Bill John Baker was sworn in as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma on Wednesday evening. Baker scheduled the impromptu ceremony after the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court rejected an appeal by challenger Chad Smith, who lost his re-election bid by more than 1,500 votes. Baker said it was time for the tribe to move forward. "I'm blessed and honored I was entrusted to become Chief of our Nation. I ask that all who can attend the Inauguration Ceremony do, and all who cannot pray for me and our Nation as we move forward," Baker said, referring to his official ceremony, scheduled for November 6. Smith tried to block Baker from taking office. He claimed that the Freedmen, who are the descendants of African slaves, shouldn't have been allowed to vote in the election. The tribe's court, however, said Smith failed to state a case. The court also said Baker won the race even without the Freedmen votes. “I understand our Cherokee Nation Supreme Court has dismissed my appeal of the election,” Smith said in a statement, The Tulsa World reported. “I acknowledge that Bill John Baker has been elected to the office of principal chief and offer him any help I may provide in building the nation I so love and have been honored to serve these last 12 years." Get the Story:
Baker sworn in as principal chief (The Tulsa World 10/20)
Cherokee tribe gets new chief after contentious election (Reuters 10/19)
Baker sworn-in as principal chief (The Cherokee Phoenix 10/19)
New Cherokee chief: Court rejects appeal; Baker sworn in (The Muskogee Phoenix 10/19) Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Decisions:
Vann v. Salazar (October 11, 2011)
Cherokee Nation Registrar v. Nash (August 22, 2011) Related Stories:
Cherokee Nation Supreme Court weighs appeal in election (10/19)
Opinion: Carter Center observes Cherokee Nation election (10/19)
Ousted Cherokee Nation leader files appeal over election (10/18)
Letter: Acting Cherokee Nation chief defies tribe on Freedmen (10/17)
Cedric Sunray: Cherokee Nation joins the disenrollment club (10/17)
Bill John Baker certified as winner of Cherokee Nation election (10/13)
Turtle Talk: Cherokee Nation court inflames Freedmen dispute (10/13)
Opinion: Another view on the Cherokee Nation Freedmen flap (10/13)
Bill John Baker set to become new leader of Cherokee Nation (10/12)
Kimberly Horton: Cherokee Nation, racism and the Freedmen (10/12)
Cherokee Nation without HUD funds amid Freedmen dispute (10/11)
Cherokee Nation begins counting of ballots for principal chief (10/10)
Cherokee Nation anticipates results of election by Wednesday (10/7)
Opinion: Greed and racism with removal of Cherokee Freedmen (10/6)
Cherokee Nation extends balloting in ongoing Freedmen dispute (9/28)
Cherokee Nation faces contempt order in Freedmen vote dispute (9/27)
Cherokee Nation sees increase in turnout for second election (9/26)
Results of Cherokee Nation principal chief vote due October 10 (9/23)
Column: Freedmen dispute a sad story for the Cherokee Nation (9/23)
Letter: Cherokee Freedmen dustup about sovereignty not race (9/23)
Judge approves order for Freedmen vote in Cherokee election (9/22)
Cherokee Nation allows Freedmen to vote in Saturday's election (9/21)
Federal judge to hear arguments in Cherokee Freedmen lawsuit (9/20)
NPR: Cherokee Nation facing scrutiny for ousting the Freedmen (9/20)
Cherokee Nation starts sending provisional ballots to Freedmen (9/16)
NYT: Tribal rights vs. racial justice in Cherokee Freedmen battle (9/16)
Blog: Rush Limbaugh offers take on Cherokee Freedmen dispute (9/16)
Steve Russell: The circus that has become the Cherokee Nation (9/15)
Cherokee Nation to allow Freedmen to cast provisional ballots (9/15)
Editorial: Cherokee Nation faces pressure on fate of Freedmen (9/15)
Acting Cherokee Nation chief vows to protect tribe's interests (9/14)
BIA warns Cherokee Nation about disenrollment of Freedmen (9/13)
Lawmakers want HUD to restore funding to Cherokee Nation (9/12)
HUD won't release funds to Cherokee Nation in Freedmen flap (9/8)
Judge sets hearing on Freedmen motion for Cherokee election (9/6)
Freedmen eye lawsuit in federal court over Cherokee election (8/30)
Freedmen seek appeal for loss of Cherokee Nation citizenship (8/29)
Jay Tavare: Divide and conquer -- disenrollment among tribes (8/25)
Turtle Talk: Tribal courts, treaty rights and treaty rights disputes (8/25)
Cherokee Freedmen lose right to vote in upcoming chief election (8/24)
Decision allows Cherokee Nation to remove Freedmen from rolls (8/23)Steve Russell: The circus that has become the Cherokee Nation (9/15)
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