Title
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE CHARLES L. HEAD
Body
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government in behalf of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America;
WHEREAS, Charles L. Head was a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation, born July 18, 1949, near Pryor, Oklahoma, passed away on January 30, 2013 and was laid to rest February 5, 2013;
WHEREAS, Charles L. Head was devoted husband, father and grandfather who instilled in his family the values of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, Charles L. Head served the Cherokee people honorably and with distinction in the United States Navy during the Vietnam war and honorably and with distinction during his professional career, first as an employee of the Cherokee Nation, later as an official with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, including as an acting area director, and finally as the Secretary of State of the Cherokee Nation from January 2012 until his passing;
WHEREAS, during Charles L. Head's tenure as Secretary of State, he worked hard, and successfully so, to strengthen the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation, to strengthen the government-to-government relationship between the Cherokee Nation and the federal government and to engage in diplomacy with other federally recognized tribes and governments at all levels for the betterment of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, Charles L. Head's work as Secretary of State included the establishment of a task force aimed at reducing domestic violence and addressing mental health needs, now known as the Charles L. Head ONE FIRE Helping Victims Task Force;
WHEREAS, Charles L. Head's life inspires all Cherokees to serve their nation and to, as he stated during his tenure as Secretary of State, "chart a new course for our future and the future of others."
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Council of the Cherokee Nation expresses great sorrow at the loss of Charles L. Head and great appreciation for his service to the Cherokee people;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the Cherokee Nation endorses and supports the work of the Charles L. Head ONE FIRE Helping Victim's Task Force;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the Cherokee Nation joins Principal Chief Bill John Baker in his statement of February 5, 2013, designating July 18 of each year to be a day of celebration and service in honor of Charles L. Head.