Cherokee nation to appoint a delegate to Congress

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:57 AM PT — Monday, August 26, 2019
The Cherokee Nation is taking a historic step to hold the federal government accountable by preparing to appoint a delegate to Congress. The tribe is reportedly planning to nominate its Director of Government Relations, Kimberly Teehee, to the position.The announcement comes almost 200 years after the tribe was promised representation in the House as compensation for the Trail of Tears, which left thousands of Cherokee dead.Kimberly Teehee speaks in front of the flag of the Cherokee Nation and the U.S. flag after it was announced that she is being nominated by Cherokee National Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. as a delegate to the U.S. House, in Tahlequah, Okla., Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)“I believe firmly in the proposition that the Cherokee Nation and the government of the United States have a mutual obligation to exercise the rights and meet the obligations set forth in our treaties”. Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief – Cherokee nationThe delegate will likely be a non-voting member of Congress similar to the representation given to Washington, D.C. or U.S. territories. The Cherokee Nation’s Tribal Council will meet Thursday to confirm Teehee’s nomination.