What Is the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma?
From 1867 until 1906, the Cherokee Nation elected a series of Principal Chiefs. However, from 1907 until 1971, the President of the United States appointed the Principal Chief. In 1971, the Cherokee Nation elected W.W. Keeler, CEO of Phillips Petroleum, as Principal Chief. Because of the wording of the 1906 Five Civilized Tribes Act and 1970 Five Civilized Tribes Act, which gave democracy of sorts, back to the Cherokees, the Principal Chief has only those powers provided by the organic document which created that office(the 1839 Constitution), limitation placed on the Cherokee Nation by Congress (1906 FCT Act) and those powers granted by Congress (1970 FCT Act). The office of Principal Chief is not an inherent position. It was created by an act of the Cherokee people. That act is the adoption of the 1839 Constitution. Without that document, there could not have been a principal chief. The 1906 FCT Act provided that the Cherokee Nation shall continue, in full force and effect, in accord
