Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council

05/18/2026

This weekend, Cherokee Nation Delegate to Congress Kimberly Teehee met with our 2026 Tribal Youth Councilors and Remember the Removal Bike Riders! As a past member of the Tribal Youth Council, Delegate Teehee fielded questions and delivered a message of hope, inspiration, and community to the next generation of Cherokee leaders.

As the first-ever Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs in the White House Domestic Policy Council under former President Barack Obama, and through work as Senior Advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives Native American Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Dale Kildee, Delegate Teehee has led, advised and had a lasting impact on numerous tribal initiatives.

Now, Delegate Teehee continues to represent our nation in Washington, D.C., as the first Cherokee Nation Delegate to Congress, appointed in 2019 by Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., a position in the House of Representatives guaranteed within the Treaty of New Echota. TYC and RTR members all wore their “Seat the Delegate: From Promise to Reality” shirts as a call for the full recognition of our treaty rights.

05/13/2026

Congratulations to our Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council graduates!! 🎓✨

High School graduates include Easton Graalfs, Hulbert Public Schools; Carlee Scott, Fort Gibson Public Schools; AP Anderson, Thaden School; and Rayleigh Terrill, Vian Public Schools. Our college grad is Jenna Hamlin, Northeastern State University.

04/09/2026

We were honored to join Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner and other Cherokee Nation leaders for the ✨Cherokee Nation Legislative Day✨ at the Oklahoma State Capitol this week!

The Tribal Youth Council was represented by: Easton Graalfs from District 1; Addison Rouse, Carlee Scott and Raleigh Terrill from District 4; Lorelai Pilcher from District 8; and James Procter and Rex Chancellor from District 9.

These young Cherokees are helping to pave a brighter future for the next generation.

04/06/2026

March was another productive month for the Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council. To kick off the month, we had a pickleball social! 🏓 It's always fun to get together, because it helps us foster connections with one another.

Throughout March, representatives attended various Cherokee Nation events, such as the Trisomy 21/Down Syndrome Awareness Day proclamation ceremony and the District 10 community meeting at the Grove Community Center.

At our March meeting, we discussed the Council of the Cherokee Nation's March 9 meeting. We reflected on the policies and events currently impacting our Nation and received our first lesson from the new TYC cultural advisor: Dayci Starr.

We are already anticipating a busy summer! ☀️ We discussed plans for the 2026 Tribal Youth Summit at our March meeting, an event providing activities and leadership workshops to Cherokee youth across the country. The event will foster community, leadership, and cultural awareness among Cherokee citizens.

The council also attended the Southern Plains Region Native Youth Council Meeting in preparation for the 2026 UNITY conference in Oklahoma City this summer. UNITY is a great opportunity for TYC to interact with other young Indigenous leaders and develop skill sets to help better serve our tribal nation.

03/06/2026

📸 Recap!

The past few months have been busy and meaningful for all of us on the Tribal Youth Council following our inauguration on January 15. We began the year with a focus on service, leadership, and community engagement.

In January, we joined others from the Cherokee Nation at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Muskogee and joined Councilor Sasha Blackfox-Qualls for Valentines for Vets at Grandview School, where we prepared valentines to show appreciation for our Cherokee veterans.

We also attended and supported several important community milestones, including the Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Salina Head Start, Grand Opening of Cherokee Fields, and the Grand Opening of the Sequoyah Heights Addition Community Center. These celebrations reflect continued investment in Cherokee families and future generations.

We attended a community gathering hosted by District 1 Councilor Sasha Blackfox-Qualls, District 9 Councilor Clifton Hughes, and District 15 Councilor Danny Callison in Locust Grove, where approximately 200 Cherokee citizens gathered for the evening.

In addition, we joined Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner for Cherokee Nation Night with the Tulsa Oilers, attended the Grand Opening Ceremony of the North Tulsa CCO Community Building, and participated in a Cherokee Vote event, encouraging civic engagement and involvement in tribal governance.

A special highlight of February was the premiere of “ᏣᎳᎩ: Wherever We Are, Cherokee Tribal Youth Council,” a powerful feature showcasing Cherokee youth leadership, TYC’s legacy, and the impact of TYC members across the Nation. Watch now at: https://youtu.be/kZfsmLFQ2eQ?si=3Bc3xNOw5fJHm94W

02/25/2026

We're so excited about Saturday's special “ᏣᎳᎩ: Wherever We Are" that is focused on the history of the Tribal Youth Council and the impact Cherokee youth are having on our tribe! 🩷

RSVP here: https://events.cherokeesatlarge.org/tribal-youth-council-gen?utm_source=toolkit_social_rsvp_20260228&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tribal-youth-council

02/16/2026

A few of the members on our TYC attended the Tulsa Oilers Hockey game alongside Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner and other tribal leaders on Saturday! 🏒🤩

01/23/2026

Handmade with love, we are making valentines for veterans! 💌🥰

Thank you to our veterans for your service and sacrifice!

01/22/2026

On Friday, our Tribal Youth Council met to build connection and inspire passion for the upcoming year! We have already been attending events and making an impact across the reservation!🤩

10/06/2025

We hope you apply! ❤️

The Cherokee Nation is now accepting 2026 Tribal Youth Council Applications.

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council consists of 17 members from various tribal districts. The members will serve a one-year term. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24. Youth who are interested can apply via the Gadugi Portal at gadugiportal.cherokee.org!

Learn more here: https://anadisgoi.com/index.php/government-stories/cherokee-nation-accepting-2026-tribal-youth-council-applications