Statewide alliance sought with tribes

By Brian Sargent

Published: October 25, 2007

A four-day town hall conference exploring the best opportunities to build alliances and partnerships with tribal governments, municipalities and private companies will begin Sunday at Quartz Mountain Resort in Lone Wolf.

"Oklahoma's Second Century: Building Alliances with Tribal Governments, State and Local Governments and Private Sectors” is a centennial event hosted by the Oklahoma Academy. Nearly 150 people are expected to attend.

Conference participants will discuss alliances that have been successful, investigate and develop ideas for new and improved alliances, and suggest approaches to encourage these alliances.

What will be discussed?

•Economic development and tourism.

•Education and work force.

•Health care and social services.

•Infrastructure and transportation.

"Tribal governments and state and local governments have many overlapping activities and goals and are spending millions each year to provide services and build public infrastructure. The town hall will explore how tribal and nontribal alliances may yield win-win situations, or better yet, benefits that neither party could possibly achieve independently. If we can find creative ways to work together and with the private sector, all Oklahomans will benefit,” Oklahoma Academy Chairman Doug Branch said.

Will it affect tribal autonomy?

Conference planning committee Chairman Howard Barnett said the conference won't try to challenge tribal sovereignty or its limits.

"It is going to explore how to better work with the reality of sovereignty and build opportunities that are true win-win situations for all Oklahoma citizens,” Barnett said.

The Oklahoma Academy is a citizen-based organization for nonpartisan public policy development.

The academy's members are from all locations with varied vocational backgrounds.

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