Statement from Chief Jeff Wacoche, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, Celebrating the Declaration of Muscogee Creek Sovereignty Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“On behalf of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, I extend our congratulations to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation on the declaration of Muscogee Creek Sovereignty Day in honor of the fifth anniversary of the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling, handed down on July 9, 2020. That decision reaffirmed the reservation boundaries of the Muscogee Nation and strengthened the legal foundation of tribal sovereignty across Indian Country.

We recognize and celebrate the Muscogee Nation’s leadership under Principal Chief David W. Hill, who remarked, “McGirt didn’t give us sovereignty – it confirmed what our ancestors, our leaders, and our people have always known.”

July 9 is a powerful remembrance of legal justice, cultural resilience, and the fulfillment of promises made long ago. Like the Muscogee Nation, the UKB has long defended our rights and jurisdiction over our ancestral homeland, the Cherokee Reservation. We stand united today in celebrating tribal sovereignty and the ongoing efforts to protect what was promised to our people.

As sovereign tribal nations sharing intertwined histories and enduring cultural connections, the UKB pledges to continue building collaborative partnerships – government to government and community to community – with the Muscogee Nation. Together, as Oklahoma Tribes working as partners, we strengthen our sovereignty and advance the well being and collective prosperity of all our people.

Today, we reaffirm our shared promise: to honor our ancestors, uphold our treaties, and chart a future defined by self-determination and justice.”