Cherokee Nation chief allows employees to talk to council

The new leader of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma signed an executive order that he said will create a more open tribal government.

The order allows tribal employees to talk to council members about employment issues. It rescinds an internal policy, instituted by the prior chief, that barred such communications.

"No one should be forced to waive their rights under the Cherokee Constitution to work for our nation. We will honor and respect our employees. We are going to run an open and transparent government and no one will ever be censored. This is just the first of several steps in that direction," Principal Chief Bill John Baker said in a press release.

Get the Story:
Order allows Cherokee Nation employees to speak with elected officials (The Muskogee Phoenix 10/24)
New principal chief begins work, moves into tribal complex (The Cherokee Phoenix 10/24)
New chief opens Cherokee employee speech with officials (The Tulsa World 10/25)

Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Decisions:
Vann v. Salazar (October 11, 2011)
Cherokee Nation Registrar v. Nash (August 22, 2011)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Cherokee Nation moving forward with new chief (10/24)
BIA welcomes resolution of Cherokee Nation chief election (10/21)
Bill John Baker sworn in as new leader of Cherokee Nation (10/20)
Takeaway: Freedmen fight for Cherokee Nation citizenship (10/20)
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)

Join the Conversation