Cherokee Nation Moves to Get Delegate in Congress

[douglas9]

A tribal council is set to confirm Thursday a woman’s nomination to become the Cherokee Nation’s first congressional delegate, but it will be up to Congress to decide whether to honor an 1835 treaty and give her a seat in the U.S. House.

Last week, Cherokee Nation principal chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. nominated Kimberly Teehee – a 53-year-old tribeswoman well acquainted with Capitol Hill – to represent the federally-recognized tribal government in Congress.

The U.S. signed a treaty with some Cherokee tribal members in 1835, forcing the tribe to move from its ancestral homeland in the southeastern U.S. to Oklahoma. Thousands of Cherokees died from exposure, disease and starvation during this move on the Trail of Tears between 1836 and 1838.

Under the terms of the treaty that forced the tribe to move, the federal government gave the Cherokees $5 million and the right to have a delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives – but the tribe never attempted before now to exercise this right.

Once the tribal council approves Teehee’s nomination Thursday, Congress must decide whether to give her a delegate seat. If it does, the Cherokee Nation would join Washington D.C., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands as territories with non-voting delegates in Congress.

Hoskin told CNN he expects Teehee’s confirmation process in Congress to be a lengthy one, but he makes a compelling argument for giving her a House seat.


https://www.courthousenews.com/cherokee-nation-moves-to-get-delegate-in-congress/

[Ghost Dog]

1. Should there not be several nominations/candidates

and an election in the Cherokee Nation?

[yellerpup]

2. I went to a dinner last night hosted by my Tribal Councilman.

Chief Hoskins and Kim Teehee were there and both spoke very well. The Chief, while introducing Teehee, said that "in accordance with our Constitution, it is the responsibility of the Chief to chose the delegate and it is up to the Council to confirm or not confirm the candidate. Teehee was unanimously confirmed. I had the same question as well until he explained.

[Ghost Dog]

3. I see, thanks.

(I'd like to see the UK's (and the Spanish) Monarchy replaced by a Chief elected and empowered but constrained in this way!)

https://www.cherokee.org/media/abbelmas/constitution_english.pdf
...
Article VII. Executive, SECTION 1. The executive power shall be vested in a Principal Chief, who shall be styled “The Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation”. The Principal Chief shall hold office for a term of four (4) years. No person having been elected to the office of Principal Chief in two (2) consecutive elections shall be eligible to file for the office of Principal Chief in the election next following his or her second term of office. The Principal Chief shall be elected by the registered voters on the same day and in the same manner, except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, as they shall respectively vote for members of the Council in the year 2003 and every four years thereafter...
...
Article VI. Legislative, Section 10. Every enactment which shall have been approved by a majority of the members in attendance at the Council shall, before it becomes effective be presented to the Principal Chief, who may approve the enactment by signing it; if not, the Principal Chief shall return it with objections to the Council, which shall enter the objections in the Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds (2/3) of the entire council shall agree to pass the enactment, it shall become fully effective and operational notwithstanding the objections of veto of the Principal Chief. In all such cases, the vote of the Council shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting shall be entered on the Council's Journal. If any enactment shall not be returned by the Principal Chief within five (5) days (Sundays and holidays excepted) after it shall have been presented, the same shall be law in like manner as if approved by the Principal Chief.
...
SECTION 12. In accordance with Article 12 of the Treaty with the Cherokees, dated November 28, 1785 (Treaty of Hopewell), and Article 7 of the Treaty with the Cherokees dated December 29, 1835 (Treaty of New Echota), there shall be created the office of Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, appointed by the Principal Chief and confirmed by the Council. The Delegate shall be a citizen of the Nation and upon recognition by the United States shall be seated in accordance with federal law. The Delegate shall endeavor to participate in congressional activities and shall at all times advocate the best interests of the Cherokee People...

[yellerpup]

4. I'm excited by tribal initiatives.

We have the most progressive government within the USA. We have free medical (I have new glasses and hearing aids, neither of which is covered by Medicare or most private insurance) which is significant, programs for housing, employment training, job subsidies, a new medical school which will train doctors for free if they agree to work in the Cherokee Nation after graduation, food banks, and lots more. We are earning millions of dollars in Cherokee businesses, including casinos, and we are healthier financially than the state.

[Ghost Dog]

5. That is what progressive solidarity can achieve. Excellent. nt