Kimberly Teehee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kimberly Teehee
|
|
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Teehee in 2012
|
|
| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Cherokee Nation |
|
|
Designate
|
|
| Assuming office TBD |
|
| Succeeding | Constituency established |
| Personal details | |
| 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, politician, and activist from the Cherokee Nation. She works hard to help Native American communities. She is currently chosen to be the Cherokee Nation's delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.
From 2009 to 2012, she was a senior advisor for Native American issues. She worked for President Barack Obama during his time in office. In 2020, Time magazine named her one of 16 activists. They said she was fighting for a "More Equal America."
Early Life and Education
Kimberly Teehee is a member of the Cherokee Nation. She was born in Chicago, Illinois. She 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. In 1991, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. She also earned her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1995.
Kimberly Teehee's Career
Kimberly Teehee has had an important career helping Native American communities. She was the first deputy director for Native American Outreach. This was for the Democratic National Committee. She also directed Native American outreach for President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1997.
Starting in 1998, she worked as a Senior Advisor. She advised Democratic Congressman Dale Kildee from Michigan. He helped lead the Native American Caucus in the House of Representatives.
.jpg)
During President Obama's time, she worked on the White House Domestic Policy Council. In July 2009, she became the Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs. In this role, she gave advice to the president on issues important to Native American communities.
In 2012, she joined the Mapetsi Policy Group. This is a small law and lobbying firm. It was started by Debbie Ho, who supports tribal rights. The firm aims to protect tribal sovereignty. Tribal sovereignty means tribes have the right to govern themselves.
While at the White House, she helped a lot with the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This law helps protect women from violence. In 2015, after leaving the White House, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians honored her. They thanked her for her work on VAWA. Especially for her efforts to prosecute non-Native people who harm Native women on tribal lands.
.jpg)
In 2014, Teehee joined Cherokee Nation Businesses. This is the tribe's main company. She worked as the vice president of special projects there.
Delegate to Congress
In August 2019, the leader of the Cherokee Nation, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., chose Kimberly Teehee. He appointed her as the Cherokee Nation's first delegate to the United States 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 agreed upon a long time ago. It was part of the Treaty of Hopewell of 1785 and the Treaty of New Echota of 1835. However, this right was not used until 2019.
The U.S. House of Representatives needs to vote to officially seat Teehee. If she is accepted, her role will be non-voting. This is similar to delegates from Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories.
The Cherokee Nation is still working to have Teehee seated in Congress. In February 2021, it was reported that Teehee advised President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. She helped them with their promises about Native Americans during the 2020 election. Her seating was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She hoped to be seated in 2021.
As of September 2022, Teehee was still not seated. The Cherokee Nation government continued to ask Congress to seat her. A meeting was planned for November 16, 2022, to discuss seating Teehee. Chief Hoskin spoke at this meeting. Many members of the House supported seating Teehee quickly. However, she was not seated by the end of the 117th Congress. Chief Hoskin reappointed Teehee as the delegate nominee in August 2023.
While Teehee represents the Cherokee Nation, another group also chose a delegate. In 2021, Oklahoma's United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians selected Victoria Holland. They believe she represents the same people as the Cherokee from the Treaty of New Echota.
See also
