Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Two Cherokee Nation tribal citizens, Isidoro Sierra, Jr. and Raven Bruner, were recently elected to help lead a national Indian youth organization.

Sierra and Bruner are members of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council and were elected to the United National Indian Tribal Youth Council (UNITY) Executive Board while attending the National UNITY Conference in Choctaw, Mississippi. The UNITY board is comprised of 10 youth representing Indian tribes from across the nation. Each board member is elected to serve a one-year term. The board meetings are held through conference phone calls and Internet meetings.

"I’m just really proud of their accomplishment", said Reba Bruner, Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council sponsor. "We’ve had several of our youth elected to the UNITY board over the years. It’s always an honor."

Sierra, of Hulbert, currently serves as president of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council. He is a 2003 graduate of Hulbert High School and plans to attend Northeastern State University (NSU) in the fall where he will major in both criminal justice and Native American studies.

Bruner, of Stilwell, currently serves as secretary of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council. She is a 2003 graduate of Stilwell High School and will also attend NSU in the fall where she will major in pre-pharmacy.

"One of my goals (as an (UNITY) council member) is to get a youth council started in my district to promote UNITY and get more involvement from Oklahoma", Raven Bruner said.

Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council members are elected for a two-year term. Representatives are chosen from each district in the Cherokee Nation’s 14-county jurisdictional area. Elections for districts 5-9 will be held in October. To be eligible to run for an office, the youth must reside in the district they are running in, be a tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation, a currently enrolled student, and be committed to attending monthly meetings. For more information on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council, contact Reba Bruner, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2397).

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org