Jari Askins: Okla., tribes should continue partnership

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma's government should continue and expand upon its efforts to foster strong working relationships with the state's 39 American Indian tribes, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins said Tuesday.

Speaking at the annual Indian Country Business Summit, Askins said tribal interests and businesses have a combined economic impact of $15 billion in Oklahoma.

"I shudder to think what would happen" if there was not a strong tribal business presence in Oklahoma, Askins said.

The tribes - many buoyed financially by the success of their gaming operations and other business enterprises - often have taken the lead in recent years in building bridges, roads and health clinics in Oklahoma. The state's success is dependent upon strengthening existing partnerships among the tribes and between the tribes and state government, she said.

"There is no doubt that we are stronger when we are all together," Askins said.

There are about 16,000 Indian-owned businesses in Oklahoma, said Margo Gray-Proctor of Tulsa, the chairwoman of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.

Conference organizers said the goal of the event is to educate business owners and promote expanded opportunities for them, particularly in landing state and federal government contracts. The state Department of Commerce does a good job in helping educate and promote Indian-owned businesses, said Pamela Huddleston Bickford, a Cherokee Nation member who owns Cherokee Data Solutions in Claremore.

"What's beautiful about Oklahoma is there is not a land grab for attention," Bickford said. "People understand the big vision, the big picture."

The relationship between the tribes and the state government in Oklahoma is mostly positive, said Neal McCaleb, a Chickasaw Nation official who once served as Oklahoma's transportation secretary.

"The other states are still fighting Plains Indian wars with each other," McCaleb said during a panel discussion. "Oklahoma is unique and it's good for business."

He said that both state and tribal governments "need to look to ways to create synergism and not look to push back against each other."

Gray-Proctor suggested one way to ensure that tribal concerns are heard at the state level would be the establishment of a cabinet-level position. Askins seemed open to the idea, but said her primary concern now is her campaign to become the state's first female governor. Askins, a Democrat, will face Republican U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin in November.

McCaleb suggested an alternative could be for state agencies to form tribal advisory boards, which he started voluntarily within the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

Creating such a board would indicate "an elevated level of sensitivity about what can be done" to encourage state officials to work with their tribal counterparts, he said.