Muscogee Creek Nation Preparing To Meet US Attorney General Barr

The Muscogee Creek Nation has scheduled a meeting with Attorney General William Barr after he met with other tribal nations earlier this week. 

Now, that visit is paving the way for more discussion on the landmark McGirt decision. 

Muscogee Creek Nation press secretary Jason Salsman said though they were not at Wednesday’s roundtable at the Cherokee Nation. He said the nation is not upset, but they are determined to have their own meeting with Barr. 

"The eyes of the world are on The Muscogee Creek Nation right now and on this (McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court) decision and rightfully so,” Salsman said. “It's something that's very historic but also very meaningful.”

The McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling made the Muscogee Creek Nation an established reservation. All major crimes involving tribal members now fall under federal or tribal jurisdiction.

During his visit, Barr announced the Department of Justice will hire four new prosecutors for the Northern and Eastern districts to help with the case increase brought on by the McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling.

Salsman said Barr's support is monumental.

“I think a lot of people think it's just a transition of jurisdictional duties or things like that but if you talk to you real Muscogee people, it just means so much more,” Salsman said. “This is the Muscogee homeland promised to be taken care of the governed.”

Salsman said the nation also plans to tell Barr about recent successes such as investing $2 million into their Lighthorse Police Department and more than 60 cross-deputizations with other departments. 

"We feel that this decision isn't something to fix we feel like it's clarity,” Salsman said. “We can make it better if we just work together.”  

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma Trent Shores said the visit to the Cherokee Nation on Wednesday was supposed to happen months ago, but was delayed due to the pandemic. 

Salsman said Barr also expressed interest in coming to the nation’s reservation after the election.