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Chief Named Ambassador Of The Year
posted 05/20/09
12:31 pm
The Red Earth Ambassador of the year award was founded in 1991 to recognize individuals, not necessarily of Native American descent, who have made significant contributions in presenting a positive image of Native Americans.
The Cherokee people elected Smith Principal Chief in 1999 and re-elected him in 2003 and 2007. He is committed to the revitalization of Cherokee language, traditions, culture, the preservation of tribal history and has fought for tribal sovereignty. Smith believes strongly in the concept of “‘ga-du-gi,’ coming together to work for the good of all Cherokees.”
Smith has spent the majority of his professional life dedicated to service to Indian people. He is a renowned speaker, educator and constitutional scholar and has written curriculum for tribal operations and a Cherokee history text.
Prior to his service as Principal Chief, Smith taught Indian law at Dartmouth College, Northeastern State University and Rogers State University. He served as a Cherokee Nation prosecutor and an administrator of the Cherokee Nation Tax Commission. He also worked as director of planning, legal historian, attorney, and director of justice for the Cherokee Nation. He is a former prosecutor in Creek County, served as a public defender in Tulsa County, and operated his own law practice.
The Red Earth Ambassador award is represented by a magnificent bronze sculpture created by Red Earth Festival award-winning artist Troy Anderson. Previous Ambassadors have included Kevin Costner (1991), Tony Hillerman (1992), N. Scott Momaday (1999), William L. Allen, editor National Geographic (1995), and John E. Kirkpatrick (2004).
The Cherokee Nation is the sovereign operating government of the Cherokee people. It is a federally recognized Tribe of more than 285,000 Cherokee citizens, with its capital located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Tickets to the Red Earth Ambassador of the Year Luncheon, hosted by The State Chamber of Oklahoma and the Red Earth Board of Directors, are $50 per person. Corporate tables are available. Call (405) 427-5228 for reservations.
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