TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker celebrated his inauguration a second time Sunday in front of a packed house at Sequoyah High School’s ‘Place Where They Play’ gymnasium.
“With enormous gratitude, I thank my family and all of you here today who worked so hard for a new day for the Cherokee Nation,” he said in his inaugural address.
For the first time, all three federally recognized Cherokee chiefs were present for an inauguration ceremony. George Wickliffe, chief of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and Michell Hicks, chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, were both in attendance.
“I am honored to say that with the presence of Chief Hicks and Chief Wickliffe today, our circle is complete and under my administration, we will always work together for all Cherokees,” Baker said.
Also in attendance were several former Cherokee Councilors as well as newly elected Muscogee (Creek) Nation Chief, George Tiger.
Baker first took the oath of office Oct. 19 after a long contentious election that was drawn out for four additional months.
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Chief Bill John Baker
Inaugural Address
Nov. 6, 2011
I humbly thank you all for being here. The two most important women in my life were just introduced: my wife and my mother.
I have been truly blessed to have the most loving, giving and wise mother and the most supportive, loving and compassionate wife of any man.
There is no question that I am standing here today because of my mother’s love and guiding hand.
And, I know that Sherry will serve our people with the same grace and generous heart that she has shown our family.
I have been so blessed with nine grandchildren – whose parents are my three daughters, Lacee Jarvis, Angie Baker, and Brooke Crocker, and my three sons: John Ross Baker, BJ Baker and Brian Robertson.
Little did I know that to help prepare me to lead the Cherokee Nation, my two much older brothers, Tim and Donn Baker made me prove my mettle every day in every way when we were growing up!
Will my entire family please stand and be recognized?
With enormous gratitude I thank my family and all of you here today who worked so hard for a new day for the Cherokee Nation. I am greatly honored to represent our Cherokee Nation to all nations - native and national.
To each of our visiting Indian brothers and sisters who traveled across Oklahoma and America I speak for all Cherokees when I say thank you for joining us.
Thank you to our veterans, our warriors. I ask that all the men and women who have worn or are wearing our country’s uniform stand at this time. We thank you for your valiant service and salute your commitment to our country and peace. Because of your sacrifice, we are free to celebrate this historic day.
Many years ago, a true Cherokee treasure - Deputy Chief Hastings Shade - shared his wisdom and his dream with those of us attending a joint council of the Eastern Band and the Cherokee Nation. His words have lived in my heart since that day. He said: “Today, our circle is broken because our brothers and sisters from the United Keetoowah Band are not with us. I dream of a day when our circle is complete and we stand united.”
I am honored to say that with the presence of Chief Hicks and Chief Wickliffe today, our circle is complete and under my administration, we will always work together for all Cherokees. May you rest in peace Brother Hastings, your dream has come true.
For too long, the First Americans have been the last Americans to share in the American dream. We were marched from our homelands, stripped of our languages, and forgotten. We struggled to even have power run to our communities because for too long, we had no power with the federal government. Yet our strength and spirituality was a force in the formation of a new country built around us, called the United States. Our values and kindness were sometimes taken advantage of but we represented this land given to us by our Creator for thousands of years with dignity and decency.
Very basic to our Cherokee belief system is the premise that good is rewarded and evil is punished. Our good is being rewarded today with economic opportunity but we have many miles to go before the wrongs are righted. We simply ask the United States government to always respect our sovereignty. We operate as nation to nation. We earned that right with our resolve, our blood and our tears.
As you all know we just finished a tough election. We made national news and quite honestly it was not always a positive image. But that is behind us. Now we link arms and march forward. We heal.
On a personal note, to Chief Smith and Bobbie Gail: thank you for the sacrifices you made for all of us. I applaud both of you and know that we are in a better place thanks to your service to our nation.
I also want to thank my dear friends Deputy Chief Joe Crittenden and our most recent First Lady, Lynda Crittenden. Joe leaned strongly into a hard wind and represented our nation with honor and grace during two very difficult months.
After what Joe went through, he will tell you no one in America is happier to lose a title and have his salary cut than he is. Thank you Joe.
And now to my fellow Cherokees. I've always said that we come from one fire. If you voted against me, I respect that and only ask that you now give me an opportunity to gain your trust. I know what I want for all of our people and I believe you want the same.
Here is my vision for our nation:
No child will go to bed hungry.
No elder will have to choose between medicine and staying warm.
No Cherokee will be ignorant of our culture and history.
I see a nation where:
All Cherokees will be cherished regardless of where they live.
Where all Cherokees will be respected regardless of blood quantum.
Where all Cherokees will be treated as family. Because we are.
Dentures, eyeglasses and mammograms are not luxury items but necessities, and they will be provided to those who need them.
I understand it's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. But let's remember, he must eat while learning to bait a hook. There are no ATM Cherokees. I'm not concerned with whether it's a hand out or a hand up. I'm going to offer a hand. That's who I am. That's what I'll do. That will be my guiding principle.
My priorities are different than what we have seen for the past 40 years. My first week in office I signed two executive orders – the first one allowed Cherokee employees to speak with Tribal Council members about their jobs which some six years ago was forbidden.
The second executive order gives our employees rights under the Cherokee Constitution that were previously stripped from them when they came to work for the nation.
I pledge to rebuild and refocus our housing authority. Not long ago we had a world-class housing authority and we will again. We will start building houses for those who need them the most. It’s about our families, our nation and our future.
And while we are building houses - I will aggressively push for more profits from our companies so more money can go to our people.
Expanding casinos that are already doing well doesn't mean they will make more money. We are going to rethink our business strategy, our investment strategy and our gaming strategy. Why? Because we are going to work even harder to squeeze more dollars out of our businesses and gaming to use those dollars for you. Our government exists to serve you. I'll make the changes even when it’s tough.
I will bring in the brightest minds to create the greatest return on investment possible. I have high expectations for CNE and CNB. It is my goal to double the non-gaming revenue as quickly as can safely be done. I promise you I will watch the bottom line closely and bring a new level of research, marketing and technology to our effort that is well beyond what we have done in the past.
We owe it to those who came before us and those who will follow. Our history is proud. Today we stand in a school named after one of our most honored and revered ancestors: Sequoyah, who was the creator of the Cherokee syllabary in 1821. In 1828, we published the first newspaper in an American Indian language. One hundred years ago, our schools were so superior that our white neighbors paid tuition to send their children to us to educate.
Both of my parents were teachers. I watched them work long hours for little pay because they believed you must give more than you take.
I will focus on educating Cherokee children and setting an example for them. And one example is keeping your word.
I made five promises in the campaign and 17 days ago, when I was sworn in, I began keeping those promises.
First was to sell the nation’s plane. Well, the plane is grounded! We have had it appraised and are currently taking bids.
Second was to build houses for Cherokees by Cherokees. Last week, we had almost $38 million in HUD money released from the federal government. And we will reactivate the Housing Authority to start building hundreds of homes.
Third I promised to more fully audit the nation’s books as a way to streamline government and find more money to help our people. This week I nominated Lacey Horn, a talented CPA to be the nation’s new Treasurer. Lacey and her staff will work day and night to make sure that every dollar is accounted for and that waste is eliminated.
Fourth, I promised to put more money into contract health and I'm pleased to report that the Tribal Council last week approved my legislation to take 5 percent of casino profits to be earmarked for contract health. That act will be the first act I sign as chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Fifth, I promised to provide our elders in need a $200 stipend every six months. I've directed my staff to begin the process of creating that program and I can report that we are on it.
I'd like to make a sixth promise. I will work every minute of every day to make our nation as great as it can be. I pray that I will have the wisdom of our elders, the courage of those who walked the Trail before me, and I pray that God will always be my guide.
I can't do it alone. I need your help. I need your ideas. And I need your prayers. Together and only together will we take the Cherokee Nation from good to great.
God Bless each and every one of you
God Bless America
And God Bless our Cherokee Nation