"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN Officials Take Oaths of Office

"Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith (right) accepts the eagle tail fan from Cherokee elder Benny Smith. The eagle tail fan ceremony symbolizes the transfer of authority and responsibility to the newly sworn in administration."

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - In spite of the heat, more than 1,000 Cherokee citizens and friends turned out this morning to witness Cherokee Nation’s elected officials take their oaths of office. A recurring theme of the morning was the protection of the tribe’s sovereignty.

“The only way we can pay our debt to Cherokees today and a hundred years from now,” declared Principal Chief Chad Smith, “is to faithfully abide by our oath of office, defend our Nation and Constitution and to provide the leadership that takes us from weakness to strength, ignorance to intelligence, from victim defeatism to confidence, from selfishness to gadugi (working together), from short-sightedness to vision, from illness to health, and from discontent to happiness.”

The offices of Principal Chief, Deputy Principal Chief and seventeen Tribal Council members were sworn in by Justices of the tribe’s Supreme Court. The morning began with a selection of songs by the award-winning Cherokee National Youth Choir and the posting of the colors by the Cherokee Nation Color Guard. Young students from the Cherokee Language immersion classes led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance in Cherokee.

In his commitment speech Smith pledged to uphold the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation, saying he would to the best of his ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, and do everything within his power to promote the culture, heritage and traditions of the Cherokee Nation. “That is my sworn duty and the sworn duty of all our elected officials,” Smith said, “We have no other Constitutional duties.”

Smith added that he is committed to developing a 20-year culturally-based leadership curriculum to the Cherokee people, so that people could learn to make sound decisions, help their families and communities and contribute back to their Nation. Smith described leadership as the process of “going from where we are to a better place we choose in the future.”

The inauguration ceremony took place under spreading oak trees on the lawn of the historic Cherokee Nation Courthouse. The Courthouse, which is the location of the tribe’s first capitol, has been the traditional site of Cherokee Nation inaugural ceremonies since its construction in 1870. The Cherokee Courthouse has a special meaning to the Cherokee people, as one of its most sacred symbols of the Nation’s sovereignty and survival as a people.

Deputy Principal Chief Joe Grayson, Jr. echoed that sentiment, saying that he carried the image of the Cherokee Courthouse from his childhood as a symbol of stability, strength and endurance. “I carried this image of the Cherokee capitol when I fought in the jungles of southeast Asia, I carried this image with me always when I was asked where I was from,” Grayson said, “I knew I was from this place, a spot that is, in my mind, purely Cherokee.” Grayson added that his pledge to the Cherokee people is to continue to insure that the Cherokee Courthouse and other historic areas are cared for and protected, as well as to work to keep the Cherokee language and history alive.

Master of Ceremonies Jay Hannah explained to the audience the significance of the empty chair on the inaugural platform. Draped with the Cherokee Nation flag, the chair symbolized the contributions and sacrifices of the Cherokee people’s ancestors. A single red rose laid upon the chair symbolized the future generations to come, who will be affected by the actions of those sworn in today.

Cherokee elder statesman Benny Smith performed the Eagle Tail Fan ceremony which conferred responsibility from the outgoing administration to the new one. The fan accepted on behalf of the administration by Principal Chief Smith is a symbol of authority.

The commitment ceremony finished with another symbolic act when three trees were planted to represent each branch of the Cherokee Nation’s government. The Executive Branch, comprised of the Principal Chief and Deputy Principal Chief, planted an Oak tree. The Legislative Branch, which is comprised of the Tribal Council, planted a Pecan tree, and the Judicial Branch, which is composed of the tribal courts including the Supreme Court, planted a Shagbark Hickory tree. Each tree is revered for its special properties and also has had a practical use in Cherokee daily life. According to Benny Smith, the trees parallel the deep roots of the Cherokee people.

The Principal Chief and Deputy Principal Chief are each beginning a new four year term. Smith was first elected to the office of Principal Chief in 1999 and Grayson was first elected in 2003. Tribal Council members are beginning a new process of serving staggered four-year terms, so some will initially serve a six-year term in order to begin that process.

Tribal Council members sworn in to serve four-year terms include Tina Glory Jordan (District 1), Jodie Fishinghawk (District 2), Janelle Lattimore Fullbright (District 3), Harley L. Buzzard (District 5), Chris Soap (District 6), Cara Cowan Watts (District 7), Bradley Cobb (District 8), and Julia Coates (At-Large District).

Tribal Council members sworn in to serve six-year terms include Bill John Baker (District 1), S. Joe Crittenden (District 2), David Thornton, Sr. (District 3), Don Garvin (District 4), Curtis G. Snell (District 5), Meredith A. Frailey (District 6), Buel Anglen (District 8), Chuck Hoskin, Jr. (District 9) and Jack D. Baker (At-Large District).