Oklahoma Tribal Chief Makes Time’s 2020 List Of Top 100 Influential People

The Principal Chief of Muscogee (Creek) Nation has been named to Time Magazine's list of 100 most influential people for 2020.

Principal Chief David Hill said it's hard to put into words how he feels being named one of the most influential people in the world. He gives credit to his cabinet and all of Muscogee (Creek) Nation. 

“To get an email from time, it was just, I didn’t know how to react, it was overwhelming," Hill said. 

He's featured on the list as an icon, and the article said the McGirt decision was a groundbreaking triumph for all of Indian Country. 

“You know just to be recognized, for what happened on the McGirt ruling, that was a lot of it, to reassure that we were never disestablished," Hill said. 

Chief Hill said the McGirt ruling means so much and having reservation status has changed how Muscogee (Creek) Nation operates. He said he hopes younger kids who see the magazine know it was for them.

“For younger generations this is what it’s all for, for the youth that’s growing up,” Hill said. “This is what we’re living for, for our younger generation to come up and they won’t go through the problems that we’re going through today.”

Chief Hill said the COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenging time for everyone but being named to the list is a bright spot in 2020.

“It’s a positive, it’s a positive,” Hill said. “We hit some roadblocks but we’re jumping over those hurdles every day, just taking every day as a new day is what we’re going to do.” 

The magazine will hit newsstands on Friday.