"Tribes, Oklahoma Reach Deal On Water Rights Dispute"

"OKLAHOMA CITY — Negotiators for two Native American tribes and the state of Oklahoma said Wednesday they have reached a settlement that would end a modern-day water rights and tribal sovereignty dispute that has its roots in the 19th century.

The Chickasaw and Choctaw nations have claimed Oklahoma isn't abiding by the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which gave them authority over water in their jurisdiction. The state claimed the tribes are ignoring an 1866 pact in which they gave up certain rights after backing the Confederates in the Civil War.

The current fight started in 2011 when Oklahoma City, which receives water from southeast Oklahoma reservoirs that are located within both tribes' territories, sought rights to more water from one of those reservoirs, Sardis Lake."

Tim Talley reports for the Associated Press August 11, 2016.