Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TAHLEQUAH, OK - During his monthly state of the nation address to the tribal council Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith made two appointments to the tribe's election commission. By tribal law, the previous commission's four-year term expired this past January, six months after the tribe's last election. Smith appointed attorney Kyle B. Haskins of Tulsa who is a special judge for the 14th Judicial District and Rita Bunch of Watts who is a counselor and director of alternative education at Watts Public Schools.

The council also appointed two people to the commission. Martha Calico of Stilwell, who previously served on the commission from 1991 to 1996 and Cherokee citizen Raymond Vann of Tahlequah were appointed.

These four appointees will choose the fifth member of the commission. This person must also meet the approval of the council and chief.

Chief Smith announced the tribal council has moved its offices to the TCI building, which is located a one-quarter mile east of the main tribal complex on Hwy. 62.

Dist. 5 Councilor Barbara Starr-Scott invited Cherokee citizens and employees to visit the new council offices.

The chief also announced a housing assessment team is being formed to study housing needs within the Cherokee Nation. This team is made up of community members and tribal employees. Many of the team members are from the Community Development Department, which already has a home improvement component in place.

A second report to the Cherokee people will be released soon, Smith said. In the report, he said he would explain the tribe's legislative agenda. As part of the 1947 Act, one part of the agenda addresses the tribe's loss of land. Each of the Five Civilized Tribes was subjected to "hostile" treaties in the 1800s and after Oklahoma statehood that effectively took away a large amount of Indian land, he said.

The chief is asking Cherokee citizens to contact their congressmen to ask them to support the Cherokee Nation's effort in getting restitution for lands taken away and to protect lands still held in trust.

Chief Smith also provided an update on discussions being held on the Arkansas Riverbed. He said, "the riverbed is not for sale, we don't want to sell it, no one wants to buy it." The 1947 Act also includes language to resolve ownership of 7,700 acres along the riverbed.

"We believe we own it," Smith said.

The 1947 Act requests that the 7,700 acres along the riverbed be traded for other lands owned by the federal government or a settlement be paid to the tribe.

Chief Smith reminded tribal members to fill out their Census 2000 forms and send them back in. Importantly, he asked Cherokee people to mark Indian on their forms because it will assist the tribe with future funding.

In conclusion, Smith announced representatives from the Cherokee Nation and Northeastern State University will meet soon to "build a stronger higher education commitment." The main purpose of the meeting is to assess the higher education needs of the tribe and to see if NSU can meet those needs, he said.