Tribes add billions to state’s economy

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Tribes add billions to state’s economy

By: Janice Francis-Smith The Journal Record March 23, 2022 0

Though casinos garner the most attention, Native American tribes in Oklahoma are involved in numerous other industries as well that collectively contribute billions of dollars to the state’s economy each year. (Photo by Kaysha on Unsplash)

OKLAHOMA CITY – With an economic impact of nearly $15.6 billion a year on Oklahoma’s economy, Native American tribes are the best friends the state could have, tribal leaders said Wednesday. The Oklahoma Tribal Finance Consortium released a study that makes clear the extent of the tribes’ contributions for state leaders who may be unaware of how the state’s and the tribes’ economies are intertwined.

The report was released at an event held at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City.

The study showed that the 38 federally-recognized tribes in Oklahoma directly employ more than 54,000 and support a total of 113,442 jobs, providing $5.4 billion in wages and benefits for both Native and non-Native people in 2019. The tribes also contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to education, healthcare and infrastructure projects that benefit the state as a whole, the study notes.

“There’s just a lot of confusion; I think there’s a misunderstanding in regards to how the tribes and we as the Choctaw Nation are trying to impact and help all of our tribal members and help Oklahoma as a whole,” said Gary Batton, Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the third largest Indian tribe in the United States.

“All these things are critical to the success of Oklahoma, and I don’t think sometimes that our governor understands that significant impact,” Batton said.

“Two years ago, we in invested $600 million that created 1,200 jobs in southeastern Oklahoma,” Batton said. The Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant held its grand opening in Aug. 2021, featuring a 1,000-room luxury resort expansion. “There was no mention, there was no discussion. But there was an Amazon plant coming to Tulsa, $350 million, that was the boast of the state.”

“Unlike corporations that move based on economic conditions, our tribes are here to stay,” said Victor Flores, president of the Oklahoma Tribal Finance Consortium. “Oklahoma is home, and we will continue to reinvest in our communities through job creation, critical service delivery and infrastructure development.”

Bailey Walker, president of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce in Oklahoma, said there are now more than 11,000 Native-Owned businesses in the state. Tribes contributed $15.6 billion in state production of goods and services, and provided $84 million to local school districts, municipalities, counties, and the state to support community initiatives.

Tribal health facilities provided care that resulted in a savings of $231.7 million to the State of Oklahoma through the reduction of Medicaid match payments that would otherwise be borne by the state.

The gaming compacts – which Gov. Kevin Stitt attempted to modify, claiming Oklahoma could get a “better deal” – have generated $1.8 billion in exclusivity fees for the state since 2006, the study showed.

Glenna Wallace, chief of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma in Ottawa County, said there are about a dozen casinos in the area known as the 4-state corner, drawing in visitors from Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas.

“That means we bring in revenue from lots of other states to Oklahoma,” Wallace said. “The impact from that gaming is tremendous on Oklahoma.”

The report shows the tribes spent more than $45 million on roads, and provided $530 million to state and local governments in Oklahoma in 2019, the report shows.

“This study shows just how important tribes are to Oklahoma’s economy,” said Neal McCaleb, Chickasaw Nation Ambassador to the United States. “We are helping create sustainable economies through our many valuable jobs as well as making other substantial and impactful investments into our broader communities. This is our home and we look forward to continued growth, growth that benefits all Oklahomans.”

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