Indianz.Com > News > Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation celebrates sovereignty milestone
Celebrating the One Year Anniversary of McGirt
Monday, July 12, 2021
Cherokee Nation
July 9 marks the one-year anniversary of the historic McGirt ruling by the United States Supreme Court. A year later, our efforts to protect the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the face of assault by opponents of tribal sovereignty, is stronger than ever.
Writing the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote, “on the far end of the trail was a promise,” referring to a promise made by the United States to the Creek Nation in its 19th century removal treaty. Even the imposition of the state of Oklahoma over tribal lands, the dismantling of tribal governmental institutions, allotment of land and the erosion of the civic fabric of tribes was, the Court said, ‘not enough for the United States to break that promise.’
Treaties promised us that we, the tribes—not the state– have authority over our reservation lands, including prosecuting major crimes that occur or those involving an Indian defendant or victim.
It was true then as it today that McGirt applies to all Five Tribes, all with similar relevant legal histories — Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole Nations. In March 2021, in the Hogner case, McGirt officially applied to the Cherokee Nation Reservation. This confirmed what Cherokee leaders have always known: That the Cherokee Nation Reservation promised exclusively to the Cherokee Nation is now, and has always been, our reservation. It was also a moment that called for strong Cherokee leadership.
![Cherokee Nation](https://indianz.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/12/cherokeenation.jpg)
The fact is, it is presently illegal for the state and the tribes to reach cooperative agreements on McGirt unless Congress reforms restrictive federal laws, as has been proposed by Congressman Tom Cole. Dealing in these truths, rather than relying on political scare tactics, is the best path to seize the great opportunities presented by McGirt. A year after McGirt, it remains the most important case in our lifetimes in support of tribal sovereignty in many generations. It means a promise made must be a promise kept. More than that, it means Cherokee Nation has an historic opportunity to build the best criminal justice system in the country. Doing so requires proactive leadership, thoughtful discussion and a reliance on facts. Doing so means rejecting scare tactics designed to pit Indians against non-Indians and erode tribal sovereignty. So, please join me in celebrating the anniversary of our great victory in McGirt and in looking optimistically towards the future of criminal justice on the Cherokee Nation Reservation.The leaders of the Cherokee Nation and the Chickasaw Nation are seeking federal legislation to address criminal jurisdiction issues in #Oklahoma. They say tribal-state compacts are the right solution following the historic #McGirt decision. #Sovereignty https://t.co/A0FbOI8qN3
— indianz.com (@indianz) May 10, 2021
Chuck Hoskin Jr. is the 18th elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Indian tribe in the United States. He is only the second elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from Vinita, the first being Thomas Buffington, who served from 1899-1903. Prior to being elected Principal Chief, Hoskin served as the tribe’s Secretary of State. He also formerly served as a member of the Council of the Cherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years.
McGirt v. Oklahoma
Sharp v. Murphy
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