Cherokee Blood

May 18, 1918 Beck family Chelsea, Oklahoma.

Beck family reunion 2004 in Chelsea, Oklahoma.

Beck family reunion 2005 in Chelsea, Oklahoma.

Beck family reunion 2006 in Chelsea, Oklahoma.

Beck family reunion 2007 in Chelsea, Oklahoma.

CHEROKEE NATION VOTER AWARENESS

OKLAHOMA STATE REPRESENTATIVE SURVEY

The following survey is to inform employees and citizens of the Cherokee Nation of your position on issues that you may face in the future that could play a crucial role on our rights as a sovereign nation. Please complete survey by circling Y or N.

Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey and informing your constituents.

Will you stay knowledgeable about Indian issues and consult with Indian Nations on issues that affect them? My 400+ Cherokee aunts and cousins keep me well informed and will continue. I also plan to form advisory committees on several issues and the Cherokee Nation is at the top of my list.	Yes
2. Are you in favor of partnerships between Indian Nations and state governments, i.e., tribal/state compacts and/or other joint agreements like cross deputization? As long as it benefits both parties.	Yes
Will you support the sovereignty of American Indian tribes and honor commitments made by the federal and state governments in treaties and laws? Promises made are promises that must be kept.	Yes
Currently Cherokee Nation along with other tribes has several pending state legislative issues. Will you support the Cherokee Nation on issues like: a. Language Preservation b. Amending the Charter Schools Act to allow tribes to operate charter schools. Any thing to successfully educate our children is a good thing.	Yes Yes
The Cherokee Nation has a very strong economic impact on northeastern Oklahoma. Do you have plans to partner with the Cherokee Nation to assure our continued growth? For one thing I would never file suite against the tribe for investing in a company that brings jobs to Oklahoma, unlike my opponent.	Yes
Do you favor state taxation of Indian Nations? Unless it is part of a negotiated compact.	No
7. Are you in support of Indian Nations having the same recognition as that of States regarding environmental issues? We all breathe the same air.	Yes
Given the need for increased communication between Indian Nations and the state, do you favor a statewide policy on tribal consultation?	Yes
Will you work to ensure Native Americans are able to access all programs and services available to Oklahomans? I have already helped a Cherokee with an open pit issue and will continue as the next representative from district 6.	Yes
10. Are you in favor of preserving the traditional tax differential between tribal tobacco retailers and non-tribal retailers? As an issue that was decided by the people it is law and it is also a negotiated compact.	Yes

Cherokee Phoenix And Indian Advocate

www.cherokeephoenix.org	Jul-04

Responses received from candidates

As a public service to Cherokee Phoenix readers and voters, the Cherokee Nation distributed a questionnaire to candidates running for office to determine their knowledge of issues related to American Indians and their commitment to serving that constituency.

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 250 words per question.

Will you stay knowledgeable about Indian issues and consult with Indian tribes on the issues that have an impact on them? If so, describe how?

Wayland Smalley: As a member of the Cherokee Nation I have always been interested in Indian issues. As your representative I will be in a position to help further those issues. I intend to have a liaison office in either Muskogee or Tahlequah to keep me up to date on all Indian issues and counsel decisions. Also, as your representative, there are parliamentary procedures and appropriation pressures that can be applied to the various agencies. I will use these tools to fix the wrongs that have held the tribes down.

Do you recognize and the sovereignty of Indian tribes and commitments made by the U.S. government in treaties and laws? If so, how will you support?

Smalley: Yes, as a member of the Cherokee Nation I recognize the sovereignty of the Indian tribes. Working through my liaison office in close consultation with the Indian counsels, I will author any appropriate legislation that will insure promises made are promises kept.

Currently Cherokee Nation along with other tribes have several pending national legislative issues, including, reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Indian Reservation Roads, Language Initiatives, etc. How will you be of assistance to tribes in legislative endeavors?

Smalley: As your representative and a member of the Cherokee Nation I will author and or co-sponsor legislation for reauthorization of such programs as the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Indian Reservation Roads, Language Initiatives and anything else that the Indian counsels deems appropriate to help the people of the tribes.

The Five Civilized Tribes have a legislative initiative for the reform of the 1947 Act. This legislation would have a significant impact on members of the "Five Civilized Tribes" who still own individual Indian restricted land. It would give the individual Indian allotted lands of the Five Tribes the same kind of protection that other tribes have in Oklahoma and the United States. It would maintain the federal protection of restricted lands and would make probating the Indian estates much more efficient and inexpensive. Would you support this legislation? If so, how?

Smalley: I know relatives that remember when their parents and grandparents lost their allotted lands. With so little land left, I do support the reform of the 1947 Act. As your representative in Washington I will use the tools available to me to insure the protection of all Indian lands.

The Cherokee Nation has a very strong economic impact on northeastern Oklahoma. What ideas and plans do you have to work with the tribe to assure its continued growth?

Smalley: As a member of the Cherokee Nation, I am also excited at the strong economic impact the Cherokee Nation is having on northeastern Oklahoma. Our future looks good, but there is still a lot of work to do. I will work at the national level for continued growth. I will oppose and fight against any legislation that will infringe upon the Cherokee Nation and all Indians sovereign decisions in the area of economic growth.

What will you do to assure that the Indian Health Service and tribal health programs are funded for health care at a level comparable with the health care provided to federal employees?

Smalley: As a member of the Cherokee Nation, I personally have many relatives that depend on the Indian health services for their entire medical needs. This is a very important issue to me and I will do everything I can to see that the health care level is comparable with the health care provided to federal employees.