The Cherokee Nation government is a tripartite government meaning it is divided into three branches of government.  The Tribal Council is the Legislative branch.  The Executive Branch is the Chief, Deputy Chief and staff who execute the programs.  The Judicial branch makes sure everyone else behaves.

For Cherokee Nation citizens seeking services from the Tribe, an understanding of the Tribe’s structure is a benefit.

Tribal Council has six Standing Committees which oversee the budget and performance of all Cherokee Nation Departments.

Education Committee hears from Talking Leaves Job Corp, Career Services, Vocational Education, Higher Education Scholarships, Head Start and Sequoyah High School every month with written and verbal reports as well as time for questions from each Councilperson.  The former Language, History and Culture Committee was folded into Education.

Community Services which includes the former Tribal Services Human Services Department, Community Services such as At Large Outreach and former COTTA grants, Housing Services, Roads and Transportation, Public Comments on Road Projects, Commerce Housing which is the Mortgage Assistance Program.

Health Committee hears directly from Claremore Indian Health Service (IHS) Hospital CEO George Valliere and Director of Cherokee Nation Health Services Connie Davis.  All written monthly reports are available online.

Resources Committee Management Resources such as general building maintenance, Saline Courthouse, hay production, forestry and cultural plant preservation, Real Estate Services for trust and restricted property for the Nation and individuals and Environmental Services.

Rules Committee provides oversight of the Marshal Service, Office of the Attorney General, Codification of Tribal laws, Tax Commission who collects the hotel taxes, Tribal car tags and more, Tribal Self-Governance, Gaming Commission, Tribal government’s Human Resources.

Executive and Finance (E&F) Committee is everything financial which impacts the Cherokee Nation and our businesses.  E&F, now, includes the former Employment Committee which focused on Cherokee preference also known as the TERO law.  Specifically, E&F receives reports from the Tribal Treasurer, Cherokee Nation Businesses CEO, Tribal TERO office and Commerce on commercial lending, small business programs and more.

I am a member of every Standing Committee with close to 100% attendance since taking office in 2003.  The monthly meetings require reading three inches or more of reports and legislation, each month.

For agendas, meeting minutes, meeting video, laws, calendar of upcoming meetings and more, go to cherokee.legistar.com.

For program information including staff and office contact information, qualification requirements and actual applications, go to www.cherokee.org.

If you have questions, issues or concerns about the Cherokee Nation government, please email me at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write me at P.O. Box 2922, Claremore, OK 74018. 

For daily news and event notices, ask to be added to my Cherokee Nation News and Events email listserv.  You may, also, find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+ and Twitter.  Lee Keener is at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To contact the Tribe, call (918) 453-5000 or visit www.cherokee.org.

 
Cara Cowan Watts is an elected Tribal legislator within the Cherokee Nation for portions of Rogers and Tulsa Counties.