Chuck Hoskin Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chuck Hoskin Jr.
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Hoskin speaking in 2019
|
|
| 8th Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation | |
| Assumed office August 14, 2019 |
|
| Deputy | Bryan Warner |
| Preceded by | Bill John Baker |
| Member of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council | |
| In office August 14, 2013 – August 21, 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Redistricting |
| Succeeded by | Victoria Vazquez |
| Constituency | 11th district |
| In office August 14, 2007 – August 14, 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Chuck Hoskin Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Redistricting |
| Constituency | 9th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 7, 1975 |
| Nationality | Cherokee Nation United States |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Chuck Hoskin Sr. (father) |
| Education | University of Oklahoma (BA, JD) |
Chuck Hoskin Jr., born on February 7, 1975, is a leader and lawyer for the Cherokee Nation. He has been the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation since 2019. He was re-elected in 2023 for a second term.
Before becoming Principal Chief, he served on the Tribal Council for the Cherokee Nation. He was also the Secretary of State for the Cherokee Nation.
Contents
About Chuck Hoskin Jr.
Early Life and Education
Chuck Hoskin Jr. was born in 1975. His father is also named Chuck Hoskin. He finished high school in Vinita in 1993. After that, he went to the University of Oklahoma. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1997. In 2000, he received his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
Hoskin Jr. has spoken about the history of the Cherokee Freedmen. These are descendants of formerly enslaved people who were part of the Cherokee Nation. He believes their citizenship in the Cherokee Nation is a right based on old treaties.
Political Career Beginnings
In 1999, Hoskin Jr. helped write the Cherokee Nation's constitution. Before holding elected office, he worked for the National Labor Relations Board.
In 2007, he ran for the Cherokee Tribal Council. His father, who was also on the council, decided not to run again. Chuck Hoskin Jr. won the election with 69% of the votes. He started his six-year term on August 14, 2007.
In 2011, Hoskin Jr. worked as a lawyer for Bill John Baker. Baker was running for Principal Chief at the time. In 2012, Hoskin Jr. became the deputy speaker of the Tribal Council. He served in this role until 2013.
Serving as Secretary of State
In 2013, Hoskin Jr. ran for his Tribal Council seat again. He ran unopposed and won. However, in August 2013, Principal Chief Bill John Baker chose him to be the Secretary of State for the Cherokee Nation.
Hoskin Jr. accepted this new role. He resigned from the Tribal Council on August 21, 2013. This led to a special election for his old council seat. He was reconfirmed as Secretary of State in 2016.
Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
Becoming Principal Chief
On February 6, 2019, Hoskin Jr. stepped down as Secretary of State. He did this to run for Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. He won the election on June 1, 2019, with 57% of the votes.
Before he officially took office, he made some big announcements. He planned to invest $30 million to help repair homes for Cherokee citizens. He also announced a plan to raise the minimum wage for tribal government employees. The wage would go from $9.50 to $11 per hour. He encouraged other tribal businesses to do the same.
Hoskin Jr. was sworn in as Principal Chief on August 14, 2019. Bryan Warner became the Deputy Principal Chief at the same ceremony.
Key Initiatives and Re-election
After becoming Chief, Hoskin Jr. announced his plan to nominate Kim Teehee. She would be the first Cherokee Nation delegate to the U.S. Congress. He explained that this delegate position is mentioned in old treaties between the Cherokee Nation and the United States.
Hoskin Jr. and Warner also suggested creating a new cabinet position. This would be the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. This role would support Cherokee veterans. They nominated Joe Crittenden, a Vietnam War veteran, for this position.
Hoskin Jr. ran for re-election in 2023. He won more than 50% of the votes in the first round. This meant he did not need a runoff election. After this re-election, he cannot run for Principal Chief again until 2031.
Relationship with Oklahoma's Governor
Hoskin Jr. has had disagreements with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. Their differences are often about tribal sovereignty. This means the right of tribes to govern themselves.
One major issue was the McGirt decision. This court ruling said that a large part of eastern Oklahoma is Native American reservation land. Hoskin Jr. said that Governor Stitt was trying to create problems where there were none. He felt the governor was trying to harm the tribes.
In July 2022, Hoskin Jr. issued an order about the Oklahoma state flag. He said it should not be flown on Cherokee property. However, he later changed this decision due to public feedback.
After another court ruling, Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, Hoskin Jr. shared his concerns. He wrote that the decision was a "betrayal" to tribes in Oklahoma. He believed it would have a big impact on all federally recognized tribes.
In the 2022 Oklahoma governor's election, Hoskin Jr. supported Joy Hofmeister. She was the opponent of Governor Stitt.
Personal Life
Chuck Hoskin Jr. lives in his hometown of Vinita, Oklahoma. He lives there with his wife, January, and their two children. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation Bar Association and the Oklahoma Bar Association. He is also a member of the Democratic Party.
