Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief David Hill says Gov. Kevin Stitt’s new Native American liaison is unlikely to change how the state treats tribes. On Tuesday, Stitt named Wes Nofire, a member of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council since 2019, to the post.

“We have always welcomed a constructive dialogue with the Governor, but I don’t think his staff has been the issue. The Governor sets the direction for his administration, and he has made it clear that his policy is hostility towards tribes and their authority. It’s hard to see one staff appointment changing that. Others have tried and ended up walking away when they found themselves as pawns in the Governor’s deceptive campaign.”

Principal Chief David W. Hill

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. also said he was disappointed in the selection.