A Native woman made history in the Kansas House. An insensitive remark quickly followed

Source: Kansas City Star

A Native woman made history in the Kansas House. An insensitive remark quickly followed

BY LUCY PETERSON
UPDATED MARCH 24, 2022 2:06 PM

TOPEKA Rep. Ponka-We Victors, a Wichita Democrat, made history Wednesday afternoon as the first Native American woman to serve as chair of the Kansas House of Representatives.

But the moment was tarnished when Rep. John Wheeler, a Garden City Republican, made an insensitive remark during a floor speech.

Wheeler told Victors he was “checking to see if that was a tomahawk” after she struck her gavel to quiet the body. He immediately apologized after the comment was met with a mix of laughter and vocal disapproval.

“I am getting a point that that is apparently considered offensive, if it is I certainly do apologize,” Wheeler said.

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Read more: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article259703445.html

Alternate link: https://news.yahoo.com/native-woman-made-history-kansas-220909039.html

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Related: Native lawmaker rejects legislator’s apology for racially insensitive comment (WIBW-TV)