Bill removes blood quantum requirement from state post

Tuesday, January 24, 2012  

Oklahoma Rep. Paul Wesselhoft (R) introduced a bill to eliminate a blood quantum requirement for the state's Native American liaison job.

Wesselhoft, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, called the one-fourth blood quantum requirement outdated and discriminatory. He said membership in a federally recognized tribe should be the main qualification for the job.

"Blood degree is an artificial definition of an Indian fostered by the federal government to ultimately deny their treaty obligations in the future by setting some arbitrary blood percentage,” said Wesselhoft, The Shawnee News-Star reported.

House Bill 2563 amends HB2172, which abolished the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission and created the Native American liaison position. Gov. Mary Fallin (R) has not filled the post.

Get the Story:
Wesselhoft Authors Native American Liaison Bill (The Shawnee News-Star 1/24)

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