Inter-Tribal Council leaders call on Oklahoma Legislature to overturn vetoes
The elected leaders of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole Nations call on the Oklahoma Legislature to overturn vetoes by Governor Stitt of bills protecting religious freedom, education, and public safety in Oklahoma.
SB 429 protects the right of Native American students to wear tribal regalia and other cultural items during school graduation ceremonies. SB 299 prevents expiration of the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education. HB 2608 clarifies that sex offenders residing within reservations must register with tribal law enforcement, in addition to state and other local law enforcement agencies for the area. Before being vetoed, all three bills were approved by large super-majorities in the Oklahoma House and Senate.
These bills show what productive partnership between Tribal Nations and the State of Oklahoma can and should look like: collaborating to protect religious and cultural freedom, respect families, improve education, and keep communities safe from sex offenders. The Oklahoma Legislature should swiftly overturn the Governor’s vetoes.
About Inter-Tribal Council
The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (ITC) is an organization that unites the tribal governments of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole Nations, representing approximately 815,000 Indian people throughout the United States.
