Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe Gov. Reggie Wassana signs into trust acquisition 79 acres of land located in Woodward, Okla. Front row l-r: Southern Plains acting Regional Director Gabe Morgan, Gov. Reggie Wassana, General Counsel Hershel Gorham. Second row l-r: Cheyenne District 1 Legislator Bruce Whiteman, Concho Agency Acquisitions & Disposals Reality Specialist Cincie Upchego, Acting Division & Re-Entry Julie Anderson, Concho Agency Supt. Scott McCorkle and SPRO Reality Specialist Jennifer Hill. (Photos / Latoya Lonelodge)
(EL RENO, OK) On Nov. 2, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reggie Wassana signed a land into trust acquisition for 79 acres of land located in Woodward, Okla.
Putting the land into trust is a major achievement for the tribes as it is the third piece of property that the tribes have ever had in trust acquisition and also the largest piece of land.
“It’s really historic that we’re able to accomplish this, we’re excited, and we can plan now for community events, community job structuring, new development and hopefully we can offer tourists or travelers in that northwest quadrant a place maybe to shop, entertain, get gas, have an overnight stay and those type of things that we can develop there just outside of Woodward,” Gov. Wassana said.
As the tribes have always contended that Woodward is part of the tribe’s service area and a part of the tribe’s traditional reservation, Gov. Wassana said putting the land into trust solidifies that Woodward is part of the Cheyenne and Arapaho reservation area.
“We’re excited, we hope the tribal citizens see that in a very positive light that the tribe is moving forward and we continue to move forward and I believe that’s going to help the tribe in many years and decades to come,” Wassana said. “This is a benchmark achievement in our Tribes land back initiative, especially since this was an off-reservation fee to trust application. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes have always believed that our land stretches all the way up into Colorado and this land is now going to be held in perpetuity for our Tribes.”
The piece of land is located south of Woodward on the main highway that covers I-40 all the way up to the panhandle, where many travelers use that corridor to travel. Future plans for the land will be forthcoming in the planning process.
The Tribes built a 10,000 square foot Emergency Response Center on this tract of land a couple of years ago so tribal citizens and the Woodward community could have a place of their own. Most importantly, because this land is now in trust, it is considered Indian Country and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes will have parity with other local governments to participate in federal programs such as those for business development, housing, natural resources, transportation, law and justice.
To read the full Nov. 15, 2023 issue click here: https://www.cheyenneandarapaho-nsn.gov/public-affairs/tribal-tribune
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune 