Native Americans attend Brad Henry's inauguration

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Chiefs from 39 Oklahoma-based American Indian tribes helped give the inauguration of Governor Brad Henry an Oklahoma flavor. <br><br>Members of the Kiowa Black Leggings Society, wearing

Tuesday, January 14th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Chiefs from 39 Oklahoma-based American Indian tribes helped give the inauguration of Governor Brad Henry an Oklahoma flavor.

Members of the Kiowa Black Leggings Society, wearing traditional feathered headdress and clothing, served as a color guard during Monday's ceremonies.

For many tribal members, Henry's inauguration was their first.

Margo Gray, a member of the Osage Tribe, says she was pleased when Henry called for unity among Oklahomans and recognized the contributions of tribal members.

Gray says she's optimistic that Henry will not overlook American Indian issues.

The ceremony also featured Metropolitan Opera soprano Leona Mitchell of Enid, N. Scott Momaday, a Pulitzer Prize winning poet born in Lawton and the artwork of Charles Banks Wilson.

Wilson's work has captured the likenesses of representatives of 200 Indian tribes since 1935.