Copyright © 2004 NLThomas
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News from Cherokee Nation
Copyright © 2004 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council took time from their March Council meeting to honor a Cherokee citizen who was killed in Iraq last week.
Fern Holland 
Principal Chief Chad Smith asked the Council to amend the agenda to pass a resolution in honor of Fern Holland, a Cherokee citizen who was assassinated for her work preserving women’s rights in the new Iraqi constitution.
"The Cherokee Nation, as a matrilineal society, recognizes the value and role of women as integral leaders and advocates of fundamental rights", Smith said. "From time immemorial, Cherokee women have held high positions of power and honor within the Nation, and at times gone to battle to fight for their beliefs. Fern Holland understood that she was at great risk because of her work (in Iraq), but expressed to her family that she loved the work she was doing and that many Iraqi women were depending upon her. Fern Holland was assassinated in Iraq on March 9, 2004, because of her work, and that she died as a warrior, fighting for her beliefs, and seeking to improve the lives of others."
The Council joined the U.S. Army in honoring two Cherokee Nation Enterprises employees, John Gillette and Brian Collins, for their role in bringing members of the 120th Engineering Battalion home for Christmas. Those soldiers are now stationed in Iraq.
(Left to Right) Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Joe Grayson, CNE employees John Gillette and Brian Collins, Principal Chief Chad Smith. 
In other news, the council passed a budget modification by the vote of 10-3 and a resolution in support of erecting a monument to Samuel Worcester, a missionary who was jailed for defending Cherokee Nation sovereignty during the 1830s prior to removal.
The Council also passed two resolutions allowing the Cherokee Nation Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) to apply for environmental grants and another resolution authorizing environmental review on tribal construction projects.
The Council also passed several resolutions relating to establishing service line agreements with various water districts in northeastern Oklahoma, including the Stick Ross Mountain Rural Water Company in Cherokee County, Tahlequah Public Works Authority and an agreement in Delaware County.
The Council also approved resolutions authorizing the placement of lands into trust. One tract of land, in Cherokee County, is located at the junction of Highway 62 and 82. The other tract of land is located adjacent to the Redbird Smith clinic in Sallisaw. The resolutions do not place the land into trust, but they do allow for the process of putting the tracts into trust to begin.
The Council approved two limited waivers of sovereign immunity for CNE and a workers compensation act.
"The workers compensation act provides a system to govern claims within the Cherokee Nation as well as an appeals process", said Meredith Frailey, who represents Mayes County on the Tribal Council. "It’s actually even better than the state’s system."
| Related contact information: |
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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 |
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 |