Council of the Cherokee Nation - File #: 26-077

• File #: 26-077
• Version: 1
• Name: N/A
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Reported from Committee
• File created: 9/11/2026
• In control: TRIBAL COUNCIL
• On agenda: 9/24/2026
• Title: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CHEROKEE NATION TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND TO APPOINT THE TRIBAL DELEGATE AND ALTERNATES
• Sponsors: Candessa Tehee, Joe Deere
• Indexes: National Congress of American Indians, NCAI
• Code sections: N/A - Not Applicable

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
9/24/2026	1	RULES COMMITTEE

Title

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CHEROKEE NATION TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND TO APPOINT THE TRIBAL DELEGATE AND ALTERNATES

Body

WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government on behalf of the Cherokee people; and

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; and

WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation wishes to become a member in good standing of the National Congress of American Indians; and

WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation meets all requirements for Tribal membership, pursuant to Article II, Section B(l) of the Constitution and Article III, Section B(l)(a) of the Bylaws of the National Congress of American Indians; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Hoskin Jr., Principal Chief, will designate one of the below named fifty-three (53) persons as his representative (alternate) in his absence by a letter stating such.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that the Council of the Cherokee Nation, which is the official governing body of the above named tribal nation, hereby authorizes Chuck Hoskin Jr., Principal Chief, to take the necessary actions to place the Nation in membership in the National Congress of American Indians; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that Nation funds in the amount of $30,000, based on the tribal Membership Dues Schedule of the National Congress of American Indians Bylaws, Article III, Section C(2), are authorized to be paid for such Tribal membership in the National Congress of American Indians; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that the $30,000 membership fee shall be paid by an equal amount from Executive Branch and Business Enterprises Branch out of existing appropriations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that, based on the Nation's citizenry of 478,379 persons, the Nation shall have 180 votes, in accordance with Article III, Section B(l) of the National Congress of American Indians Bylaws; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that the Council of the Cherokee Nation supports and approves the below named persons as representatives; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that pursuant to

Article III,§ B(l)(b) of the National Congress of American Indians Bylaws, the Nation designates the following named persons as Delegate and Alternate Delegate(s) and instructs them to become individual members in good standing in the National Congress of American Indians in order to fulfill their responsibilities as Official Delegates to the National Congress of American Indians Annual Convention and Executive Council Meeting.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH:

1. DELEGATE: Chuck Hoskin Jr., Principal Chief
2. ALTERNATE: Bryan Warner, Deputy Chief
3. ALTERNATE: Shella Bowlin, Secretary of State
4. ALTERNATE: Canaan Duncan, Deputy Secretary of State
5. ALTERNATE: Corey Bunch, Chief of Staff
6. ALTERNATE: Janees Taylor, Treasurer
7. ALTERNATE: Daniel Mead, Marshal
8. ALTERNATE: Chad Harsha, Attorney General
9. ALTERNATE: Christina Justice, Secretary of Natural Resources
10. ALTERNATE: S. Joe Crittenden, Secretary of Veteran Affairs
11. ALTERNATE: Kim Teehee, Delegate to Congress
12. ALTERNATE: Stephen Jones, Health Exe. Dir.
13. ALTERNATE: Diane Kelley, Career Services Exe. Dir.
14. ALTERNATE: Anna Knight, Commerce Exe. Dir.
15. ALTERNATE: Michael Lynn, Transportation & Infras Exe. Dir.
16. ALTERNATE: Brittany Denny, Human Services Exe. Dir.
17. ALTERNATE: Aaron Emberton, Education Exe. Dir.
18. ALTERNATE: Samantha Hendricks, Human Resources Exe. Dir
19. ALTERNATE: Paula Starr, IT Chief Information Officer
20. ALTERNATE: Lisa Pivec, Public Health Exe. Dir
21. ALTERNATE: Julie Hubbard, Communications Exe. Dir.
22. ALTERNATE: Ginger Reeves, Real Estate Services Exe. Dir.
23. ALTERNATE: Howard Paden, Cherokee Language Exe. Dir.
24. ALTERNATE: Savannah Smith, Cultural & Community Dir.
25. ALTERNATE: Kristen Thomas, Tribal Registrar
26. ALTERNATE: Sharon Swepston, Tax Commission Administrator
27. ALTERNATE: Audra Imhoff, Gaming Commission Exe. Dir.
28. ALTERNATE: Brandon Scott, VP of Enterprise CN/CNB
29. ALTERNATE: David Moore, Facilities Management Exe. Dir.
30. ALTERNATE: Tyler Thomas, Cherokee Phoenix Exe. Dir.
32. ALTERNATE: Jerri Killer, Housing Exe. Dir.
33. ALTERNATE: Tralynna Scott, Special Envoy for the U.S.   Department of Treasury
34. ALTERNATE: Mike Shambaugh, Special Envoy to the United States DOJ and Related Agencies
35. ALTERNATE: Joe Byrd, Special Envoy for International Affairs and Language Preservation
36. ALTERNATE: E.O Smith, Special Ambassador for Youth Athletics

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

37. ALTERNATE: Johnny Kidwell, Speaker of the Council, At Large
38. ALTERNATE: Kevin Easley, Jr., Deputy Speaker of the Council, DIST. 14
39. ALTERNATE: Joshua Sam, Secretary of the Council, DIST. 7
40. ALTERNATE: Sasha Blackfox-Qualls, Council Member, DIST. l
41. ALTERNATE: Candessa Tehee, Council Member, DIST. 2
42. ALTERNATE: Lisa Hall, Council Member, DIST. 3
43. ALTERNATE: Uriah Grass, Council Member, DIST. 4
44. ALTERNATE: Ashley Grant, Council Member, DIST. 5
45. ALTERNATE: Daryl Legg, Council Member, DIST. 6
46. ALTERNATE: Codey Poindexter, Council Member, DIST. 8
47. ALTERNATE: Clifton Hughes, Council Member, DIST. 9
48. ALTERNATE: Melvina Shotpouch, Council Member, DIST. IO
49. ALTERNATE: Kendra McGeady, Council Member, DIST. 11
50. ALTERNATE: Dora Patzkowski, Council Member, DIST. 12
51. ALTERNATE: Joe Deere, Council Member, DIST. 13
52. ALTERNATE: Danny Callison, Council Member, DIST. 15
53. ALTERNATE: Julia Coates, Council Member, At Large