OKMULGEE, OK – The Muscogee Nation commemorated the fifth anniversary of the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma decision with a Sovereignty Day celebration at the College of the Muscogee Nation’s STEM Building Lecture Hall. The event brought together tribal leadership, citizens, and special guests to honor the ruling that reaffirmed the Nation’s reservation boundaries and strengthened the legal foundation of tribal sovereignty across Indian Country.
Principal Chief David W. Hill reflected on the significance of the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision and its lasting impact on tribal self-determination.
“McGirt didn’t give us sovereignty – it confirmed what our ancestors, our leaders, and our people have always known,” said Chief Hill. “We’ve governed ourselves, served our citizens, and protected our lands long before any courtroom acknowledged it.”
The program included a panel discussion titled ‘Sovereignty in Action,’ which highlighted how departments across the Nation are putting sovereignty into practice through justice, healthcare, language preservation, and economic development. The event also featured remarks from Riyaz Kanji, lead counsel in the McGirt case…