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WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Wes Watkins and Senator Jim Inhofe have introduced bills that will reform discriminatory federal laws that unfairly single out the individual Indian allotted lands of the Five Tribes in eastern Oklahoma. Leaders of the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole Nations have endorsed the bill, which would give restricted Indian land in eastern Oklahoma the same levels and kinds of protections as individual Indian trust allotments in other parts of the United States.

"It would be the most significant legislation passed for the Five Tribes in over 50 years," said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. "It would mark the end of 100 years of federal policy that operated to separate members of the Five Tribes from their land. Congressman Watkins and Senator Inhofe must be commended for their efforts to finally bring some equity to Indian landowners in eastern Oklahoma."

The two bills, which are identical, apply only to restricted land owned by individual members of the Five Tribes. According to David Mullon, associate general counsel of the Cherokee Nation, under current law, tribal members who own restricted land must hire their own private attorneys to initiate probate or deed approval actions in the district courts in eastern Oklahoma in order to pass title to the land, which, often is of little value. This system makes the sale and probate of Indian land both complex and very expensive. As a result, thousands of acres of Indian lands in eastern Oklahoma have gone unprobated for years, making effective land management difficult and in some cases almost impossible.

"In other parts of the country, Indian probating and transferring Indian trust allotments handled administratively by the Bureau of Indian Affairs at no cost to the Indian landowner," said Susan Work, Muscogee Nation Attorney General. "The current system is totally unfair to the citizens of the Five Tribes who own restricted land. After decades of this unfair treatment under the law, it appears that Congress is attempting to right a big wrong."

Most importantly, the bills would protect the existing but dwindling individual Indian land base in Oklahoma.

"These bills would not increase the individual Indian land base," Mullon said. "However, the bills would protect the tiny fraction of Indian lands that remain in eastern Oklahoma, all of which was once owned by the Five Tribes and known as the Indian Territory."

Hundreds of citizens of the tribes have written the Oklahoma congressional delegation in support of the proposed legislation. Although it is unlikely that the bills will be enacted into law this year, tribal leaders think that it is a step in the right direction.

"I am pleased that Senator Inhofe and Congressman Watkins have the interests of their Native American constituents at heart," said Perry Beaver, Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. "The beginning of the 20th century, at the time of allotment, was a dark tragic period for the five great Indian nations in eastern Oklahoma. The work of Senator Inhofe and Congressman Watkins is a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of the 21st century, which we hope will bring prosperity to Indian people here and elsewhere in the country."