MVSKOKE RESERVATION – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council held a regular session in person on June 29 at the Mound Building.
The MCN National Council addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
TR 24-062 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation confirming the nomination of Clarence Johnson to serve on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Citizenship Board was adopted with a vote of 14-0-1, with Representative Anna Marshall abstaining. It was sponsored by Representative Leonard Gouge.
As noted previously, Rep. Marshall abstained due to family ties to Johnson. Johnson’s term will begin upon confirmation and will end on June 1, 2029. There was no discussion on this piece of legislation.
TR 24-063 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to apply for federal funding through the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Transportation Bridge Program to fund ten replacement bridges within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation was adopted with a vote of 15-0. It was sponsored by Representative Galen Cloud.
Recent inspections indicate there are ten deficient and hazardous bridges within the reservation that need to be replaced. There was no discussion on this piece of legislation.
TR 24-064 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to apply for federal funding through the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Transportation Bridge Program to fund two bridge constructions within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation was adopted with a vote of 15-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Cloud. There was no discussion on this piece of legislation.
The two bridges were identified as RT 148F-Bridge Number 05085 and RT 1330-Bridge Number 06526. RT 148F-Bridge Number 05085 is located in Okmulgee County, RT 1330-Bridge Number 06526 is located in Okfuskee county.
TR 24-066 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a Five Tribe Wildlife Management Reciprocity Agreement with the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma was adopted with a vote of 15-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Cloud.
The Five Tribes have expanded more access to hunting and fishing privileges within the Nations’ reservations in April 2023. This bill will continue to grant more privileges and permissions to Mvskoke citizens to hunt, fish and trap. During discussion it was stated that the other tribes are passing reciprocity agreements, thereby the Five Tribes will acknowledge others’ hunting and fishing licenses. Seminole Nation is the only Nation who has not passed legislation, but is in the process.
TR 24-067 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a real estate contract for the purchase of property in Okmulgee, Oklahoma was adopted with a vote of 15-0. It was sponsored by Representative Robyn Whitecloud.
The MCN Emergency Management Department will utilize its land management funds for the purchase of the property. The purchase amount is $30,000. There was no discussion on this piece of legislation.
TR 24-068 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute an Underground Electric Utility Right-of-Way Agreement with Public Service Company of Oklahoma for the construction of the new Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Child Development Center located in Okfuskee County was adopted with a vote of 15-0. It was sponsored by Representative Mark Randolph.
The agreement is a 20-year term granting the Public Service Company of Oklahoma right-of-way access. There was no discussion on this piece of legislation.
TR 24-076 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a third amendment to Revolving Loan and Security Agreement with BOKF, NA DBA Bank of Oklahoma was adopted with a vote of 15-0. The passed resolution was a substitute to the original resolution. It was sponsored by Representative Nelson Harjo Sr and co-sponsored by Representative Robert Hufft.
This resolution adds a third amendment to the pre-existing agreement with Bank of Oklahoma and Bank of Oklahoma Financial. There was no discussion on this piece of legislation.
TR 24-077 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending TR 22-122 (a tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Executive Branch to prepare and submit grant applications to federal and state governmental agencies and private foundations for both FY 2023 and FY 2024 and authorizing the Principal Chief to execute all necessary grant documents) was adopted with a vote of 15-0. It was sponsored by Representative Dode Barnett.
This resolution allows the tribe to submit applications for grants and accept grant money quicker than it would otherwise. There was no discussion on this piece of legislation.
NCA 24-071 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending MCNCA title 14 § 1-203 entitled “Minimum qualifications” failed to be adopted with a vote of 7-8. It was sponsored by Rep. Barnett.
This law would have allowed the MCN to hire competent attorneys in good standing with the MCN Bar Association, but without licensing from the Oklahoma Bar Association for the positions of prosecutor and assistant prosecutor. During the over 35-minute discussion, commissioned MCN Attorney General Geri Wisner stated there are well-qualified Native attorneys living in Indian Country outside the state of Oklahoma who are candidates for prosecutorial work with the Nation. She further explained that the candidates are unhireable because MCN code specifies MCN Prosecutors must be a member of the state of Oklahoma Bar. Wisner stated, “I do not believe we should give them that authority, to be beholden to the State of Oklahoma for our attorneys.”
MCN Ambassador Jonodev Chaudhuri spoke during discussion in favor of the bill stating, “Law is the purest expression of values within a governmental system… prosecutions in tribal law are internal matters based on Muscogee Nation law, so reference to the powers of state law is an artifact of days gone by. Deference to the state, the State of Oklahoma should have no power over Muscogee Nation.”
NCA 24-074 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $906,621for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Office of Environmental Services passed with a vote of 15-0. It was sponsored by Representative Charles McHenry.
The MCN Office of Environmental Services will use the grant to add one full-time employee and expand its Solid Waste Post-Consumer Materials Management Program. There was no discussion on this piece of legislation.
NCA 24-075 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation approving the FY 2025 Indian Housing Plan passed with a vote of 14-1. Representative Joyce Deere voted no. It was sponsored by Rep. Randolph.
The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act Indian Housing Block Grant funds first needs to be approved for the Indian Housing Plan in order to be submitted. According to the legislation, this approval is for FY 2025, and needs to be submitted at least 75 days before the end of the Nation’s fiscal year.
To view the full agenda, visit: mcnnc.com.
