Governor Loses in Court, Federal Judge Still to Determine Auto-Renewal
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HOWNIKAN Abtenibne Gises | July 2020 Top photo: Dbekgises (the moon) appears behind the CPN water tower. Governor loses in court, federal A LOOK INSIDE judge still to determine auto-renewal Page 3 The question of whether the Oklahoma Citizen Potawatomi Nation and other “The Department of the Interior’s Model Gaming Compacts auto-renewed Oklahoma tribes assert that the compacts thoughtless and irresponsible inaction on Jan. 1, 2020, may be decided soon automatically renewed for a 15-year term, on the compacts doesn’t change our by U.S. Western District Court Chief in part due to the many actions of the conclusion that the governor lacks Judge Timothy DeGiusti. Governor Kevin State to authorize racetracks and others the authority to enter into compacts Stitt’s attorneys recently requested that to conduct electronic gaming. Stitt has that include activities not legal in the federal court rule whether he had argued that the authorization for Class Oklahoma,” Hunter said, referring authority under state law to unilaterally III gaming at horse racing tracks occurred to sports betting and other forms of Park exhibit remembers negotiate, authorize and administer before the effective date of the compacts. gambling currently illegal under state law. Burnett’s Mound namesake gaming compacts with tribes. On June 15, Judge DeGiusti declined to tell Governor “This is the ‘pencils down’ moment for “The tribes cannot begin operating under Stitt whether he had unilateral authority the lawyers. Barring some additional the terms of these compacts until the Page 7 to compact with two Oklahoma tribes. order from Judge DeGiusti, our court many questions that remain pending The court made it clear the current case advocacy closes today, and the matter will before the Oklahoma Supreme Court in front of the Western District court is be submitted for the judge’s deliberation are resolved. I am deeply disappointed about whether the compacts have renewed. and decision,” said Stephen Greetham, in Interior Secretary (David) Bernhardt’s senior counsel for Chickasaw Nation. abdication of his responsibility to The dispute began in July 2019 when all of Oklahoma’s Native American Governor Stitt published an opinion During mediation and court proceedings, sovereigns, not just two,” Hunter said. piece in Oklahoma newspapers stating Stitt negotiated and signed compacts CPN court staff key to protecting that the agreements between the state with the Otoe-Missouria and Comanche The compacts were published in the Tribal sovereignty and tribes would terminate on Jan. 1, Nations, who were parties to the lawsuit Federal Register on June 29, 2020. 2020. In that same letter, Stitt suggested against the governor until the week of Page 12 that tribes would need to begin paying the compacts’ announcement. These Further complicating the governor’s what he deemed their “fair-market” two compacts contained controversial efforts to undermine the vast majority Medtronic director’s leadership contribution in gaming exclusivity fees. provisions that would authorize the of Oklahoma’s gaming tribes, state helps company establish tribes to conduct sports betting and legislative leaders have now weighed in Attorneys for both sides filed motions scholarship for Native Americans construct three casinos in counties to echo the attorney general’s opinion for summary judgement on June 12, outside their traditional jurisdictions. that Stitt has overstepped his authority. 2020, as ordered by Judge DeGiusti. On June 5, Oklahoma Speaker of the Pages 19-23 All parties have filed their responses Oklahoma Attorney General House Charles McCall and President to the motions, and the court is Mike Hunter said that the Tribal Executive and Pro Tempore Greg Treat filed an action positioned to make a ruling. compacts are not authorized by Legislative updates in the Oklahoma Supreme Court. the state Tribal Gaming Act. “It has been nearly a year since Governor The two highest-ranking legislative Page 24 Stitt began the dispute over the compact “The governor has the authority to leaders asked the court to “void” the auto-renewal by publishing an opinion negotiate with tribes on behalf of the governor’s compacts with the Comanche Walking on piece in the newspaper instead of state,” Hunter said. “However, the Nation and Otoe-Missouria Tribe. meeting with tribal leaders,” said Citizen only gaming activities authorized Potawatomi Nation Tribal Chairman by the act may be the subject of According to an article in The John “Rocky” Barrett. “We continue to a tribal gaming compact.” Oklahoman by Randy Ellis, they stand with the other plaintiffs in this described the governor’s actions as a case and maintain our position that the Those compacts were “deemed approved” “unilateral power grab” and as “serious Nation’s compact automatically renewed by the U.S. Department of Interior, dereliction” of the governor’s duty on Jan. 1, 2020, for a 15-year term.” drawing further criticism from Hunter. under the Oklahoma Constitution. PR SRT STD PR SRT US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 49 PERMIT STIGLER, OK 74462 2 JULY 2020 HOWNIKAN Weld descendant named OAOP’s Optometric Physician of the Year Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal the growth, and he was very passionate member Dr. Crystal Mosteller recently about the town. He got me excited. accepted the 2020 Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians’ Optometric “With a little bit of his help, I was able Physician of the Year award. Fellow to get the ball rolling and get in with the optometrists across the state cast bankers, get my (U.S. Small Business their votes, nominating her for the Administration) loan. So, once I looked OAOP’s highest annual accolade. at Tuttle, I never looked anywhere else.” “To be selected by my peers was a huge, She purchased a building and began huge honor,” Dr. Mosteller said. “I renovations in fall 2006. By spring 2007, joke that I still don’t quite know Tuttle Family Eyecare opened to the public. why it was me over others because there are many others that do a lot of Owning her own practice “is an equal important things for the association amount of joy and stress, and I wouldn’t as well. But, I appreciate it, and I am have it any other way,” Dr. Mosteller said. deeply honored. I feel I am just one For the first few years, she also held piece of the puzzle that helps makes a part-time contracting position Oklahoma optometry the best.” at the Fort Sill Army Base while Dr. Mosteller operates her practice Tuttle Dr. Mosteller accepts OAOP’s Optometric Physician of the establishing her practice. Family Eyecare in Tuttle, Oklahoma. She Year award in March 2020. (Photo provided) “I am fortunate to be here, and I began volunteering with OAOP while Tahlequah, Oklahoma, she studied The career appealed to her, and am glad that I can be of service in optometry school, and since 2006, to the community,” she said. has served in its congress committee biology and chemistry at Cameron she discussed the opportunity and executive committee for education University in Lawton, Oklahoma. CPN with her guidance counselor. Dr. Mosteller creates a slower- as well as became a member of the tribal scholarships assisted Dr. Mosteller “I said something about working paced office environment by taking OAOP Leadership Class of 2008. throughout her educational pursuits, her time with each patient. especially during optometry school for an optometrist, and he said, The organization stated, “Dr. Mosteller when she was unable to work due to ‘Crystal, if they’ll pay for it, why “I want to know who my patients mentors our young (doctors of optometry), her large course load and clinicals. not be an optometrist?’ And it was are throughout the day. They’re not is a constant presence at OAOP functions, the first time anybody had ever put a number to me — they’re not a and is not afraid to hit the campaign “It started out as a small amount. It that level of confidence verbally to set of eyes; they’re people to me.” trail and knock doors with political was enough to help cover books me. I’d never thought that big for candidates who care about protecting and stuff, and by the time I finished myself, and it made me open my Owning Tuttle Family Eyecare for more great vision health in Oklahoma.” optometry school, I was also getting eyes,” Dr. Mosteller explained. than 13 years has provided her the the housing assistance, which opportunity to see the community expand The close-knit nature of OAOP helped a lot,” Dr. Mosteller said. From that conversation, she began and children grow into young adults. drives her service and dedication her undergraduate studies with the to the organization. STEM-related subjects have always goal of attending optometry school. “I have seen kids in early elementary who interested Dr. Mosteller. As she began have graduated high school and college,” “We care about each other. There is no the process of deciding a field of Going into practice Dr. Mosteller said. “It’s definitely surreal.” competition between your neighbors. study post high school, her science, When you need something, you call technology, engineering and math The process of opening and operating While balancing a small business and your fellow optometrists, and they help interests helped narrow her options. her own practice began immediately parenthood can present challenges you. It’s a wonderful profession. It is not after graduating from NSU. As someone for anyone, through the years, Dr. jealousy and fighting for competition. “In high school, I really kind of who grew up in rural Comanche, Mosteller has learned one key lesson. It is truly a family that reaches out found my niche in science. I liked Oklahoma, Dr. Mosteller wanted to and helps each other,” she said.