© 2024 Public Radio Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2577

A listener-supported service of The University of Tulsa
classical 88.7 | public radio 89.5
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Tribal council supports 2 tribes water rights

State Impact-Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes has passed a resolution supporting the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations in their dispute with the state of Oklahoma over water.

The two tribes filed a federal lawsuit against the state in August — seeking to maintain control of the water in southeastern Oklahoma. The lawsuit has been stayed while the two sides work with a court-appointed mediator.

The Oklahoman reports that the council approved the resolution during a meeting Friday in Norman.

Choctaw Nation assistant Chief Gary Batton said the two tribes believe the water belongs to them.

The resolution is the second in recent months in support of the tribes. The Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Inter-Tribal Land Use Committee came out in support of the tribes' lawsuit in March.