The Supreme Court Has Spoken to Native Nations

For the second time in less than two years, the Supreme Court spoke clearly: The United States must keep its treaty promise to Cherokee Nation. Now, let us move forward.

At issue in the McGirt case was whether promises made in 19th century Indian removal era-treaties were broken by Congress when it imposed the new State of Oklahoma over tribal reservations. The Court ruled in July 2020 that Congress did not break the promise in the case of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s reservation. Subsequent court cases applied the ruling to tribes with substantially similar treaties: Cherokee Nation, Choctaw Nation, Chickasaw Nation and Seminole Nation. The ruling was recently extended to the Quapaw Tribe. Learn more of the moving here.