Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited lightly for clarity.
Osage News: Have you always wanted to run for Governor?
Gentner Drummond: When I was 14 my grandfather said, “Gentner you’re the oldest of 65 in your generation and I would like you to serve in the military, raise your family and when they’re all gone come back and be governor.”
So, I have fulfilled as much as I can of that directive and served in the military eight years as a fighter pilot. Fought in the Gulf War and after all six children were through college and established in their respective careers did I turn to the state elected office. And I thought it appropriate to begin as an AG because I was qualified … learn more of the intricacies of state government,and as a more prepared candidate to run for governor.
Osage News: The Osage Nation recently filed for relief from the Irby ruling – the 2010 decision that said the Osage Nation’s reservation has been disestablished. They’ve since renewed their efforts to have recognition since the McGirt decision. What is your opinion on that?
Drummond: I’m happy to address that.
Osage Nation Attorney General Clint Patterson and I had a conversation before the tribe made that application and we talked through it and he said, “You know, the tribal nation respects you and your attitude toward Native America. I’m going to give you the courtesy of this decision.”
He said “I know fully well that as the chief law officer for the state you’ll have to defend the state’s position.” I respect that and I made a pact with Clint that I would do that but I would do that in a manner that’s honorable and brings honor to both sides. So, this is not an attack on the sovereignty of the Osage tribal nation. I do believe that the law is settled. I do believe in the case of the Osage that the jurisdictional boundaries have been dissolved – from just a strict legal position. I believe that Irby was rightly decided. I fully respect and acknowledge the sovereignty of the Osage Nation and will always take steps and actions consistent with it, notwithstanding the jurisdictional boundary issue.
Osage News: The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently decided that you cannot take over the lawsuit over the gaming compacts that were signed in 2020 by the Governor. Stitt said you lack authority over it and he has hired outside counsel. Assuming the lawsuit was still going on and if you were to become Governor, what is your opinion on that?
Drummond: So, interestingly the way that decision was rendered by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, I still have a seat at the table. I will still be in the D.C. Circuit Court and I will say to the D.C. Circuit Judge that the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled twice against the Governor on these compacts. They are invalid compacts. So, the tribes are correct.
Osage News: There has been a lot of distrust between the tribal nations and Oklahoma Gov. Stitt over the car tag and tobacco compacts and other issues. How will you use your office to mend those relationships if you are elected Some tribal leaders feel this is the most anti-Indigenous Governor they can remember.
Drummond: I would agree with that observation. I don’t understand the Governor’s animus toward Native American tribes. What distinguishes Oklahoma from the other states is we have 39 robust Native American tribes. Nobody has what we have at the degree of sophistication that we have. So if you look to the Osage Nation – it is an economic and social force of good for Oklahoma. Everybody in the state of Oklahoma benefits when the Osage Nation is strong and vibrant and I am supportive of that.
When you look at this economic strength of the several of the tribes – including the Osages, you juxtapose that to the 1980s when these publicly traded companies left Tulsa and Oklahoma City and Bartlesville for Houston. We will never see a day when the Osage Nation says I’m tired of being in Oklahoma. I’m going to move to Texas or South Carolina or California. The state of Oklahoma has the surety and the benefit of having the Osage Nation into perpetuity. And why we as a state don’t partner with our tribal partners is anathema to me. So, I see a future as Governor where twofold: One, we have an omnibus agreement between tribe and state that covers everything so that the negotiators for the Osage Nation, more particularly the Tax Commission – which has been in my office twice already with the Chief to discuss a future through which the tribe and the state can have a seamless agreement for all these issues – tobacco, tribal license plates, gaming, online gaming and all the variety of areas to which we can compact fish and wildlife and the like. So, I really looked to a bright future where we reset the relationship between the tribal nations of Oklahoma and the state of Oklahoma.
Osage News: Another issue within Osage County and specifically with the Osage Nation is the water rights within the Osage Nation. I know there is concern about the safety of the drinking water.
Drummond: I think that the commodity of the future will be safe drinking water. Maybe not in our lifetime, but in our grandchildren’s lifetime. If we don’t take steps today to protect our drinking water then we will be impaired as a nation. So, I’m supportive of those rights. There is a balancing of the landowner right versus the mineral estate issue that needs to be considered. For example, you know cattlemen in Osage County dig ponds. Should the tribe to take a position that no landowner can dig a pond then I would be against that. But, if the tribe takes a position of the protection of the drinking water, subsurface drinking water, to the mutual benefit of all Oklahomans, of course I’m supportive of that.
Osage News: There is a lot of concern about the possibility of another federal funding freeze. What is your position on that?
Drummond: The federal government cannot impair the tribal nations of Oklahoma through funding freezes and lack of access. It’s materially beneficial to the tribes and I am a huge advocate for the continuation of that.
