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Native American commission created

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By Charlotte Eby | Monday, May 12, 2008 10:54 PM CDT | () comments

DES MOINES — The Iowa Commission on Native American Affairs was created with the stroke of a pen Monday, as Gov. Chet Culver signed legislation creating the new agency.

Culver said the new commission will give Iowa’s Native Americans a permanent voice in state government.

“Native Americans were the first Iowans and the first to know this beautiful land. This commission will show all Iowans that we, as a state, respect this heritage,”

Culver said.

Culver urged Iowans across the state who might be interested in serving on the commission to apply.

Estimates place the number of Native Americans in Iowa at more than 11,500, with the largest concentration of those living off reservations in the Sioux City area, according to the governor’s office.

Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa/Meskwaki Tribal Chairman Adrian Pushetonequa attended the signing and was pleased to see the commission created.

“Whatever issues may arise, certainly we have a connection, a closer connection with the state,” he said.

Judy Morrison, a member of the Cherokee and Osage tribes who lives in Iowa City, was also on hand for the bill signing.

“It does mean a lot to me today because we’ve gone for the last two terms of governors without any recognition of the native people in Iowa,” Morrison said.

The new commission will become a part of the Iowa Department of Human Rights, headed by Walter Reed Jr. The department also oversees commissions for African-Americans, Latinos and Asian and Pacific Islanders, among

others.

Reed said the Native American community has had challenges with housing and access to state and local

services.

“It’s a great way to advocate on behalf of those people and organize them and show them how to attain those services, so we look forward to it,” Reed said of the new commission.

— Charlotte Eby