MIAMI, Okla. (Aug. 4, 2026) — Eight Tribal Nations in northeast Oklahoma have signed the Intertribal Wildlife Management and Reciprocity Compact, creating a first-of-its-kind partnership to manage wildlife resources while protecting the sovereignty of each participating Tribe.

The agreement brings together the Wyandotte Nation, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Modoc Nation, Seneca-Cayuga Nation, and Shawnee Tribe.

The Compact establishes a shared framework for wildlife conservation, hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering across participating Tribal reservations. While the Tribes will work together under common wildlife regulations, each Nation will continue to govern its own lands and maintain its sovereign authority.

The agreement follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt decision, which reaffirmed Tribal authority over hunting and fishing within reservation boundaries. Before that ruling, Native Americans in Oklahoma generally were required to purchase an Oklahoma hunting and fishing license.

Under the Compact, the participating Tribal Nations have adopted nearly identical Wildlife Codes that closely match Oklahoma’s hunting and fishing regulations, including seasons, bag limits, and conservation requirements.

Instead of purchasing a state hunting and fishing license, enrolled citizens of participating Tribes may now obtain a free tribal hunting and fishing license or use other approved tribal identification, depending on their Tribe’s requirements. Each participating Nation agrees to recognize the hunting and fishing credentials issued by the other participating Tribes.

Hunters and anglers must register with the Intertribal Wildlife Consortium E-Check System before participating. The system, available soon at www.itwc.net, will provide harvest reporting, licensing information, and access to the complete Intertribal Wildlife Code.

The Compact also establishes shared seasonal bag limits. Harvests will count toward the same limits regardless of which participating Tribal reservation a hunter uses, helping ensure consistent wildlife conservation across all participating Nations.

The agreement also creates the Intertribal Wildlife Council, where each Tribe may appoint a representative to coordinate wildlife management, conservation efforts, annual hunting season recommendations, and future policy development. It also strengthens cooperation among Tribal wildlife officers and law enforcement while allowing each Nation to adopt reservation-specific regulations that address local wildlife populations and management needs.

“This Compact is another step in strengthening our Tribal sovereignty and exercising our right to self-governance,” Wyandotte Nation Chief Billy Friend said. “By working together with our neighboring Tribal Nations, we are protecting our natural resources, supporting responsible wildlife management, and ensuring our citizens can continue the traditions of hunting and fishing for generations to come.”

The Intertribal Wildlife Management and Reciprocity Compact represents a historic milestone in Tribal cooperation. By working together under shared conservation standards while maintaining each Nation’s sovereign authority, the participating Tribal Nations are strengthening wildlife management, protecting treaty rights, and preserving natural resources for future generations.