UKB Opposes Senate Proposal Limiting Tribal Land and Gaming Rights

UKB Demands Removal of Restrictive Senate Provision

The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKB) is urging for the immediate withdrawal of a proposed Senate measure that would prevent the tribe from acquiring trust land or running gaming operations within the Cherokee Nation Reservation. This draft legislation poses a significant threat to their rights and future development.

Senator Markwayne Mullin’s Controversial Draft

Markwayne Mullin, a Cherokee Nation citizen and member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, has authored a draft provision that may be included in an upcoming federal appropriations bill. The proposal seeks to bar any funds from being used to take land into trust within the Cherokee Nation Reservation in Oklahoma without written permission from the Cherokee Nation.

In addition, the draft stipulates that no other tribe may exercise tribal jurisdiction within this territory, and any trust land held by a tribe other than the Cherokee Nation must be used exclusively for non-gaming activities.

UKB’s Strong Opposition and Concerns

UKB Tribal Council attorney Tori Holland described the draft as “disturbing” and expressed frustration that the tribe was not consulted or informed beforehand, learning of the provision only through a Freedom of Information Act request. She found this lack of transparency deeply disappointing.

Holland highlighted how shocking it is for a tribal group’s ability to govern itself to be restricted in such a manner. She also questioned the impartiality of Senator Mullin, given his affiliation with the Cherokee Nation, when it comes to legislation impacting the UKB.

UKB Chief Jeff Wacoche condemned the proposal as not just a policy disagreement, but an intentional attempt to terminate the tribe. He called it a “blatant betrayal” of the U.S. government’s trust responsibilities, a violation of federal law, and a serious assault on tribal sovereignty.

Wacoche described the draft as a form of “genocide by redline,” carried out through legislative means rather than physical force, and called upon lawmakers, tribal leaders, and the public to oppose and demand the removal of this amendment.

Historical Context of the Dispute

The tensions between the UKB and the Cherokee Nation stem from longstanding disputes dating back many years. Both tribes descend from the historic Cherokee people, yet the Cherokee Nation claims exclusive authority over Cherokee lands in Oklahoma.

The Cherokee Nation operates ten casinos, while the UKB has no operational casinos after its only bingo hall, opened in 1986, was closed in 2013 following legal challenges and regulatory actions by the Cherokee Nation.

A major hindrance for the UKB has been the absence of federally recognized trust land, a crucial requirement under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to conduct casino operations.

This changed in 2019 when the U.S. Interior Department’s decision to take 76 acres into trust for the UKB was upheld by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals despite opposition from the Cherokee Nation. In April 2025, the UKB signed a gaming compact with Oklahoma and is currently awaiting approval from the Interior Department to proceed.