A landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in July 2020 held that Congress never dismantled the Muscogee Nation’s reservation in Oklahoma, sparking confusion and misunderstanding. 

State courts have since expanded the ruling to encompass much of the eastern half of the state, affirming the status of reservations for the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole and Quapaw tribes. 

McGirt V. Oklahoma

The revelation that much of the state is Indian country has required many tribes to expand law enforcement and court systems. Federal prosecutors have scrambled to cover the influx of new cases. Meanwhile, state and city officials and law enforcement have warned about dire legal consequences of the ruling and have sought to have it overturned.

To provide a better understanding of the tribal legal systems to the public, The Frontier is launching a new website, McGirt v. Oklahoma, aimed at providing information about tribal victim services, court and legal systems, government and history to the public, researchers and journalists.

The project was funded through a grant from the Oklahoma Media Center and in partnership with KOSU and MVSKOKE Media, 

The Frontier will continue to update the website as new information becomes available.