Native American Affairs Secretary abruptly resigns

FROM THIS CORNER
By
Glenna J. Wallace

NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ABRUPTLY RESIGNS

With only one week remaining before January 1, 2020, a critical date for all Oklahoma Tribes and for Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, the battle between the tribes and the Governor heated up even more when Lisa Billy, Secretary of Native American Affairs, abruptly resigned. Stitt and the tribes have locked horns over that January 1, 2020 date with tribes adamantly insisting that exclusive gaming compacts automatically renew that date while Stitt argues they do not and must be renegotiated. Stitt wants to increase the percentage tribes pay for exclusivity fees, meaning that only Native American Tribes can operate casinos in Oklahoma. Small tribes argue that overall the state is receiving more money each year but most small tribes because of increased competition maintain they are making less and cannot afford to have fees increased. It is generally agreed that four or five large tribes in Oklahoma account for 75 percent or more of the total gaming revenue. Stitt indicates that if the exclusivity fees are not increased, commercial gaming could be allowed in the state. As a small tribe, we are definitely impacted by the outcome of this stalemate as it is one of the most critical issues that will face this tribe in the coming years. For that reason, I include the following article recently written by Janelle Stecklein.

“Oklahoma’s first secretary of Native American Affairs abruptly resigned Monday, December 23, saying she can no longer serve a governor who is ‘committed to an unnecessary conflict that poses a real risk of lasting damage.’

In her resignation letter, Lisa J. Billy said she had hoped serving in Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Cabinet would allow her to be part of an effort to deepen and strengthen Oklahoma’s relationships with sovereign tribal nations.

But she said it’s become increasingly clear that Stitt is committed to “an unnecessary conflict” that poses the possibility of long-term damage to the state-tribal relationship and the economy.

‘You have dismissed advice and facts that show the peril of your chosen approach and have remained intent on breaking faith with the tribes, both by refusing to engage with the compact’s language and, more recently, by suggesting you would displace our tribal partners with private, out-of-state commercial gaming operators,’ she said.

‘Your actions have shown that my continuing in service on your Cabinet is unnecessary to you and impossible for me,’ said Billy, who also serves as a Chickasaw Nation lawmaker. Stitt remains at an impasse with 35 of the state’s tribes over whether the compacts automatically renew Jan. 1. The Republican governor contends they expire.