Native Americans hold rally at Oklahoma Capitol

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A group of Native American parents and supporters held a rally at the state Capitol and delivered a petition to the governor’s office over the state’s relationship with tribes.

Oklahoma Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry delivered 8,000 petition signatures to Gov. Mary Fallin’s office on Monday. The petition calls for repairing the relationship between the state government and its indigenous people, which the group says has been strained.

According to a spokeswoman, the group requested a meeting with the governor, but was told it would be a few months before she was available.

A spokesman for the governor says the tribal governments are important partners to state government and that Fallin “values the good relationships her administration has cultivated with them.”