Copyright © 2004 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2004 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – With a packed agenda, the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council approved a self-help act, its annual budgets and honored WWII veteran Tim Baker during its September meeting.
Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Joe Grayson presents the Cherokee seal to Tim Baker for his service as a Naval Air Corps bombardier during WWII. 
The self-help contribution policy act will require each Cherokee Nation service program to include a self-help component.
“The intention of the act is to encourage Cherokee citizens who receive tribal services to give back to their community,” said Principal Chief Chad Smith. “In addition to helping our citizens, we want to promote a mind-set that they can help themselves and their community. It really goes back to our basic vision of coming together as a community.”
The policy will include exceptions for people who are physically or mentally incapable of fulfilling the self-help requirement. The self-help contribution policy was amended to include a 30-day turnaround time for the Council to review and approve the policies for each individual program.
The Council also approved an amendment to the fiscal year 2004 budget, and passed the 2005 budget unanimously, more than two weeks before the new fiscal year begins on October 1.
The Council unanimously approved the nominations of several board members. Dewayne Marshal and Foreman Ross were approved to serve on the Cherokee Nation Sequoyah High School Board of Education. Jerry Gunter and Shannon Fisher were approved as Commissioners of the Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission. David Tippeconnic, William Grass, Milford Harp, Jr., Jay Hannah and Lloyd Armstrong were all approved to serve as board members of the Cherokee Nation Businesses, Inc. board of directors.
A resolution was also put forth by Council member Meredith Frailey, who represents Mayes County, to support State Question 712, the Education and Jobs Referendum. The resolution was passed, 13-2.
“This is an important issue for our people,” said Council member Cara Cowan, who represents Rogers County. Cowan stated that the referendum is about improving education in Oklahoma by providing adequate salaries and benefits to Oklahoma teachers.
Part of a new tradition for the monthly meeting, the State of the Nation address included taking a moment to honor Cherokee veterans. Deputy Chief Joe Grayson had high praise for Tim Baker, a Naval Air Corps veteran who served as a bombardier in both theaters overseas during World War II. He returned home in 1946. Baker’s great-great-grandmother Walker came to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears where she lost both her parents to pneumonia; and he was raised by his full-blood grandmother Nancy Jane Osage.
The next Cherokee Nation Council will reconvene at 6 p.m. on Monday, October 11 in the Tribal Council Chambers at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex in Tahlequah. The meeting can be viewed live on the Internet by way of the Cherokee Nation's web site.
| Related Cherokee Nation 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 |