE RESERVATION – On Jan 23, the Business, Finance, and Justice committee and the Land, Natural Resources, and Cultural Resources committee held a joint meeting in person. Passed legislation will go on to the council, unless otherwise noted.
The committee addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
NCA 24-007 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation creating a new law in MCNCA Title 30, Chapter 2, entitled “Legislative Districts” to name the Wagoner/Roger/Mayes district boundary jurisdiction to Kowetv District passed 9-0. It was sponsored by Representative Mark Randolph.
The law will rename the Wagoner District to the Kowetv District. The Wagoner District is in the northeast section of the MCN reservation and contains in whole or portions of Wagoner, Mayes, and Rogers Counties.
Per the legislation,
“The Kowetv were the second great Mvskoke tribe among the Lower Creeks. They headed the war side as the Kvsettv headed the peace side. Kowetv was a Tribal Town and one of the four Mother Towns of the Mvskoke Confederacy in what is now the Southeast United States. Kowetv and its branches settled in the Northern part of the new country on the Arkansas River, where most of their descendants still live. Their Square Ground was first located about two miles west of the present town of Coweta… Wagoner/Rogers/Mays, the former is not significant to the Muscogee Nation, historically or otherwise… The name Kowetv is more significant historically, being the Mother Town of numerous Muscogee Tribal Towns, also being a model of the present Muscogee government. The tribal town and remains of the ceremonial ground of Kowetv is permanently located within the district area.”
During the discussion, legislation sponsor and Wagoner District Seat B Rep. Randolph stated, “I did speak to our elders, I went on two different day trips with them and everyone was for it. Before our community meeting everyone responded very well to it and everyone was in favor of changing the name back. It’s good for us to reclaim what was taken.”
Wagoner District Seat A Representative Charles McHenry stated, “I truly believe there was a name given to us as Wagoner district, but our name shows and says it’s Kowetv and that is our identity.”
The legislation is based on NCA 95-06, which renamed the Hughes District to the Tukvpvtce District. The former Hughes District was made up of portions of Hughes and Seminole Counties. It was passed by the full council on Feb 7, 1995.
To view the full agenda, visit: mcnnc.com.
