One Nation goes public - Group opposed to Indian rights

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One Nation goes public

Group opposed to Indian rights

TULSA OK SAM LEWIN 5/2/2003

“One Nation”, an organization recently formed to fight tribal sovereignty, said this week they are concerned over water and land rights that, they say, favor Indians over other groups.

The Native American Times has been reporting on One Nation since they sent out a flyer in March soliciting contributions. Until this week, they have laid low: repeated calls to all listed members of the organization went unreturned. Thursday, several One Nation figures spoke to an Oklahoma newspaper.

One Nation counts the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers Association, Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and the Southern Oklahoma Water Alliance among its contributors.

“One Nation sees a real threat of tribal governments usurping both land and water rights across the state”, Water Alliance President Charlette Hearn told the Tulsa World.

The Southern Oklahoma Water Alliance, formed in 2001, has a history of battling tribal issues. The group’s website say it’s number one goal is to oppose the compact between the State of Oklahoma and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations.

Representatives from the Choctaws and Chickasaws could not be reached for comment.

The Native American Times contacted Hearn Friday. When told the purpose of the call, Hearn claimed her phone was cutting out and she couldn’t hear the reporter. She then hung up. Other calls Friday to organizations affiliated with One Nation also went unreturned. But the group apparently now has the attention of some Native leaders, and is prompting at least one of them to issue a call for action.

“ This would be a good time for tribes to get together and defend ourselves against these allegations”, said Osage Principal Chief Jim Gray. “ This group is a threat to undermine the good relationship we have built with the state and it’s people. A group like this could set race relations back 20 years.”

“No one is suggesting tribes shouldn’t compete in the marketplace”, One Nation member Jeramy Rich, a Lincoln County rancher, told the Tulsa World. “ We are suggesting laws shouldn’t be structured so that tribal businesses enjoy a huge competitive advantage over non-tribal businesses.”