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Eleven area community members, recipients of the Cherokee Nation Principal Chief's Leadership Award.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Eleven area community members recently received the Cherokee Nation Principal Chief's Leadership Award for their ability to demonstrate Cherokee leadership by always putting the Cherokee people first. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith presents the award annually to deserving individuals.

This year's recipients are Marie Wadley of Muskogee, Rena Wells of Westville, Virginia (Vann) Perry of Muskogee, Rebecca Jim of Vinita, Marion (Brown) Hagerstrand of Tahlequah, George L. Cummings of Jay, Laramie Hammer or Tahlequah, Janice Ballou of Salina, Reverend Woodrow Ross of Salina, Elva Virginia Reece of Porum, and Jeromie Hammer of Tahlequah.

"The strength of the Cherokee Nation lies in our communities," Smith said. "These people are chosen for their leadership and their dedication to Cherokee culture and communities."

Wadley, is retired from the Cherokee Nation where she spent twenty-four years as an Executive Secretary. She received the distinguished Service Award for service beyond the call of duty from the Cherokee Nation in 1964. She remains active in the affairs of the Cherokee Nation as well as other Indian tribes and nations.

Wells, a graduate of Sequoyah High School, helped raise three nephews and two nieces. She recently left her job of thirteen years at Westville Nursing Home to care for her mother. She now spends most of time babysitting her great nephew and four great nieces.

Jim recently retired from Miami Public Schools where she was a counselor for twenty-seven years. She also served as the faculty advisor for the Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve Project. Under her sponsorship, the students in the Indian Club at Miami High School led a community effort to stop nuclear waste in Ottawa County. She also founded LEAD (Local Environmental Action Demanded), an organization that focuses on environmental issues in northeastern Oklahoma.

Hagerstrand is a member of the Cherokee Nation Constitutional Commission and the Cherokee Seminaries Student's Association. She is also a veteran of World War II, where she was stationed at Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea. Hagerstrand is the daughter of Jack Brown, former superintendent of Sequoyah High School and grew up in the two-story white house that still stands on the school grounds today.

Cummings, owner of Triple C Construction Company, got his start at Chilloco Indian School where he received an associate's degree in heavy equipment and construction. After receiving his degree, he was employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Road Division before eventually opening his own construction business.

Laromie Hammer is a student at the University of Oklahoma where he is a member of the OU Sooners Football Team. During his time at OU, he has been selected for the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll for academics three years in a row and won a National Championship in college football. He is also a recipient of the Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship.

Ballou is a teacher at Sequoyah High School. She holds a Master of Education from Northeastern State University. She currently serves as the director for the Cherokee National Children's choir and is the former choir director for Kenwood School. She has assisted with the Johnson O'Malley summer school and Kenwood Summer Arts.

Ross is a pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church. He is the father of four children including Ballou, and grandfather to eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ross is committed to serving the people in his community through his work with Cherokee Nation community development.

Reece has been actively involved with the Johnson O'Malley committee at Porum High School and serves as a member of the National Indian Council on Aging. She delivers food, sits with sick people, plans pie suppers, makes pies, and gets donations to make her community a better place to live. She enjoys being with friends and family, going to gospel singings, and having lunch at the Senior Citizens Center.

Jeromie Hammer is a teacher with Tahlequah Public Schools where he teaches Native American studies to students in the after school program and a Native American History class to junior high students. He is also the junior high assistant wrestling coach. He served many years as a volunteer wrestling coach before being employed with Tahlequah Public Schools.

"These honorees would not go out and seek recognition for the good things they do," Smith said. "But they deserve recognition and honor from the Cherokee Nation for the good work they do. I am humbled by their example of service, and the Cherokee people owe each of these people a great debt."