Cherokee Nation Names First Delegate To Congress

The Cherokee Nation has named its first delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. Former Obama appointee Kimberly Teehee’s nomination was approved by the tribe’s council on Thursday. Although the treaty that created this nonvoting position is almost 200 years old, it had never been filled.

The article outlining the right to a delegate is in the Treaty of New Echota. The 1835 treaty is also the document that led to the Trail of Tears, something that has been top of mind for Teehee. She points out the treaty gave up the Cherokee’s homelands and cost the tribe thousands of lives.

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Article URL : https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/756048206/cherokee-nation-names-first-delegate-to-congress