CLAREMORE — On Aug. 14 proper apportionment of the Cherokee Nation (CN) Legislative Branch political power became a reality.  District 5 Seat 2 (D5S2) Councilwoman Cara Cowan Watts and District 5 Seat 3 (D5S3) Councilman Lee Keener were inaugurated.  District 5 Seat 1 (D5S1) Councilman Buel Anglen has a six-year term and is eligible for re-election in the 2013 Tribal elections for a four-year term.

 

Apportionment is based on Cherokee Nation citizenship using the last known address provided to Tribal Registration by the citizen.  To update addresses and other contact information for the Tribe with Registration, go to www.cherokee.org <http://www.cherokee.org>  and download forms on the Registration page.  Cherokee Nation Registration Department can be reached at registration@cherokee.org <mailto:registration@cherokee.org> , (918)-453-5000 or P. O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465.  

 

Using personal funds, At Large Councilman Jack Baker and D5S2 Councilwoman Cowan Watts brought an apportionment lawsuit to the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court after both the Tribal Election Commission and Tribal Council failed to address the need for apportionment.  The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled, unanimously, apportionment of the Legislative Branch must be completed for the 2011 Tribal Elections held June 2011.

 

When apportionment occurred, political redistricting was completed at the same time.

 

Cowan Watts served District 7 comprised of Rogers County within the CN for the past eight years.  Anglen served District 8 comprised of Tulsa and Washington Counties within the CN for the past ten years.  Keener is serving his first term on Tribal Council.

 

District 5 includes Tulsa and Rogers Counties within the CN.  Today, District 5 is served by three Councilmembers; Anglen, Cowan Watts and Keener.

 

The jurisdiction of the CN is divided into five political districts with three Council representatives.  Two At Large Councilmembers serve Cherokee citizens residing outside of the Tribal jurisdiction.  The Legislative Branch consists of 17 Council members as provided in the 2003 CN Constitution.  

 

By Tribal Constitution, Tribal Council members are “to support the Constitutions of the Cherokee Nation and the United States of America, do everything within the individual's power to promote the culture, heritage

and traditions of the Cherokee Nation and to perform the duties of their respective offices.”  The Constitutional duties of the Legislative Branch are limited “to establish laws which it shall deem

necessary and proper for the good of the Nation, which shall not be contrary to the provisions of this Constitution” and “provide by law for annual expenditure of funds, and the source from which funds are to be derived, to defray the estimated expenses of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches and the departments of government of the Cherokee Nation for each fiscal year. The budget shall not exceed estimated revenues.”

 

The Legislative Branch does not have field offices nor does any Council members have dedicated staff to assist them in their daily duties as Council members.

 

To meet with any of the three Council members in person, attend the monthly meetings for the Rogers County Cherokee Association (RCCA), Tulsa Cherokee Community Organization (TCCO) or  Victory Cherokee Organization (VCO) of Collinsville.  Anglen, Cowan Watts and Keener are active members of all three organizations and regularly attend to answer questions and listen to concerns.

 

To learn about RCCA, go to www.rogerscountycherokees.org or Facebook ‘Rogers County Cherokees.’  RCCA meets monthly in Tiawah on the second Sunday of each month at 2pm.  

 

To learn about TCCO, go to www.tulsacherokees.org <http://www.tulsacherokees.org> .  TCCO meets monthly in Tulsa on the first Tuesday of each month at 6pm.  

 

To learn about VCO, go to www.victorycherokee.homestead.com or Facebook ‘Victory Cherokee Organization.’  VCO meets monthly in Collinsville on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm.  

 

Standard meetings time may vary, so contact the organization directly before attending.

 

To contact CN D5S1 Tribal Councilman Buel Anglen, email Buel at buelanglen@sbcglobal.net <mailto:buelanglen@sbcglobal.net>  or visit http://www.buelanglen.com <http://www.buelanglen.com> .  Mail letters to P.O. Box 822, Sperry, OK  74073.  Connect with Buel on Facebook.

 

To contact CN D5S2 Tribal Councilwoman Cara Cowan Watts, email Cara at cara@caracowan.com or visit http://www.caracowan.com <http://www.caracowan.com> .  Mail letters to P.O. Box 2922, Claremore, OK  74018.  Connect with Cara, daily, on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.  If you are without the Internet, call Cara’s Tribal extension at (800) 256-0671 ext. 3000 to hear information about the next monthly community meeting and other events.

 

To contact CN D5S3 Tribal Councilman Lee Keener, email Lee at lee-keener@cherokee.org or visit http://www.leekeener.com <http://www.leekeener.com> .  Mail letters to P.O. Box 1752, Claremore, OK  74018.  Connect with Lee on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.