Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
Chadwick 'Corntassel' Smith - Bio
918-453-5000, Ext. 5112
OR (Okla. Toll Free Only)
1-800-256-0671, Ext. 5112
E-Mail: csmith@cherokee.org
The Cherokee people elected Chadwick "Corntassel" Smith as Principal Chief in 1999. Smith has brought unprecedented growth in the Cherokee Nation budgets, bringing in more money from both federal agencies and tribal enterprises. The Cherokee Nation now employs more Cherokees than ever, while providing more services to its citizens than ever before.
Principal Chief Smith has led the Cherokee Nation out of a time of turmoil, unrest and controversy into an era of cooperation and achievement. Once again, Cherokee people value the community spirit of ga-du-gi, coming together to work for the greater good, because of his leadership.
Principal Chief Smith looks to communities for leadership and has implemented programs and policies that allow for more direct input from community members and less bureaucracy.
Principal Chief Smith has a rich family history of service to the Cherokee people. He is the great-grandson of Redbird Smith, a Cherokee patriot who fought against allotment of Cherokee lands at the time of the Dawes rolls. His grandmother, Rachel Quinton, was a life-long advocate for the Cherokee people. His father, the late Nelson Smith, was a respected industrial manager and his mother, Pauline Smith, still lives in Colcord. Smith’s late uncle, William Lee Smith, led the Keetoowah Society at the Stokes Stomp Grounds since the 50s.
Smith’s wife, Bobbie Gail, is a full-blood, bi-lingual Cherokee from the Rocky Mountain community in Adair County. Bobbie Gail was Miss Cherokee in 1975, is the daughter of the late Lincoln and Martha Scott, and has taken a leadership role in culture and language preservation.
Smith holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Georgia; master's degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin and a Juris Doctorate, Law, from the University of Tulsa.
Prior to his service as Principal Chief, Smith taught Indian law at Dartmouth College, Northeastern State University and Rogers State University, worked as a Cherokee Nation prosecutor and as an administrator of Cherokee Nation Tax Commission. He has written college curriculum in tribal operations and authored a 600 page course book on Cherokee Legal History. Smith has also worked as a prosecutor in Creek County, a public defender in Tulsa County and operated his own law practice.
Principal Chief Chad Smith is a descendant of the leaders of the original Keetoowah Society who fought to keep tribal traditions and culture alive. Chad's great-grandfather was Redbird Smith, a Senator of the Cherokee Nation in 1896. He was a famous Cherokee traditionalist who fought the government allotment policy under which the U.S. took over 7,000,000 acres of land from the Cherokees.
His grandmother, Rachael Quinton (1901-1990), was secretary of the United Keetoowah Band (UKB) and fought tirelessly to revive the Cherokee Nation. Chad's Cherokee name, given to him by his grandmother Rachel Quinton, is Ugista, which means "Corntassel." Chad's relative William Smith, was the Chief of the Keetoowah Society. He was the spiritual leader of the Stokes Stomp Grounds.
Chief Smith holds a MBA in Public Administration, BA in Education, and a Juris Doctorate. Prior to his election he served under two Cherokee Nation Chiefs as Director of Tribal Planning, Legal Historian, Attorney, Cherokee Nation Prosecutor, Director of Justice and Advisor to the tribal tax commission.
Highly respected as Indian legal scholar, Chief Smith has fought for tribal sovereignty and stood up for Indian rights for the last 15 years. He has consistently donated his time as a practicing attorney to helping tribal elders, children and families.
Chief Smith envisioned and coordinated the 1843-1993 International Indian Council. The event celebrated the 150th anniversary of the original conference called by John Ross renewing the international leadership of the Cherokee Nation among tribes.
Another significant historical event to the Chief's credit was the 1993 Cherokee History Symposium. More than (23) of the country’s best-known scholars responded to his "Call for Papers."
Dedicated to ensuring a better quality of life for Cherokee people, Chief Smith places priorities on tribal and individual self-sufficiency, elderly care services, better quality health care and education.
Smith holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Georgia; master's degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin and a Juris Doctorate, Law, from the University of Tulsa.
He has experience in business, owning and operating a law firm in Tulsa and production of Cherokee syllabary clocks, watches, etc.
In addition, Smith has a strong background in Indian law filled with test cases designed to protect and expand the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation. These test cases have been tried in private capacity as an attorney and, for the most part, at my own expense. These cases encompass Indian Child Welfare, hunting and fishing rights; Indian country jurisdiction and many others.