Published on Friday, 03 October 2014
Written by DANA ATTOCKNIE, Native Times Correspondent


LONE WOLF, Okla.  – One by one, hundreds of pigeon carcasses are scooped up from the ground and tossed into large black trash bags. Their last flight began when they were hurled into the crosshairs of a group of campaign contributors for U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK).

As part of the 10th Anniversary Inhofe Dove Hunt on Sept. 5 and 6 near the Quartz Mountain Lodge and Resort in Lone Wolf, Okla., men and women campaign contributors participated in an “Old World” pigeon shoot. A Mariachi band played while 1,000 live pigeons were hand pitched into the sky and shot.

Two of the attendees were Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. An undercover investigator from an animal rights group called Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) filmed the shoot and posted portions of the video on YouTube and at www.InhofeCruelty.com. The response from some Cherokee Nation citizens and animal rights activists is outrage.

Cherokee citizens Twila Barnes, Sharilyn Van House and Cheryl Brown joined SHARK President Steve Hindi at a press conference Sept. 30 at the Oklahoma State Capitol to announce they want a federal investigation to be conducted. Barnes said according to Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin, Jr., $2,500 was donated by Cherokee businesses in order for Baker to attend. The donation qualified the tribe to be listed as a Gold Level sponsor.

Click here to read full article.