Since the closure of its casino in 2017, the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma has faced significant economic challenges, leading some tribal leaders to view the rapid expansion of data centers as a potential avenue for revival. Located about an hour west of Oklahoma City, the tribe’s chairman, Bobby Gonzalez, describes the nation’s financial state as “broke,” emphasizing the urgent need for new economic opportunities. However, the growing presence of data centers, driven by demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, has sparked division within Native communities, particularly over environmental and cultural concerns.
In Binger, Oklahoma, former tribal council member Tracy Newkumet expressed skepticism about tying the tribe’s future to technology projects. During preparations for the Caddos’ traditional turkey dance, Newkumet underscored the importance of water resources, which many view as the most pressing concern in areas targeted for data center development. The industry’s thirst for energy and water has raised alarms in multiple states, where local residents and governments confront issues ranging from noise pollution to resource strain.
The debate is particularly charged on Native lands, where historical exploitation by outside interests adds complexity to decisions about development. Advocates such as Larry Wright Jr., executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, have highlighted the promise of tribal land sovereignty and workforce readiness to support the Biden administration’s focus on AI infrastructure. In a letter to the White House, Wright described tribal lands as strategically suited to power American AI leadership.
Yet opposition to such developments is vocal as well. Seminole Nation council member Chebon Kernell criticized what he termed the “false fruits of wealth,” advocating instead for the preservation of community well-being and environmental integrity. After learning of a proposed nondisclosure agreement with a data center developer inserted into a council agenda without wider consultation, Kernell helped organize a town hall meeting, leading the tribe to enact a moratorium on data center projects—the first of its kind.
Similar resistance unfolded within the Muscogee Nation, located south of Tulsa, where the tribal council declined to rezone thousands of acres for a technology park following community protests. The Indigenous Environmental Network and allied groups have framed such developments as part of a larger “data colonialism” trend, voicing concerns about the influence of Big Tech on tribal sovereignty and environmental health.
Meanwhile, the Cherokee Nation—the largest tribe by population and territory—has adopted a more measured approach. While Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma and Markwayne Mullin, the homeland security secretary and former U.S. senator, have championed data centers as economic drivers, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. has convened a task force to carefully evaluate the environmental and economic implications. Hoskin acknowledged the tribe is proceeding cautiously, mindful of both the opportunities and risks.
The controversy extends beyond tribal governments. Cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa have imposed their own moratoriums amid concerns about energy consumption and electricity costs associated with data centers. State legislators, including Cherokee members Brad Boles and Amanda Clinton, have pursued bipartisan efforts to protect consumers from utility rate increases tied to data center energy demand. Clinton described the current rush for data center projects as “the new land run,” reflecting the high stakes in a state eager for jobs but wary of rapid industrialization.
Efforts to mediate between tribes and technology companies include initiatives such as Colusa Indian Energy, a utility operator run by the Colusa Indian Community of Northern California. Ken Ahmann, its chief operating officer, emphasized the group's role as an intermediary to safeguard tribal interests amid widespread mistrust of corporate entities. Colusa Indian Energy is engaged in negotiations with tribes like the Caddo to jointly develop power infrastructure supporting data centers, potentially fostering more equitable partnerships.
As data center construction intensifies in Oklahoma and across Indian Country, tribal nations continue to navigate a complex landscape of economic prospects, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation. The outcomes of these internal debates will shape the future of digital infrastructure on indigenous lands across the United States.