“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” - Henry Ford

The rightful ownership of Fort Reno has been debated for more than 100 years. But judging from the points laid out in 1999 by the United States Department of the Interior Office of the Solicitor, as well as in 2009 when a federal Court of Appeals did not reach an alternative conclusion, it appears as though the federal government has fought to keep the land from the C&A for one reason, oil.

Consider comments made in 1950 by then U.S. Sen. Wayne Morse of Oregon as reported by Politico in a 2014 article.

“I have received some very interesting letters from persons in the area of this property who are of the opinion that a portion of the property, at least covers a very rich oil deposit,” Morse told the Senate.

“I do not propose to let them get land that may be worth huge sums in oil. … I say we have to protect America’s oil reserve.”

Almost 75 years later, in Oklahoma, we know protecting America's oil reserves means drilling for American oil.

We also know, used properly, revenue generated by oil and natural gas can build an economy, a strong and diversified economy.

That’s what the professional study commissioned by the Cheyenne and Arapaho shows could be the case if in fact the Fort Reno lands are returned to the tribes.

Some argue the C&A have been paid for the Fort Reno land. This isn’t accurate, according to historical documents.

The U.S. government in the late 1800s paid the tribes for 5 million acres, but before doing so, carved out what became Fort Reno and later the Federal Correctional Institution, for military purposes exclusively. The promise at the time was that if and when the Fort Reno lands ceased to be used for military purposes, the Fort Reno land would be returned to the Cheyenne and Arapaho.

That didn’t happen.

In the 1960s, probably feeling somewhat guilt-ridden for having paid the C&A the equivalent of 38 cents an acre for the 5 million acres, the federal government forked over another $15 million. Still, this was not for Fort Reno, but for the land taken in the late 1800s for settlement by non-Indians. The land that fetched the handsome price of 38 cents per acre. Even with the additional $15 million payment in the 1960s, the C&A were paid a little more than $3 per acre for their reservation.

In essence, we give our enemies billions while putting the screws to our neighbors and fellow Americans.

None of the current members of the Oklahoma congressional delegation, or the D.C. bureaucrats in charge of Fort Reno, are responsible for how the Cheyenne and Arapaho people were treated in the 1800s. But they are most certainly responsible for how they respond to issues concerning the tribes today.

This isn’t about reparations, it’s about righting a wrong. It’s about keeping a promise.

If Fort Reno is returned to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the very real possibility exists that thousands of new jobs could be created.

The very real possibility also exists that developments could be created that would attract throngs of visitors a year and pump tens of millions of dollars into the Canadian County economy and especially El Reno.

If Fort Reno is returned to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, it could lead to major developments at Fort Reno as well as I-40 and Country Club Road.

If Fort Reno is returned to the Cheyenne and Arapaho, the very real possibility exists that the current research being conducted there could continue. C&A Gov. Reggie Wassana said as much in comments he made at El Reno Now last year.

If Fort Reno remains in possession of the federal government, a few new USDA research jobs might be created, most likely focusing on climate change.

These days, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a federal agency, university or private sector foundation that isn’t conducting climate research.

Duplication and government waste come to mind when climate research is the topic.

The financing for the C&A’s ambitious economic development venture is expected to come from the oil and natural gas deposits thought to be under Fort Reno.

The reserve reports suggest the deposits could be worth $6 billion, with $2 billion of that going to the C&A.

If those funds are controlled by our federal politicians, how great will the economic impact be here locally?

The C&A have invested in a plan that shows exactly what could happen locally if they control the land. The results are a four-letter word: jobs.

Which in your opinion, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer, would create a better return on investment?

It’s time to give the C&A their lands back and in doing so, give everyone hope for a better and brighter economic future.

It’s called working together. It’s called doing the right thing. It’s called justice.

Justice that is long, long overdue.