Five Tribes vote no confidence in Governor Stitt's new liaison for Native affairs

Leaders of five of Oklahoma's largest tribes voted Thursday to express no confidence in the new state liaison for Native American affairs.

Wes Nofire was appointed to the post earlier this month by Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has been at odds with tribes for years over jurisdictional disputes. The Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole nations convened a special meeting of their inter-tribal council to formally voice their disapproval of Nofire's appointment.

In a joint resolution that passed 20-0, the Five Tribes cited Stitt's "record of hostility" toward tribal governments and contended Nofire aligns with the governor's views. They said they would not support Nofire or his position until the "Governor ceases his challenges to tribal sovereignty and engages in a constructive dialogue with tribes to advance the best interests of all Oklahomans."

The resolution described the position of Native American liaison as "ineffective under Governor Stitt's leadership." No other business was considered during the meeting, which was held remotely, a spokesperson for the Cherokee Nation confirmed.

More: Clash over jurisdiction: What tribal leaders, Gov. Stitt, others say will move Oklahoma forward

The principal leaders of each of the Five Tribes signed on to a joint statement explaining their vote. They said they do not believe Nofire could be an effective advocate for tribes. They said they believed Stitt appointed Nofire to "simply parrot his views opposing tribes not only as independent sovereigns, but as valued partners strengthening the state."

Nofire said he was traveling and deferred comment about the resolution to Abegail Cave, a spokesperson for the governor's office. She said the resolution is an example of an attempt by tribal leaders to shut down tribal citizens who don't agree with them.

"Our door is always open," Cave said in a text. "Wes is eager to engage in healthy, productive dialogue with all of the tribes, even the authors of this resolution."

Nofire, a Cherokee Nation citizen and former tribal councilor, has pledged to try to repair relations between tribes and the governor's office. Under state law, the Oklahoma Native American liaison consults with tribal leaders, takes part in compact talks and advises the governor on issues involving tribes. The position had remained unfilled for much of Stitt's time in office, with Brian Bingman serving as a dual secretary of state and Native American affairs instead.

Several tribal leaders, including Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., quickly decried the news that Nofire would take over the role of the governor's top adviser on tribal issues. They pointed to his history of raising questions about the rights of tribal nations and floating conspiracy theories, including false claims that Hoskin and the tribe's business arm were involved in child trafficking.

Soon after Nofire's appointment was announced, Hoskin told The Oklahoman he believed Nofire's work would further erode state-tribal relations.

"He is somebody that operates on the extreme," Hoskin said. "And if you peeled away the sort of fringe, unhinged conspiracy theory aspect of Wes Nofire, what you're left with is someone who has demonstrated his hostility towards tribal sovereignty, his own tribe's authority to exercise sovereignty and more broadly, attacking McGirt as a threat."

McGirt v. Oklahoma is the landmark 2020 Supreme Court ruling that has led to the recognition of the Cherokee reservation in Oklahoma, along with seven other tribal reservations in the state. Tribal leaders have viewed the ruling as an affirmation of their governmental rights, while Stitt has worried the state could ultimately lose the power to tax tribal citizens on those lands.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comments from the office of Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Molly Young covers Indigenous affairs. Reach her at mollyyoung@gannett.com or 405-347-3534.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's new tribal liaison faces vote of no confidence from Five Tribes