Idle No More rally draws a crowd to Oklahoma State Capitol

Tuesday, January 29, 2013  

An Idle No More rally at the Oklahoma State Capitol drew about 200 participants, The Oklahoman reports.

Attendees said they opposed the Keystone XL Pipeline, supported the Choctaw Nation and the Chickasaw Nation in their water rights lawsuit and opposed the elimination of the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission.

“They didn't seek public comment asking what we thought about that. They just did it. … Isn't this our government too? I consider myself a dual citizen — of the Muscogee Creek Nation and of Oklahoma," Brenda Golden told The Oklahoman of the decision to replace the commission with a Native American liaison in the governor's office.

A bill in the Legislature would elevate the liaison to the Secretary for Native American Affairs.

Get the Story:
American Indians rally at Oklahoma Capitol to call attention to environmental, sovereignty issues (The Oklahoman 1/29)

Oklahoma bill creates Secretary for Native American Affairs (1/28)