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President signs bill to place Fountainhead Property in trust for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation

December 20, 2016

OKMULGEE, Okla. – Anderson Indian Law firm owner and Muscogee (Creek) citizen Michael J. Anderson announced Dec. 19, that President Obama has signed a land transfer bill that will authorize the Secretary of Interior to accept approximately 18.3 acres of land in trust for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation after purchase from the Army Corps of Engineers located in Eufaula, OK. Anderson Indian Law served as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s legislative representative on the bill.

Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) worked the legislative process forward through the House Transportation Committee, Chairman Bud Shuster, and ultimate passage on December 8, 2016 in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN)(Section 1317).

Chairman James Inhofe of the Senate Energy and Public Works Committee is also to be commended for his work in ensuring passage of this legislation through the United States Senate on December 11, 2016. Senator James Lankford also played a critical and timely role in the passage of this bill. The Oklahoma delegation rose to the challenge of supporting this important legislative priority for the Nation.

Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James R. Floyd identified and corrected a number of deficiencies in the prior versions of the bill and along with Second Chief Louis Hicks both of who conducted a number of trips to Washington, DC to lobby for passage of the bill.

The most important correction was allowing the land to be transferred directly in trust to the Nation. The prior versions of the bill required the transfer to go through the long and cumbersome BIA land intro trust process.

The transfer of Fountainhead Army Corps land will provide future economic opportunities for the Nation and fulfills a legislative goal Chief Floyd established at the start of his Administration.

Today is a great day for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation as it continue to promote the Nation’s self-determination, land recovery and economic development. Anderson Indian Law is proud to have played a role in this landmark achievement.