Muscogee Nation flag to fly at City Hall

The City of Broken Arrow will become the first city in the State of Oklahoma to fly the Muscogee Nation Flag on all city-owned or operated facilities.

The City Council amended Ordinance No. 3890, Section 2-15, which provides for the display of flags by the City of Broken Arrow.

Previously, only the flag of the United States, the flag of the State of Oklahoma, the National League of Families' POW-MIA Flag, the flag of the City of Broken Arrow, and the flags of the U.S. Armed Forces were permitted to fly at City-owned facilities.

However, on Sept. 2, 2025, the Council amended the city ordinance to also include the Muscogee Nation Flag in its place of prominence.

At the following City Council meeting on Sept. 16, 2025, representatives from the Muscogee Nation were in attendance and presented the Nation's flag to the City of Broken Arrow.

City Manager Michael Spurgeon credited Councilor Lisa Ford with introducing the idea of flying the Muscogee Nation flag at city facilities.

Ford said it was through her work with the Oklahoma Municipal League that she was reflecting on the great partnership that the city has with the Muscogee Nation.

"It really resonated with me. We are on Muscogee (Creek) Nation land, and we are also in the United States of America. Still, I feel like we can respectfully fly both flags. I was very excited that the Council was behind it as well," Ford said. "And I was really excited that we are the first city in Oklahoma that gets to fly their flag. It was a process, but I am so excited that this is happening."

Mayor Debra Wimpee recognized the leaders from the Muscogee Creek Nation who attended the meeting, including Chief David Hill, Speaker Randall Hicks, Rep. Leonard Gouge, Rep. Robert Hufft, Rep. Robyn Whitecloud, Rep. Dode Barnett, Rep. Mark Randolph, Rep. Galen Cloud, and Sec of Culture and Humanities RaeLynn Butler.

Muscogee Chief David Hill thanked the Council for the historic day.

Hill said the tribe has representation in the City of Macon, Georgia, and has had discussions with Columbus, Georgia, but that "You are the first in the State of Oklahoma."

Hill continued that it's an honor to be recognized in the original homelands as well as here in Oklahoma.

"Thank you, it's always good to have that partnership, and that's how we want to grow together," Hill said. "I am Muscogee by blood and also an Oklahoman. In the decisions we make, we want what is best for us and for the State of Oklahoma."

Speaker of the National Council Randall Hicks said it was an honor to stand before the Council to present the flag of the Muscogee Nation.

"As we all agreed, our old homeland," Hicks said. "As the Chief stated, it's a lot easier to work together to get things accomplished than to work against each other. And that's what it's all about-white, black, red, it doesn't matter. We're all Oklahomans, let's be Oklahomans, and let's work together."

Sec. of Culture and Humanities RaeLynn Butler read a land acknowledgement prepared for the City of Broken Arrow by the Culture and Humanities at the Muscogee Nation. It pays homage to the original inhabitants of the land, including the Wichita, the Caddo, and the Osage peoples, before the Muscogee Creek Nations' forced removal to Indian Territory in the 1830s.

"As we gather at City Hall, located on the Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation, we are reminded of our Muscogee ancestors' legacy embodied on this land and preserved in the stories and lives of their descendants, which is a testament to the unbreakable strength and spirit of the Muscogee people," the land acknowledgement read.

The tribal leaders then presented the large flag of the Muscogee Nation to the City Council.

The Muscogee Nation tribal flag features the Nation's seal centered on a white background. It pictures a traditional plow and a sheaf of wheat in front of a large cloud. The Muscogee Nation seal represents the agricultural heritage of the tribe and has been in use since the 19th century.