ᏗᏂᎧᎾᏩᏗᏙᎯ ᎠᏂᏯᎥᎢ

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch consists of a 17-member Council. The council is elected by popular vote to four-year terms. There are 15 councilors elected to represent the districts within the Cherokee Nation reservation boundaries and two councilors elected to represent citizens who live outside the boundaries. The Council establishes laws necessary and proper for the good of the Cherokee Nation and conducts other business to further the interests of the Cherokee Nation and its citizens. A speaker elected by other council members presides over the council.

Business is discussed through public committee meetings and legislation is passed or failed at the monthly general Council meeting, regularly held at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.

Cherokee Nation Reservation District Map

The 7,000 square mile Reservation includes six full and eight partial counties.
View District Map

Council Members

Sasha Blackfox-Qualls
District 1 | Health Chair, Housing Authority & Inter-Tribal Advisory Boards
Candessa Tehee
District 2 | Education Chair & Housing Authority Advisory Board
Lisa Hall
District 3 | Resources Chair, Housing Authority & Gaming Commission Advisory Boards
Uriah Grass
District 4 | Culture Co-Chair, Inter-Tribal & Gaming Commission Advisory Boards
Ashley Grant
District 5 | Health Co-Chair, Housing Authority & CNB Advisory Boards
Daryl Legg
District 6 | CNB Advisory Board
Joshua Sam
District 7 | Council Secretary & CNB Advisory Board
Codey Poindexter
District 8 | Culture Chair, Housing Authority & Inter-Tribal Advisory Boards
Clifton Hughes
District 9 | Resource Co-Chair & Housing Authority Advisory Board
Melvina Shotpouch
District 10 | Community Service Co-Chair & Gaming Commission Advisory Board
Kendra McGeady
District 11 | Community Service Chair & CNB Advisory Board
Dora Patzkowski
District 12 | Executive/Finance Chair & CNB Advisory Board
Joe Deere
District 13 | CNB & Inter-Tribal Advisory Boards
Kevin Easley, Jr.
District 14 | Deputy Speaker, Rules Co-Chair & CNB Advisory Board
Danny Callison
District 15 | Executive/Finance Co-Chair & CNB Advisory Board
Johnny Kidwell
At Large | Speaker, Rules Chair & Inter-Tribal Advisory Board
Julia Coates
At Large | Education Co-Chair

ᎠᏰᎵ ᎤᏤᎵ ᏗᏓᏃᎯᏎᎯ

Public Notices

Community Engagement

View all Council Events

Legislative Calendar

View Full Calendar

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Council of the Cherokee Nation

Council of the Cherokee Nation

The Council of the Cherokee Nation establishes laws necessary and proper for the good of the Cherokee Nation and conducts other business to further the interests of the Cherokee Nation and its citizens.

Council of the Cherokee Nation

4 days ago

Council of the Cherokee Nation
We had a great time Thursday night honoring hundreds of the men and women who serve their communities with volunteer fire departments in the Cherokee Nation Reservation! 🚒During the Volunteer Firefighter Appreciation Banquet, Cherokee Nation contributed $3,500 each to 138 rural fire departments for a combined total of $483,000. The tribe sets aside funding annually for rural volunteer fire departments.Speaker of the Council Johnny Jack Kidwell, Cherokee Nation Council Member thanked volunteer firefighters and their families for their service."Volunteer firefighters embody so many of the Cherokee values we talk about each day, including 'gadugi,' the spirit of communities working together for the good of all. These men and women answer the call without hesitation, protecting our homes, land, and our people across the Cherokee Nation Reservation," Speaker Kidwell said. "The Council stands with them, and that means more than words. Investing in our volunteer fire departments is investing in the safety and sovereignty of our Nation, and I am proud to champion that commitment on behalf of every Cherokee citizen."During the event, the tribe also honored its "Volunteer Fire Departments of the Year," and "Volunteer Firefighters of the Year." ... See MoreSee Less

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