Kimberly Teehee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kimberly Teehee
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Teehee in 2012
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| Delegate-Designate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Cherokee Nation |
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Unseated
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| Assuming office August 29, 2019 |
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| Succeeding | Constituency established |
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| Born | October 13, 1968 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Rogers State University (AA) Northeastern State University (BA) University of Iowa (JD) |
Kimberly Teehee, born on October 13, 1968, is a lawyer and activist from the Cherokee Nation. She works to help Native American communities. She has been chosen to be a special representative, called a "Delegate-designate," for the Cherokee Nation in the U.S. House of Representatives. From 2009 to 2012, she was a top advisor for Native American issues to President Barack Obama. In February 2020, Time magazine named her one of 16 activists working for a "More Equal America."
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Early Life and Education
Kimberly Teehee is a member of the Cherokee Nation. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, but grew up in Claremore, Oklahoma. Her family speaks the Cherokee language fluently.
She went to Rogers State University and earned an associate's degree. Then, she studied at Northeastern State University, where she graduated with honors in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. She later earned her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1995.
Kimberly Teehee's Career Journey
Kimberly Teehee started her career helping Native American communities connect with politics. She was the first deputy director for Native American outreach for the Democratic Party. She also helped organize President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1997.
From 1998, she worked as a Senior Advisor for Congressman Dale Kildee of Michigan. He was a leader of the Native American Caucus in the House of Representatives.
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In 2009, Teehee joined President Obama's team at the White House Domestic Policy Council. She took on a new role as Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs. In this job, she advised the president on important issues for "Indian country," which refers to Native American tribal lands and communities.
After leaving the White House in 2012, she joined the Mapetsi Policy Group. This firm works to protect the rights and independence of Native American tribes.
One of her big achievements at the White House was helping to renew the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This law helps protect women from violence. In 2015, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians honored her for her work on VAWA. They especially thanked her for helping to allow Native American tribes to prosecute non-Native people who commit abuse on tribal lands.
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In 2014, Teehee began working for Cherokee Nation Businesses. She was the vice president of special projects for the tribe's main company.
Becoming a Delegate to Congress
In August 2019, the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Chuck Hoskin Jr., chose Kimberly Teehee to be the first-ever delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. The Cherokee Council approved her appointment on August 29.
The right for the Cherokee Nation to send a delegate to Congress was actually agreed upon a long time ago. It was part of the Treaty of Hopewell in 1785 and the Treaty of New Echota in 1835. However, this right was not used until 2019.
For Teehee to officially become a delegate, the U.S. House of Representatives needs to vote to accept her. If she is accepted, her role would be non-voting. This is similar to the representatives from places like Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories.
The Cherokee Nation has continued to work hard to have Teehee seated in Congress. In February 2021, it was reported that Teehee had advised President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Native American issues during their election campaign. Her seating was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A formal hearing to discuss seating Teehee was held by the United States House Committee on Rules in November 2022. Chief Hoskin spoke at this event, and many House members supported seating Teehee quickly. However, she was not seated by the end of the 117th Congress. Chief Hoskin reappointed Teehee as the Cherokee Nation delegate-nominee in August 2023. As of July 2025, she is still waiting to be officially seated.
While Teehee represents the Cherokee Nation, another group, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, chose their own delegate, Victoria Holland, in 2021. They believe she represents the same people mentioned in the Treaty of New Echota.
See also
