Oklahoma Governor's Authority Over Native Council Dramatically Reduced

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma legislators have limited Governor Kevin Stitt’s authority over a committee focused on Native American education amidst ongoing conflicts with tribal chiefs. The officials removed eight of Stitt’s nine nominations to the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education, a relatively obscure state committee that might be instrumental in developing new public school syllabuses on Native American topics, a crucial objective for State Superintendent Ryan Walters.

The officials passed Senate Bill 299 this year to extend the advisory council until 2026, and the bill also diminished the count of Stitt’s nominees on the committee. This was one of multiple bills proposed to restrict the governor’s control over different state committees and commissions.

Tribal chiefs, who asked for the bill, stated that Stitt had not filled positions on the committee for years and declined to take action even though the tribes proposed possible candidates.

“The tribes felt like their voices were not being heard on the board,” Sen. Roger Thompson, the bill’s author, told the Oklahoma Voice.

Thompson, R-Okemah, highlighted Stitt’s contentious history with tribal affairs, which began when he unsuccessfully attempted to renegotiate the state’s gaming compacts. This led to prolonged legal battles and animosity between the governor and major tribal nations over compacting and sovereignty issues.

Although Stitt initially vetoed SB 299, the Oklahoma Legislature overturned the veto, and the new law became effective on July 1.

The council is anticipated to reconvene this autumn after House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, appoint new members to the board based on recommendations from tribal leaders. The council comprises representatives from tribal nations and colleges, the State Department of Education, and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Stitt explained his veto of the bill to extend the council as an effort to reduce the size of state government, stating in his veto message that the council “does not at this time serve a necessary government function.” Stitt’s office chose not to comment further.

However, tribal representatives argue that the council is vital for assisting K-12 schools statewide in addressing the needs of over 150,000 Native American students. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. stated that besides contributing to the curriculum, the council also directs resources to Native American students and “helps make sure lessons on Native American history and culture are accurate and Native American students are treated in culturally-appropriate ways.”

In February 2022, Stitt appointed five individuals to the council. However, former council Chairwoman Lucyann Harjo noted that there were occasionally as many as eight unfilled positions on the board, making it challenging to achieve the minimum number of members required for the panel to convene.

“That really impacts our discussions and how we continue to advocate for Indian children, as well as the collaboration and communication between schools and the state of Oklahoma and tribal nations,” she said.

The council advises the State Board of Education on teacher professional development and lesson plans related to tribal matters, and it responds to issues raised by Native American communities, according to Harjo. Harjo, a Native education coordinator at Norman Public Schools, has been a member of the council since its inception in 2011.

Harjo mentioned that the council has previously deliberated on how school authorities should address the bullying of Native American boys for wearing braids, and students donning tribal regalia during graduation ceremonies, which led to the creation of a new state law.

Harjo expressed optimism that transferring many council appointments from Stitt to legislative leaders will streamline the process and avoid prolonged vacancies.

“I just want to thank the state Legislature for seeing the importance of it, the value of it,” she said, “so that we can continue to push forward working with the state closely to address the educational needs of our kids in our schools.”

State Superintendent Walters indicated that the council will certainly be involved as he aims to make lessons developed by the tribes accessible to teachers statewide. Walters, a former high school history teacher in McAlester, mentioned that he had assisted the Chickasaw Nation in creating its history curricula, which he commended as one of the most comprehensive in the state.

Walters recently contacted other Oklahoma tribes to understand their lesson plans and their approach to teaching their history. He now intends to harmonize the lessons from the tribes with state academic standards to ensure they are readily available for all public schools.

“We should have the most robust tribal curriculum for every district in the state to be able to offer,” Walters said.