This past week, Cherokee Nation officials attended the Annual National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Convention in Palm Springs, California.

Before the Convention, the Cherokee Nation hosted two of the annual California Cherokee picnics at the Will Rogers Ranch in Pacific Palisades and in a San Diego park. Both picnics were a complete success and many Cherokees who grew up in Rogers County attended.

The Will Rogers Ranch was a gift to the State of California and is now a State Park. If you have not visited Will’s California home, you are missing out.

During NCAI, the Eastern Oklahoma Area (EOA) Caucus met to elect new leadership to the NCAI Executive Board for a two year term. Deputy Chief Joe Grayson had served EOA Vice-President for the past four years and was term-limited out. Deputy Chief Grayson asked me to run for his seat.

With a team of capable Tribal staff, we ran a successful election. My Alternate VP is Peoria Second Chief Jason Dollarhide.

The position will require three to four trips per year across Indian Country and Washington, DC. Between meetings, the Executive Board reviews proposed NCAI resolutions.

An example is a Federal Indian Roads Funding Formula Resolution which would have crippled Oklahoma Tribe’s road monies. Our attendance at the Transportation Committee meeting stopped the Resolution, early.

NCAI has built an embassy in Washington, DC to represent Tribal interests. To learn more about NCAI, go to ncai.org.

The Eastern Oklahoma Area Caucus includes Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Delaware Tribe of Indians, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Kialegee Tribal Town, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Osage Nation, Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma

Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, Shawnee Tribe, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town and Wyandotte Nation.

With NCAI considering bringing the 2012 Annual Convention to Tulsa and our own Hard Rock Casino and Hotel, Rogers County will see millions of dollars in economic impact in just one week.

I am looking forward to serving the Tribes of Eastern Oklahoma in addition to my Tribal Council activities. Our partnership with other Tribes ensures we are able to succeed as a Nation.

To contact the Tribe, call 453-5000. The operator will connect you with the appropriate department.

Tribal programs and services are administered by the Chiefs staff at the Tribal Complex. Tribal hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Save a trip to Tahlequah by using the Tribes Internet tools at www.cherokee.org.