State Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, sharply criticized Kevin Stitt on Monday following the governor’s 2026 State of the State address, accusing him of deepening divisions with Oklahoma’s tribal nations and undermining decades of collaboration.
Fetgatter, who serves as House Tribal and External Affairs Leader, said the governor’s remarks – delivered while leaders from several Native American tribes were seated in the House gallery – misrepresented the state’s history and strained long-standing partnerships.
“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,” Fetgatter said. “The governor says he has worked tirelessly to maintain unity of one Oklahoma, however he continues to ignore the reality of who we are as a state and single-handedly has destroyed decades of collaboration between state and tribal leaders.”
Tensions between the governor’s office and Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations have intensified since 2019, largely over gaming revenue agreements and jurisdictional disputes following the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt decision. Fetgatter emphasized that the ruling did not convert large portions of the state into reservations, but instead reaffirmed existing constitutional principles and tribal sovereignty.
“The Supreme Court ruling did not in any way make half of our state a reservation, and the governor knows it,” Fetgatter said. “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.”
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.
“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,” he said.
Positioning himself as a legislative bridge-builder, Fetgatter pointed 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.
Looking ahead, Fetgatter said the conclusion of Stitt’s term presents a chance to reset relations between the state and tribal governments.
“The end of Governor Stitt’s term gives us an opportunity to build on existing partnerships with our tribes,” he said. “I hope our state’s next governor embraces and respects these sovereigns and their many contributions to our state.”
Fetgatter represents House District 16, which includes parts of Muskogee, Okmulgee and Tulsa counties.
