Tribal leaders resist Nofire

After Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recent appointment of former Cherokee Nation tribal councilor Wes Nofire as the state Native American liaison, leaders from the five tribes did not waste time passing a resolution of “no confidence” in Nofire or his newly appointed position.

Nofire, who served as District 3 Councilman for Cherokee Nation, was appointed to the position on Sept. 5 under Gov. Stitt’s administration.

In just hours, the announcement moved Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. to issue a statement calling Stitt’s appointment “disap- pointing but no surprise.”

Last week, Hoskin and four other tribal leaders representing the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek) and the Seminole Nations, issued the following statement: “Wes Nofire cannot be an effective advocate for tribes in Oklahoma or act as a bridge between the governor and tribes when he clearly echoes the same anti-tribal rhetoric as the governor. Governor Stitt has proven to be opposed to tribal sovereignty. He has appointed Wes Nofire to simply parrot his views opposing tribes not only as independent sovereigns, but as valued partners in strengthening the state. We can only conclude that Wes Nofire will continue to oppose tribal sovereignty under Governor Stitt’s direction. Therefore, we do not have confidence that he can fulfill the role as Native American liaison.”

The statement, made public last week, was signed by Hoskin, Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby, Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief David W. Hill, and Seminole Nation Chief Lewis J. Johnson.

“Governor Stitt’s selection of Wes Nofire as the state’s Native American liaison is disappointing, which is to say it comes as no surprise,” Hoskin said in his own statement.

“We continue to hope for a day in which the depths of knowledge of Indian Country issues on Governor Stitt’s team deepens. It’s now shallower. Wes Nofire’s brief time in elected office was marked by a hostility toward Cherokee tribal sovereignty, a lack of understanding broadly of the issues facing Indian Country, and his peddling of conspiracy theories about Cherokee Nation, which can only be described as unhinged. “Governor Stitt’s stances toward tribes, the most hostile in state history, will now be informed by someone who aligns closely with the Governor’s own views, sadly. Fortunately, there are a broad array of state leaders with whom we can and will continue to work.” Following the announcement, several lawmakers expressed concern the governor is “needlessly antagonizing” the Native nations. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) told the Associated Press that the statehouse might try to assume compacting powers if Stitt is unable to move negotiations beyond locked horns and lawsuits. Stitt and Nofire have been close allies since Stitt’s re-election campaign in 2022. In November 2022, Nofire endorsed Stitt for re-election.

While serving on the Council, Nofire often echoed Stitt’s views against tribal sovereignty or made other statements denying Cherokee sovereignty, according to tribal sources.

During a May 2023 committee meeting, Nofire cast doubt on Cherokee Nation’s authority to administer criminal laws across its reservation, drawing a rebuke from Cherokee Nation Marshal Shannon Buhl.

In a September 9, 2021, social media post, Nofire claimed that “The courts of the modern Cherokee Nation, since its existence by creation through the 1970 Principal Chiefs Act, “have never legally established a jurisdictional court over the citizens of the Cherokee Nation.”

During a radio interview on May 23, 2022, Nofire referred to the historic McGirt decision restoring the status of certain Indian reservations within Oklahoma “a big threat to the way that the state has been conducting business for over 140 years.”

Earlier that same month, Nofire told an audience in Bartlesville that McGirt was “the biggest threat to Oklahomans.”

In a May 26, 2023, social media post, Nofire, with no evidence, according to the Cherokee Nation, accused Hoskin of “child trafficking using Cherokee Nation’s federal contracting vehicle, Cherokee Federal.” The post came on the heels of Nofire making the same allegation at a May 25, 2023, Council committee meeting.

Hoskin condemned Nofire’s allegations as “false and reckless” and confirmed to the Cherokee Phoenix that the alleged child trafficking was an “unhinged conspiracy theory” he referenced in his statement responding to Nofire’s appointment.

Nofire’s statements against Cherokee sovereignty drew sharp criticism at various times in recent years from Hoskin and other CN leaders.

At a May 26, 2022, Council committee meeting, Councilor Candessa Tehee called Nofire’s statements relating to McGirt “clearly treasonous.”

Speaker of the Council Mike Shambaugh, who often disagreed with Nofire while he served on the legislative body, released a statement in response to Stitt’s appointment of Nofire.“I find Governor Stitt’s appointment of Wes Nofire as Tribal Liaison very disturbing,” Shambaugh said. “Nofire’s time on the Council consisted of the attempted spreading of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. His misguided views were a direct threat to our Nation as well as our sovereignty. Due to the fact he never passed a single resolution he submitted while on Council, I see this appointment by Stitt as a further opportunity to attack our tribes by appointing a person whose views can only be described as dangerous and lacking in truth in my opinion.”

Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill also released a statement in response to Stitt’s appointment “We have always welcomed a constructive dialogue with the Governor, but I don’t think his staff has been the issue,” Hill said. “The Governor sets the direction for his administration, and he has made it clear that his policy is hostility towards tribes and their authority. It’s hard to see one staff appointment changing that. Others have tried and ended up walking away when they found themselves as pawns in the Governor’s deceptive campaign.

Nofire was an unsuccessful candidate for United States Congress, where he received 6.32% of the vote in the GOP 2022 Second District primary.

Nofire also lost in the race for Principal Chief, where he received 10% of the vote in the June 3 CN general election. Hoskin won re-election in that four-way race with 62.76 percent of the vote, according to the tribal sources.

Stitt said, “Wes brings a deep familiarity with tribal governments and people across Oklahoma. His work for the Cherokee government makes him an ideal choice as we build bridges between my office and tribal governments. Throughout his career, Wes has advocated for fairness for all Oklahomans and has fought against systems that seek to treat people differently based on race or heritage. I am thrilled to have him as a member of my team as we continue to work to make Oklahoma a Top 10 state.”

Nofire and Stitt are Cherokee Nation citizens and members of the Republican Party.