Oklahoma Lawmaker Criticizes Governor's Adversity Toward Tribal Nations

State Rep. Scott Fetgatter accuses Gov. Kevin Stitt of deepening divisions and undermining decades of collaboration with Oklahoma's 39 tribal nations.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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State Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, sharply criticized Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday following the governor's 2026 State of the State address, accusing him of deepening divisions with the state's tribal nations and undermining decades of collaboration. Fetgatter, who serves as House Tribal and External Affairs Leader, said the governor's remarks misrepresented the state's history and strained long-standing partnerships.

Why it matters

Tensions between the governor's office and Oklahoma's tribal nations have intensified in recent years over gaming revenue agreements and jurisdictional disputes following the U.S. Supreme Court's McGirt decision, which reaffirmed tribal sovereignty. Fetgatter emphasized that the ruling did not convert large portions of the state into reservations, but instead affirmed existing constitutional principles.

The details

In his statement, Fetgatter said the governor missed an opportunity to mend relationships during what is expected to be his final State of the State address. Fetgatter positioned himself as a legislative bridge-builder, pointing to the economic and public benefits of tribal partnerships, noting that tribal nations support nearly 140,000 jobs statewide and contributed $351 million to state education funding in 2023 alone.

  • On Monday, Fetgatter sharply criticized Gov. Kevin Stitt following his 2026 State of the State address.
  • The tensions between the governor's office and Oklahoma's tribal nations have intensified since 2019, largely over gaming revenue agreements and jurisdictional disputes following the U.S. Supreme Court's McGirt decision.

The players

Scott Fetgatter

A Republican state representative from Okmulgee, Oklahoma, who serves as the House Tribal and External Affairs Leader.

Kevin Stitt

The current governor of Oklahoma, whose adversarial approach toward the state's tribal nations has drawn criticism from Fetgatter and others.

Oklahoma's 39 Tribal Nations

The sovereign tribal governments that have had long-standing partnerships with the state of Oklahoma, which have been strained under Stitt's leadership.

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What they’re saying

“With the leaders of many of our Native American tribes looking on from the House gallery, the governor made a mockery of our state's unique history and the valued partnership our state has had with our tribal citizens for over 100 years.”

— Scott Fetgatter, State Representative (yourokmulgee.com)

“The Supreme Court ruling did not in any way make half of our state a reservation, and the governor knows it. The McGirt decision simply affirmed the U.S. Constitutional law of citizens who were unjustly removed from their homes and were given a promise of self-governance.”

— Scott Fetgatter, State Representative (yourokmulgee.com)

“When the governor, in his last State of the State speech, had the opportunity to correct the wrongs he has inflicted on our state's tribes, he instead chose to exacerbate the divide and ignore the partnerships that have benefited Oklahomans for years in health care, public safety, education, infrastructure and many other areas of potential collaboration.”

— Scott Fetgatter, State Representative (yourokmulgee.com)

What’s next

The end of Governor Stitt's term presents a chance to reset relations between the state and tribal governments, and Fetgatter hopes the next governor will 'embrace and respect these sovereigns and their many contributions to our state'.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between the state of Oklahoma and its tribal nations, with the governor's adversarial approach drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers like Fetgatter who see the value in maintaining strong partnerships and respecting tribal sovereignty.