Muscogee Nation will pause new citizenship cards following Freedmen descendant ruling
Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill issued an executive order on Thursday, pausing the issuance of new citizenship cards in the wake of a tribal court’s ruling requiring the nation to grant citizenship to the descendants of Freedmen.
By Robby Korth, Sarah Liese (Twilla) KOSU
The Muscogee Nation Supreme Court issued the historic ruling last month. The justices rejected the tribe’s “by blood” language for citizenship requirements, which is noted in the tribal nation’s 1979 constitution. The court cited the Treaty of 1866, which ensured those who were enslaved by Muscogees should “enjoy all the rights and privileges of Native citizens.”
The ruling has been praised by descendants of Freedmen, who have been fighting for citizenship for years. However, tribal leaders said the ruling “does not appear to provide the clarity our Nation needed.”
In response, Hill issued the executive order. He argues that the Supreme Court overstepped its authority by rejecting the tribe’s “by blood” language in its Constitution. He wrote that the Tribal Council must approve new laws and potentially amend the Constitution – with the help of a citizen vote – to remove the specified language. Therefore, he’s pausing citizenship.
“My responsibility as Principal Chief is to preserve stability and ensure we move forward in a careful and lawful way,” Hill said in a statement. “Even when another branch oversteps, it is my duty to keep our government steady, to avoid disruption, and to protect the integrity of our Nation’s institutions.”
The tribe’s citizenship office is directed to continue accepting applications from Freedmen applicants. However, they are not to issue any membership cards to them “until our laws and policies are updated to reflect the Court’s ruling and to ensure that the processing of all applications will be completed in a fair, objective, and timely manner,” Hill wrote in a statement.
Muscogee Nation citizen and Freedman descendant Eli Grayson called Hill’s executive order “hypocritical.”
“You're telling Governor [Kevin] Stitt to respect the rights of the reservations and all the… criminal aspects of McGirt and all that stuff,” Grayson said in reference to recent arguments about tribal sovereignty surrounding the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision. “But then when your own Supreme Court rules on something that you don't like because of your own racial feelings, then you know, you're a hypocrite.”
He said the Muscogee Nation granting citizenship to the Freedmen is overdue, pointing to the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which granted citizenship to people who were formerly enslaved in the country.
“Why shouldn't we?” He said. “We're in the same situation.”
Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival celebrated Sept. 26-Oct. 4
Chickasaw heritage, culture and traditions will be celebrated throughout the Chickasaw Nation during the 2025 Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival, Friday, Sept. 26-Saturday, Oct. 4.
Chickasaws from across the country attend the weeklong event, which is highlighted by Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby’s State of the Nation Address, set for 9 a.m., Oct. 4, at the Aiitafama' Ishto (large meeting place) on the grounds of the Capitol in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
The tradition of Chickasaw Annual Meeting began 65 years ago in 1960, when more than 100 Chickasaws gathered at Seeley Chapel near Connerville, Oklahoma, to discuss the state of the tribe and a vision for the future. Annually, the Chickasaw Nation pays tribute to this historic event by celebrating Chickasaw pride and progress during the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival.
This year marks the 65th Chickasaw Annual Meeting and 37th Chickasaw Festival.
The event will feature the coronation of tribal princesses, stickball games, a 5K and 1-mile fun run, archery, senior and junior Olympics, golf, horseshoes, pickleball and cornhole tournaments, and more.
Venues in the Tishomingo, Ada and Sulphur areas will host numerous activities throughout the week, including a traditional cornstalk shoot, coed softball tournaments, a golf tournament, museum tours, cultural evening and more.
Three young ladies will also be crowned Chickasaw Princess, Chickasaw Junior Princess, and Little Miss Chickasaw during the Chickasaw Princess Pageant, 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 29 at the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center on the campus of East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma.
Chickasaw Cultural Evening will take place from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur, Oklahoma.
The 2025 Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) and SEASAM Youth will be Oct. 3-4 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Chickasaw Capitol Grounds in Tishomingo. The competition art show and market feature adult and youth artists from federally recognized Southeastern tribes. For more information or artist applications, visit SEASAM.net.
The area surrounding the Chickasaw Nation Historic Capitol Building is a hub of activity during the annual event. Attendees can learn to play stickball, try archery and tour historic Chickasaw Nation buildings. Arts and crafts vendors, a health fair, a parade, entertainment, storytelling, food trucks and children’s activities are also planned.
A complete list of events, locations and schedules is available online at AnnualMeeting.Chickasaw.net. The event schedule is subject to change.
A live video stream of Annual Meeting will be available Oct. 4 as well as the Chickasaw Princess Pageant and Arts and Culture Awards ceremony.
Additionally, a live audio stream of Annual Meeting will air on KCNP.org, in the Pontotoc County area on KCNP 89.5-FM, the Carter County area on KCNP 89.3-FM, Johnston County area on KCNP 97.3-FM and KCNP 104.5-FM in the Garvin County area.
Follow Chickasaw Nation social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram for updates.
For more information, call (580) 371-2040.
Choctaw Casino® & Resort – Durant Makes $10,000 Donation to Local Teen-led Charity as part of “3 Months 3 Millionaires” Promotion
August Million-dollar winner selects student-led charity for donation
DURANT, Okla. (August 27, 2025) – Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant made a $10,000 donation to Never Too Young To Care (N2Y2C), a charity started by 18-year-old Jaxson Taylor, to benefit from the Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant’s “3 Months. 3 Millionaires.” promotion.
The donation was made by Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant on behalf of its August “3 Months. 3 Millionaires.” winner, Tarek S., a father of three from The Colony.
N2Y2C, which focuses on helping the homeless and women and children, was founded by Jaxson Taylor when he was 10 years old and has been serving the community for more than eight years. Taylor, now entering his freshman year at Texas Tech University, is transitioning leadership to 11-year-old student leaders, Stella Hornberger and Peyton Wise.
“I was amazed that that someone would choose N2Y2C to benefit from a $10,000 donation,” said Jaxson Taylor. “We plan to use this money to help support our Christmas project and we will be able to buy new coats, shoes, and toys for the children at The Samaritan Inn in McKinney and provide those families with a hot meal for the holidays.”
Longtime N2Y2C supporter former McKinney Mayor George Fuller said he’s been involved with the charity since he met Jaxson selling lemonade in Plano to help support his mission. “I have complete admiration for what he does, and I have been involved in his charity for many years. He’s an impressive young man that truly embodies the human spirit,” Fuller said.
Incoming N2Y2C President Peyton Wise, a student at Brenner Middle School in Plano, said, “the money will help kids that don’t get Christmas, and we are excited to help them have the best Christmas they can in the situation they are in.”
“It’s inspiring to see passionate students come together to make such a positive impact on lives in their community,” said Kaley Lehew, regional marketing director of Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant. “This is the second $10,000 ‘3 Months. 3 Millionaire.’ charitable donation we’ve presented. Our first went to two Richardson ISD schools, and we look forward to presenting our third $10,000 donation in the coming weeks.”
