Tribal leaders, state and federal officials, and community partners will gather to discuss issues critical to Oklahoma's Tribal Nations
TULSA, Oklahoma — The United Indian Nations of Oklahoma (UINO) will hold its next quarterly meeting on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Osage Casino Hotel Tulsa at 951 W. 36th St. N. in Tulsa. Tribal leaders, state and federal officials, and community partners will gather to discuss critical issues facing Oklahoma's Tribal Nations, including federal funding priorities, law enforcement challenges, healthcare delivery, workforce development, and voter engagement.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. will deliver an afternoon keynote address. Chief Hoskin currently serves on the Secretary of the Interior's Tribal Advisory Committee, which ensures Tribal leaders have direct and consistent contact with federal officials on intergovernmental responsibilities, provides a platform to share information, and provides advice and recommendations regarding departmental programs and funding that impact Tribal nations.
Panel discussions are scheduled throughout the day and will include updates on Oklahoma Tribal representation on federal committees, strategies for addressing public safety, and the future of the Indian Health Service (IHS) under a new federal budget and realignment between IHS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). There will also be a national update from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
These discussions are especially relevant, considering the current and ongoing federal shutdown.
"UINO would like to remind Congress and the White House that the federal trust responsibility to Tribes is not optional, nor can it be switched on and off with politics. A shutdown may pause some federal functions, but it does not pause the United States' trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations," said UINO Chairperson and Shawnee Tribe Chief Ban Barnes. "This government-to-government relationship is rooted in binding legal and moral commitments, which have been upheld for decades by the federal judiciary. It is unacceptable that Native communities continue to bear a disproportionate burden and become collateral damage whenever Congress fails to act."
UINO Executive Director Margo Gray (Osage) echoed Chief Barnes' comments.
"The federal government may shut down, but Tribal nations remain open and committed to serving Tribal citizens," Gray said. "In light of the dysfunction at the federal level, pulling together as Tribal nations to have these discussions is more important than ever."
State Representative and Cherokee Nation citizen Amanda Clinton (HD 71) will provide state legislative updates and insight on State Question 836, which seeks to reform Oklahoma's primary election system.
Over lunch, Tyler Scribner, CEO of Tribal Sovereign Data and a Chickasaw Nation citizen, will deliver remarks on the federal budget process and its impact on Tribal Nations, in a session titled "Balancing Books or Breaking Promises? An Economic Perspective."
Afternoon sessions will highlight the FY 2026 budget forecast for the Indian Health Service, and Executive Director Margo Gray will provide an update on UINO's statewide voter engagement initiative "Warrior Up to Vote."
Oklahoma Workforce Commissioner Bryce Thompson will close the afternoon, discussing how Oklahoma's tribes and the state's workforce efforts can align for the benefit of all Oklahomans. The Oklahoma Workforce Commission was established in 2023 to centralize Oklahoma's workforce development efforts, coordinate activities across various state agencies and stakeholder groups to grow the economy, improve prosperity for citizens, and ensure a skilled workforce for employers.
Barnes emphasized the importance of Tribal Nations uniting to work together.
"Oklahoma is home to 38 federally recognized Tribal nations, and when we come together as one, we are a force that cannot be ignored," Barnes said. "This quarterly meeting is about building consensus, presenting solutions, and holding federal and state governments accountable for the promises made to our people. UINO exists to unite our voices and to make sure the concerns of Indian Country are heard at every level."
Gray said the meeting comes at a pivotal moment for Tribal Nations in Oklahoma.
"Our agenda reflects both the urgent challenges and the tremendous opportunities before us. From health care to workforce development to protecting our communities, this meeting will bring together leaders who are shaping the future of Indian Country in Oklahoma. We are especially proud to launch the Warrior Up to Vote statewide voter drive again, to ensure Native voices are heard beyond our Tribal nations in the 2026 elections," Gray said.
The UINO quarterly meeting is open to all UINO members, Tribal leaders, staff, and invited partners. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with programming from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Osage Casino Hotel Tulsa, 951 W. 36th Street, Tulsa, OK 74127.
A full agenda is attached. Learn more about UINO and how to become a member at https://www.uinoklahoma.com/ or contact Executive Director Margo Gray at margo@uinoklahoma.com.
