MOWA Choctaw Indians Tribal Sovereignty

Ways We (The MOWA Choctaw Indians of Alabama) Have Exercised Our Tribal

Sovereignty

Chief Framon Weaver

MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians

Indian SchoolhouseMobile County 1922

Tribal Constitution Adopted Tribal Constitution and

Established Three Forms of Government.

MOWA Choctaw Housing Authority Passed ordinance to create Housing

Authority

Establishment of Indian Housing Authority

State of Alabama Recognizes and declares all lands owned by the Tribe.

Lobbied State of Alabama to recognize all tribal lands owned by the tribe to be declared reservation property.

 

Examples of How State of Alabama Recognizes our Tribal

Soveriegnty

MOWA Choctaw Tribal Police

Passed Tribal ordinance to create Police Department

Lobbied State of Alabama for our right to establish and operate our Police Department.

 

MOWA Choctaw Tribal Police

Passed Tribal ordinance to create Police Department

Tribal Police Act

MOWA Choctaw ORI Number issued by the FBI

Continued:

 Negotiated an agreement with the State of Alabama to establish our Community Service Block Grant and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

As a result of litigation involving an incinerator on tribal reservation, the court recognized our right to issue our own permits.

Examples of Tribal Soveriegnty The court recognized our right to build on property owned by

the tribe without obtaining building permits or licenses from the County.

In regards to the Indian Child Welfare Act, we are considered the same as a federally recognized tribe.

Currently in litigation with Mobile County to regain ownership of electronic bingo machines that were seized from our Reservation and

establish our right to operate a gaming center on our reservation