Country's largest tribal nation seeks congressional delegate

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Sean Murphy, Associated Press
Updated 5:24 pm CDT, Friday, August 16, 2019



Photo: Joseph Rushmore, AP

FILE - In this May 16, 2019 file photo, Chuck Hoskin Jr., former Secretary of State of the Cherokee Nation and then Cherokee Nation principal chief candidate, stands for a portrait before the Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Forum in Claremore, Okla. Hoskin Jr., the newly elected chief of the Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation, plans to appoint the tribe's first-ever delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is outlined in a nearly 200-year-old treaty with the federal government. (Joseph Rushmore/Tulsa World via AP, File)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The newly elected chief of the Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation plans to appoint the tribe's first-ever delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is outlined in a nearly 200-year-old treaty with the federal government.

In a letter Thursday to the speaker of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. requested a special meeting of the council later this month to consider confirming Kimberly Teehee, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, to the position. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter on Friday.

Hoskin, the tribe's former secretary of state, was elected leader of the 370,000-citizen tribe, the country's largest, in June with almost 58% of the vote.

In a statement released by the tribe, Hoskin said the Cherokee Nation's right to a congressional delegate was reaffirmed by two separate treaties with the federal government and reflected in the tribe's constitution. He also said it was important now because native issues "continue to rise to the forefront of the national dialogue."

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Country-s-largest-tribal-nation-seeks-14339026.php#item-85307-tbla-2

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Kimberly Teehee

[mysteryowl]

1. This is important news. Thank you for posting.

Last edited Sat Aug 17, 2019, 01:07 AM - Edit history (1)

I wonder why this did not happen during Obama's time? I hope this happens now.

[JoeOtterbein]

2. +1

[Johnyawl]

3. Probably because the republicans controlled the House...

...Pelosi will seat this delegation.

[mysteryowl]

6. Good point. Let's watch for it.

[former9thward]

19. Democrats controlled the House from 2009 to 2011.

Pelosi was the Speaker.

[VarryOn]

4. Has anyone seen polling on party preference of Native Americans?

I'm not so sure the Cherokees wouldnt be Republican. After all, Oklahoma is quite red. Since they talking about a delegate only, maybe it doesnt matter.

The treatment of NA's by the US govt is undoubtedly one of our worst sins. They need to be added to the conversation on reparations.

[mysteryowl]

7. I just assumed the representative would be Democratic.

[VarryOn]

8. I reread the article...

You’re assumption is right...the proposed delegate would be a Democrat. I missed that the first time.

Hopefully, she’ll raise the profile of NA’s. Maybe other tribes can get delegates too.

[Cryptoad]

11. What is the going rate for

reparations for the genocide of Millions of people? Damn sure will never be any forgiveness in my heart for what was done to my Cheraw ancestors.

[VarryOn]

12. Smarter people than me will have to figure that out...

But it is a great question. Also, how do you allocate reparations to those who are only part Native American? The good thing is NA genealogical records are fairly intact.

I suspect other groups likely entitled to reparations may be quite hard to determine who’s eligible.

I can see it taking decades to sort all this out.

Hopefully, the 2020 DNC platform will address...at least at a high level. Millions of American could be on tap for some amount of reparations. Could help win a meaningful number of votes across the country. It’s a big deal!

[Mosby]

17. Most NAs have rejected genetic testing

As some sort of conspiracy or something.

[JI7]

16. native Americans vote democratic. their turnout is imporant for Democrats to win

in many of the red states like the dakotas . this is why republicans tried to suppress their votes recently in north dakota.

[onetexan]

18. k&r

[ProudProgressiveNow]

5. KR NT

[Retrograde]

9. I have mixed feelings

On the one hand, if a treaty between the Cherokee nation and the United States has this provision we should honor it. When that treaty was made, though, Native Americans were generally not considered citizens. On the other hand, does this mean that members of the Cherokee nation will have extra representation in Congress?

[progree]

10. Currently they are probably gerrymandered into irrelevance

Proposal could end Oklahoma gerrymandering, The Oklahoman, 1/4/18
https://oklahoman.com/article/5578176/proposal-could-end-oklahoma-gerrymandering

I don't know the specifics ... Repug legislature gerrymanders often draw district lines to cram majority-Democratic areas into one super-Democratic congressional district, leaving the rest of the districts for Republicans. Currently Oklahoma has 4 R and 1 D congressional districts. It's a heavily Republican state, but not by a 4:1 ratio.

I also don't know how concentrated or spread out the 370,000 Cherokees are (or how many are in Oklahoma and how many are elsewhere).

Oklahoma's congressional districts, Wikipedia (doesn't say anything about gerrymandering)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma%27s_congressional_districts

[CreekDog]

20. you're part of the US government's side of the treaty which gained something given in exchange

the treaty took things away from the Cherokee in exchange they were supposed to get the things in the treaty.

you have misgivings because you want to keep what we got and not give what was promised.

[Mike_DuBois]

13. Neat. Will have to ask my wife what she thinks of this

She dropped out of tribal politics a long time ago. She might be more enthused now.

[Maxheader]

14. Liberals need to foster good relations with

the native americans..

http://www.ncai.org/initiatives/native-vote

[Arazi]

15. Look at Warren's proposals on NA issues. She's actually getting kudos from prominent NA leaders