Native America Calling: After 30 years, a new challenge to car license sovereignty

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Friday, May 17, 2024

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After 30 years, a new challenge to car license sovereignty

This time every year for the past 30 years the Sac and Fox Nation takes a day to celebrate a momentous U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming the tribe’s right to issue vehicle license plates to its citizens.

The tribal tags are an important expression of sovereignty and it generates revenue for education and other programs. Dozens of tribes in and outside of Oklahoma now extend their authority to motor vehicle tags.

But Oklahoma tribes say that authority is under fire like never before. Tribal citizens are having to defend what tribal officials say is an increase in targeted stops and fines by non-tribal law enforcement.

Join Native America Calling to talk about celebrating a victory for sovereignty and the constant effort required to keep it.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission v. Sac & Fox Nation

Guests on Native America Calling

Gregory H. Bigler (Euchee, enrolled in the Muscogee Nation), author, tribal judge in Oklahoma, and attorney

Matthew Fletcher (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians), law professor at the University of Michigan Law School and author of the Turtle Talk blog

Audrey Rose Lee (Sac & Fox Nation), second chief of the Sac & Fox Nation

Robert Gifford (Cherokee Nation), Native American law attorney and tribal court judge