The Chickasaw, Choctaw and Cherokee tribes have dontated nearly a million dollars to the state of Oklahoma in the last couple of years, which is about five times the rate they were donating at the turn of the century, reports KSWO in Lawton.

(Coincidentally?) These tribes have also been busy negotiating big gaming contracts with the state.

The Tulsa World discusses the issue with Greg Pyle, Chief of the Choctaw Nation:

In no other state do tribes account for a bigger share of campaign cash, according to data from the Center for Responsible Politics, a campaign finance watchdog group.

Greg Pyle, the chief of the Choctaw Nation, said it is wise to give contributions to lawmakers.

Pyle said he asked a federal official a few years ago how a tribe could work successfully with state elected officials.

“The question he posed to me was, ‘Did you help get them elected?’ ” the chief said.

Pyle said that in his travels around the country, he has seen that the most successful tribes support political campaigns.

The chief said it is important that when issues come along, Indian leaders “have a seat at the table.”

“The lawmakers are busy people; everyone wants to see them, so it is important that they know you, and you can sit down and visit with them,” he said. Now if an issue comes up, a lawmaker sometimes will pick up the phone to get the Indian tribe’s viewpoint, Pyle said.