Along with plans for expedited housing access and stronger economic development, Tiger announced an overhaul to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation judiciary.


STAFF REPORTS

OKUMULGEE, Okla. — After being sworn in Saturday morning before a packed house at the Claude A. Cox Omniplex’s Multipurpose Building, Muscogee (Creek) Chief George Tiger made one overarching promise.

“Change is happening and I pledge to you that though there may be hard challenges, we will overcome any obstacle in our nation’s progress through perseverance and a shared vision that has helped us, as a people, endure and triumph,” he said in his inaugural address.

Along with plans for expedited housing access and stronger economic development, Tiger announced an overhaul to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation judiciary. In an emergency meeting in late December, the National Council passed legislation that will abolish the tribe’s single district court and replace it with three inferior courts that will each deal with a specific area: civil cases, criminal cases and family cases.

The National Council passed similar legislation in late 2010 that was not enacted and yielded lawsuits between the legislative and executive branches. Tiger also expressed interest in building and strengthening relationships with state, federal and tribal officials, including resuming regular meetings among the leaders of the Five Civilized Tribes.

The new chief did not comment on the Kialegee Tribal Town’s on-going efforts to open a casino in Broken Arrow, Okla., despite growing opposition from local residents and officials. The 439-member tribal town, headquartered in Wetumka, Okla., is federally recognized as a separate tribe, but is also considered part of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

“I will be addressing that in an official manner – maybe next week, maybe two weeks,” Tiger said in a post-ceremony press conference.

A graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University and 14-year member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council, Tiger defeated Mike Flud in a November run-off election to succeed A.D. Ellis. Ellis did not run for re-election due to term limits.

Prior to Tiger taking the oath of office, Second Chief Roger Barnett and recently elected members of the National Council were also sworn in, taking the oaths of office in both English and Creek.

Tulsa District representatives Samuel Alexander and Cherrah Ridge, both of Broken Arrow, Okla., are the council’s new speaker and deputy speaker respectively.

Barnett, a native of Bristow, Okla., is a veteran of the U.S. Army and represented the Creek District on the National Council for 12 years, including serving as speaker during the previous session.