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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council has selected their nominees to fill two new Council positions to represent Cherokee Nation citizens residing outside the tribe’s 14-county boundaries. In addition, Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, recommended his choices for several Cherokee Nation Cabinet and Supreme Court appointments this week. The new positions are mandated by the tribe’s new constitution.
The Tribal Council nominated, by majority vote, Taylor Keen, of Tulsa, and Jack D. Baker, of Oklahoma City.
Taylor Keen is a manager at Cherokee Nation Businesses, Inc. A 1997 graduate of Harvard University, Keen holds masters degrees in public policy and business administration. He is a former vice president of Cherokee Nation Enterprises, Inc. and owner of a private consulting practice. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Tulsa, School of Business and is a teacher of the Cherokee Nation History Course for the tribe.
Jack D. Baker, born on his grandfather’s Cherokee allotment in Chewey, holds an accounting degree from Oklahoma State University. Baker retired from the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in 1999. He is currently the National President of the Trail of Tears Association and is a board member of the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Cherokee-Moravian Historical Association and president of the board of the Cherokee Nation Education Corporation.
Chief Smith’s nominees include André Diane Hammons as Attorney General; Callie Catcher as Treasurer; Melanie Fourkiller Knight as Secretary of State; Sharon Wright as Marshal; and Kyle Haskins and Jim Wilcoxen as justices of the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court. All are citizens of the Cherokee Nation.
“This is an exciting time for the Cherokee Nation,” said Smith. “Implementing the new constitution means that we have a good deal of work ahead of us, but it also provides us with many opportunities for growth and improving our government processes to best meet the needs of our people. I look forward to working with these appointees in their new Cherokee Nation positions.”
On June 7, 2006, the Cherokee Nation’s highest court approved a new constitution for the tribe. The new constitution called for the addition of two at-large Tribal Council members to represent out-of-jurisdiction voters, in addition to the new Cabinet and Cherokee Nation Supreme Court posts. The Tribal Council approved the selections in their July 6 Rules Committee meeting and will officially vote on the all the nominees during the regular Tribal Council meeting on Monday, July 10.
“The most important part of the court’s decision was the assertion of inherent sovereignty. If we want to be a government, we need to act like a government. I think that was the hallmark of that decision,” Smith said at the time the new constitution was approved.
Diane Hammons, of Tahlequah, is the Cherokee Nation’s first female general counsel, appointed to the office in January, 2006. Prior to that appointment, she was interim general counsel for the tribe during the last half of 2005. Hammons received her J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
Callie Catcher, of Broken Arrow, is a C.P.A. with over 25 years of experience. She has been acting CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses, Inc. Catcher has held top financial positions with the Cherokee Nation, Dover Resources, Coburn Optical Industries and Thermofil.
Melanie Fourkiller Knight, originally from Stilwell, is currently the Executive Officer for the Cherokee Nation. Knight’s prior experience includes more than a decade of experience with legislative issues for tribal governments. She has extensive experience with self-governance, constitutional amendments, contracts and financial management systems. In addition to the Cherokee Nation, Knight worked as a grant director with the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma and as a grant reviewer for the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C.
Sharon Wright, of Park Hill, has more than 13 years of professional experience as a law enforcement officer, most recently as director of the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service. She has been instrumental in securing cross-deputation agreements between the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service and law enforcement agencies in surrounding counties.
Kyle B. Haskins, of Tulsa, is currently a special judge in the Tulsa County 14th Judicial District, presiding over family court, adoptions, guardianships and probate dockets. He received his J.D. from The University of Tulsa College of Law.
James G. Wilcoxen was born in Muskogee, received his J.D. from Oklahoma City University, and specializes in American Indian law as well as general, civil and criminal litigation.
The Cabinet, Supreme Court and Tribal Council posts will become effective as soon as the Tribal Council confirms the appointments.
Related path(s):
| 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 |