Oklahoma Municipal League enjoys first Tribal symposium

On Monday, the Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) in partnership with the Fort Sill Apache Tribe and the City of Lawton had the first in a series of meetings called Sovereignty and Cities, United Strength. OML and the municipalities they represent are interested in forming stronger relationships with the Tribal Nations in their areas.

“We are committed to creating meaningful partnerships with the Tribal Nations,” said Mike Fina, Executive Director of OML. “These meetings are a way to bring together Tribal Nations and municipalities to see how we can better work together and be partners in building a better Oklahoma.”

The event in Lawton included panels on Broadband and working together to invest federal dollars, Community Building and Economic Development. Southwest Tribal Leaders from the Apache Tribe, Caddo Nation, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Comanche Nation, Delaware Nation, Fort Sill

Apache Tribe, Kiowa Indian Tribe and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes gave a State of the Nation Address.

“The Tribal Symposium put a focus on what the Tribes and municipalities can do to work together as partners,” said Lori Gooday Ware, Chairwoman of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe. “By sitting down and talking to each other, we learn what we have in common and how we can connect on projects and partner with each other.”

“Tribal Nations and municipalities often face the same sets of challenges, and we wanted to provide a forum to discuss these issues with each other,” said Stan Booker, Mayor of Lawton. “Opening the lines of communication is key and will be what helps us move forward as a State.”

The Symposium in Lawton is the first in a series of meetings that will occur with Tribal Nations and Municipalities across Oklahoma.