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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation took time to honor one of its fallen leaders during Monday night’s Tribal Council meeting as the Principal Chief, Deputy Chief and fourteen Council Members paused to remember the fifteenth Council member, Dorothy Jean McIntosh, who passed away earlier this month.

At the first meeting without McIntosh, fellow Council member Melvina Shotpouch opened with an emotional prayer. Principal Chief Chad Smith honored McIntosh during his State of the Nation address, and by placing a vase full of flowers at her spot at the table during the Council meeting.

"It wouldn't be right just to have an empty chair here tonight", Smith said.

Council member Chuck Hoskin moved to amend the agenda to honor McIntosh with an official resolution by the Council.

"I think that this body should make an official recognition of the contributions that she made to the Cherokee Nation", said Hoskin before his motion was unanimously approved.

The Council voted to present a plaque and a Pendleton blanket to McIntosh's family.

"She was always giving Pendleton blankets to other people", said fellow Council member Barbara Starr-Scott.

The Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing the Bureau of Indian Affairs to revise and update the Cherokee Nation's inventory of Indian Reservation Roads and approved a legislative act awarding Cherokee Nation Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) $20,000.

The meeting was recessed until October 22 at 9:00 a.m.