Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – By a unanimous vote, the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council approved the nominations of two At-Large Council Members, Taylor Keen of Tulsa and Jack Baker of Oklahoma City, to represent Cherokee Nation citizens residing outside the tribe’s 14-county jurisdictional area during the July council meeting.
Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice Stacy Leeds swears in the two new At-Large Tribal Council Members Jack Baker and Taylor Keen during the July Tribal Council meeting. Pictured L-R: Justice Stacy Leeds, Ken Crittenden, Jack Baker, Taylor Keen, and Ralph Keen, Jr. 
The positions were mandated by the tribe’s new constitution, which was approved by the Cherokee Nation’s highest court on June 7, and had to be made within 60 days of the passage of the constitution.
Keen, who worked as a manager at Cherokee Nation Businesses, Inc., is a 1997 graduate of Harvard University and a former vice-president of Cherokee Nation Enterprises, Inc. He is an adjunct professor in The University of Tulsa School of Business and is a teacher of the Cherokee Nation history course.
Baker, who was born on his grandfather’s Cherokee allotment in Chewey, holds an accounting degree from Oklahoma State University. He retired from Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. in 1999 and is currently national president of the Trail of Tears Association and serves as president of the board of the Cherokee Nation Education Corporation.
The tribe’s new constitution called for the additional Tribal Council members as well as two new Cherokee Nation Supreme Court justices and several cabinet positions.
“Tonight we enjoy seeing history being made with the enactment of our new constitution,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. “The nomination of these officers, council members and justices is the will of the Cherokee people being carried out.”
The Council voted to confirm Diane Hammons of Tahlequah as the Cherokee Nation Attorney General. Prior to that appointment, she served as general counsel for the tribe, and was the first female to hold that position. She received her J.D. degree from The University of Oklahoma College of Law.
The Council also voted to confirm Callie Catcher of Broken Arrow as the Cherokee Nation Treasurer. A CPA with over 25 years experience, Catcher served as CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses, Inc., and has held top financial positions with the Cherokee Nation, Dover Resources, Coburn Optical Industries and Thermofil.
Melanie Knight, originally from Stilwell, was confirmed as the Cherokee Nation Secretary of State by a unanimous vote of the Council. With more than a decade of experience in legislative issues for tribal governments, Knight has extensive experience with self-governance, constitutional amendments, contracts and financial management systems. In addition to the Cherokee Nation, she has 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.
The Council also voted to confirm Sharon Wright of Park Hill as Marshal of the Cherokee Nation. Having more than 13 years of experience in law enforcement, Wright most recently served as director of the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service. She has been instrumental in securing cross-deputization agreements with other law enforcement agencies within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation.
The Council also voted to approve Kyle B. Haskins and James G. Wilcoxen as the two new justices to the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court. Under the mandates of the new constitution, the Supreme Court will have five justices instead of the three under the previous Judicial Appeals Court.
Haskins is currently a special judge in the 14th Judicial District in Tulsa and presides over family court, adoptions, guardianships and probate dockets. He received his J.D. degree from The University of Tulsa College of Law.
Wilcoxen, of Muskogee, received his J.D. degree from Oklahoma City University and specializes in American Indian law as well as general, civil and criminal litigation.
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 |
