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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Constitution Convention Commission of the Cherokee Nation will host an Education Forum in Tulsa on May 6th in preparation for the upcoming Constitution amendment and ratification vote in May and July. The meeting will be held at the Community of Christ Church located at 510 S. Hudson in Tulsa. Meeting time is 7:00 p.m. All Cherokee Citizens and anyone interested in learning more about the upcoming ratification votes on the Cherokee Constitution are encouraged to attend.

The Cherokee Nation Constitution Commission was organized by Tribal Legislation after the 1995 vote of the People called for the organization of a Convention to examine the current 1976 Constitution of the Cherokee Nation. Within the Constitution is a requirement to ask the Cherokee Citizens if a Constitution Convention is to be called at least once every 20 years. This question was overwhelmingly passed during the 1995 General Election.

Since that time, a Commission was formed to hold public hearings, organize a Constitution Convention, and work with the Election Commission to place that document before the Cherokee People. A new Constitution was written and adopted by the 79 Delegate Convention held in Tahlequah in March of 1999. Efforts to obtain BIA approval of the document have occupied the work of the Commission since 1999.

Cherokee Citizens will be asked to vote on an amendment question during the May 24, General Election. This amendment will seek to remove "federal approval" requirements from the 1976 Constitution. If that question is passed, the 1999 Constitution, written by the Convention will be placed on the July 26, 2003 run-off election ballot for ratification.

In preparation for these Constitution votes, the Commission is holding over 20 Education Forums throughout the Cherokee Nation and across the United States to inform and prepare voters for the upcoming elections. All Cherokee Citizens are invited to participate in these Education Forums. The meetings are free of charge and open to the public. Commissioners will host the meetings and provide handouts containing both the 1976 and 1999 Constitutions. The primary focus of the meetings will be to clarify the differences between the two documents.

Additional forums will be held in the 14 counties throughout the Cherokee Nation, as scheduling will permit. If your community or group is interested in the Commission coming to your community, contact the Commission Office.

For more information on the upcoming amendment and ratification vote, contact the Constitution Convention Commission office at P.O. Box 1931, Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74465 or by calling 918-456-0671 (ext.2570). More details can be found on the Cherokee Nation web site or by emailing your questions to ccc@cherokee.org.

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

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671