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List of Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee facts for kids

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"Cherokee Chiefs" redirects here. For the high school team, see Cherokee High School (Tennessee).

A Principal Chief is the main leader of the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. These are the three main federally recognized tribes of Cherokee people today.

A long time ago, in the 1700s, the Cherokee people were organized by family groups called clans and by towns. When they needed to talk with Europeans, they would choose a special leader for those discussions. They called this leader Uku, which meant "First Beloved Man."

The title "Principal Chief" was created in 1794. This was when the Cherokee decided to create a more organized government for their whole nation. They formed the original Cherokee Nation.

How the Cherokee Government Grew

In 1827, the Cherokee Nation–East wrote down their own constitution, like a set of rules for their government. This government had three parts: one to make laws (legislative), one to carry out laws (executive), and one to judge laws (judicial). The Principal Chief was chosen by the National Council, which was the law-making part.

The Cherokee Nation–West, another group of Cherokee, made a similar constitution in 1833. In 1839, most of the Cherokee people were forced to move from their homes in the Southeast to Indian Territory (which is now Oklahoma). After this difficult journey, known as the Trail of Tears, the different Cherokee groups came together and adopted one new constitution.

Later, in 1868, the Eastern Band of Cherokee, who had managed to stay in their homelands in North Carolina, created their own separate constitution. They made the position of Principal Chief official for their group. This position had existed in the east since the time of Yonaguska. Today, their descendants are the members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

In 1906, the U.S. government tried to break up the Cherokee Nation's government with a law called the Dawes Act. This law also divided up tribal lands. After this, the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 1936 helped Native American tribes reorganize their governments. Because of these new laws, the Keetoowah Nighthawk Society formed the United Keetoowah Band in 1939. The U.S. government approved their constitution in 1940.

For a while, the President of the United States appointed the Principal Chief for the non-UKB Cherokee. But in 1975, these Cherokee wrote their own constitution and called themselves the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. This constitution was approved in 1976. In 1999, they changed their name to simply "Cherokee Nation."

Early Cherokee Leaders (Before 1794)

Francis Parsons - Cunne Shote
Cunne Shote, Cherokee Chief, painted in 1762.

Before 1794, the Cherokee didn't have one single national government. Their communities were based on clans and towns, and each had different leaders. Towns would choose their own leaders to speak for them with British, French, and later, American officials.

They usually had two types of chiefs: "peace" chiefs (sometimes called "white" chiefs) and "war" chiefs (sometimes called "red" chiefs). The English often translated all these leaders as "chief," but the Cherokee called their town leaders "Beloved Man." The title "emperor" was sometimes used by British visitors, but the Cherokee people didn't really use that title themselves.

Here are some early leaders:

  • Outacite (died 1729), a peace chief who signed a treaty in 1720.
  • Charitey Hagey of Tugaloo (1716–1721).
  • Long Warrior of Tanasi (1729–1730).
  • Wrosetasetow, also known as Ama-edohi, served as a trade commissioner until 1730.
  • Moytoy of Tellico (died 1741), also known as Ama-edohi, was called "emperor" by a British visitor from 1730 to 1741.
  • Attakullakulla (1708/1711–1780), also known as "Little Carpenter," was a "white" peace chief from Echota. He was seen as the main chief by the British from 1762 to 1778.
  • Amouskositte (born around 1728), also known as "Dreadfulwater," from Great Tellico. He was "emperor" from 1741 to 1753 and was Moytoy's son.
  • Old Hop (1753–1756), also known as Guhna-gadoga, was a war chief from Echota.
  • Moytoy of Citico, a war chief during the Anglo-Cherokee War (1759–1761).
  • Uka Ulah (died 1761), an "emperor" and nephew of Old Hop.
  • Standing Turkey (or Cunne Shote), who traveled to England in 1762.
  • Outacite of Keowee (around 1703–around 1780), also known as Ostenaco, who also traveled to England in 1762.
  • Oconostota (1712–1781), a "red" war chief of Echota, who led the entire tribe from 1778 to 1785.
  • Savanukah of Chota (1781–1783).
  • Old Tassel (died 1788), a peace chief from Echota, who served from 1783 to 1788.
  • Raven of Chota, a war chief and nephew of Oconostota.
  • Little Turkey, served from 1788 to 1794.
    • He was opposed by Hanging Maw (or Scolaguta), who also served from 1788 to 1794.

Chickamauga/Lower Cherokee Leaders (1777–1809)

In 1777, a group of Cherokee led by Dragging Canoe, mostly from Tennessee, separated from other Cherokee who had signed peace treaties with the Americans. They moved to the Chickamauga region (now Chattanooga, Tennessee) and then to the "Five Lower Towns" to keep fighting. These Chickamauga Cherokee eventually became a large part of the nation. They reunited with the main Cherokee Nation in 1809.

Their chiefs were:

Cherokee Nation East Leaders (1794–1839)

John Ross of the Cherokee
John Ross, a very important Principal Chief, around 1866.

After some leaders were killed, Little Turkey was chosen as the First Beloved Man of the Cherokee. The main council seat moved to Ustanali (later called New Echota) in what is now Calhoun, Georgia. Hanging Maw also claimed the title. But after the Cherokee–American wars ended, Little Turkey was recognized as the "Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation" by all the towns. This was when the Cherokee formed their first official national government.

Here are the Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation East:

Cherokee Nation West Leaders (1810–1839)

The Western Cherokee first settled along the St. Francis and White rivers in what was then Spanish Louisiana and later Arkansas Territory. They eventually moved to Indian Territory in 1828. Their capital there was called Tahlontiskee.

Here are the Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation West:

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Leaders (1824–present)

Nimrodsmith
Nimrod Jarret Smith (1837–1893) was the 4th Principal Chief of the Eastern Band.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are descendants of Cherokee people who mostly lived along the Oconaluftee River in Western North Carolina. This group formed after treaties in 1817 and 1819. They were later joined by other Cherokee who managed to stay in North Carolina during the Indian Removal in 1838.

Here are their Principal Chiefs:

  • Yonaguska (1824–1839)
  • Salonitah, or Flying Squirrel (1870–1875)
  • Lloyd R. Welch (1875–1880)
  • Nimrod Jarrett Smith (1880–1891)
  • Stillwell Saunooke (1891–1895)
  • Andy Standing Deer (1895–1899)
  • Jesse Reed (1899–1903)
  • Bird Saloloneeta, or Young Squirrel (1903–1907)
  • John Goins Welch (1907–1911)
  • Joseph A. Saunooke (1911–1915)
  • David Blythe (1915–1919)
  • Joseph A. Saunooke (1919–1923)
  • Sampson Owl (1923–1927)
  • John A. Tahquette (1927–1931)
  • Jarret Blythe (1931–1947)
  • Henry Bradley (1947–1951)
  • Osley Bird Saunooke (1951–1955)
  • Jarret Blythe (1955–1959)
  • Osley Bird Saunooke (1959–1963)
  • Jarret Blythe (1963–1967)
  • Walter Jackson (1967–1971)
  • Noah Powell (1971–1973)
  • John A. Crowe (1973–1983)
  • Robert S. Youngdeer (1983–1987)
  • Jonathan L. Taylor (1987–1995)
  • Gerard Parker (1995)
  • Joyce Dugan (1995–1999)
  • Leon Jones (1999–2003)
  • Michell Hicks (2003–2015)
  • Patrick Lambert (2015-2017)
  • Richard Sneed (2017–2023)
  • Michell Hicks (2023-present)

Two Principal Chiefs of the Eastern Band have been removed from office through a process called impeachment since the late 1900s: Jonathan L. Taylor in 1995 and Patrick Lambert in 2017. Impeachment is a way for a government to remove an official from office if they are accused of serious wrongdoing.

Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory Leaders (1839–1907)

Lewis Downing
Lewis Downing, a Principal Chief who helped unite the Cherokee Nation after the Civil War.

After the Cherokee were forced to move to Indian Territory on the Trail of Tears, they created a new constitution. This constitution aimed to unite the Eastern Cherokee with the Western Cherokee. It also allowed the Principal Chief to be directly elected by the people.

The group led by John Ross moved their capital from Tahlontiskee and built a new one called Tahlequah. During the American Civil War, the Cherokee Nation voted to support the Confederacy. John Ross agreed for a time. However, in 1862, he and many of his supporters left for Washington, D.C. At that time, Stand Watie, who was a Confederate officer, was elected Principal Chief by some of the Nation. But the Ross group never supported Watie's election and lived separately under their own officials.

Here are the Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory:

Cherokee Nation Leaders (1975–present)

ChadSmithByPhilKonstantin
Chad "Corntassel" Smith, a former Principal Chief (1999–2011).
ChiefBillJohnBakerByPhilKonstantin
Bill John Baker, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, at a conference in 2013.

In 1906, the U.S. government tried to end the Cherokee Nation's government to prepare for Oklahoma becoming a state. For many years, the U.S. federal government appointed the Principal Chief. In 1971, an election was held, and W.W. Keeler, who had been appointed by President Harry Truman in 1949, was elected.

The constitution for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma was written in 1975 and approved in 1976. A new constitution was approved in 2003, and the tribe's name was changed to simply "Cherokee Nation."

Appointed Chiefs

These "Principal Chiefs" were appointed by the U.S. government, sometimes just for a single day, to sign documents and do other official duties.

Elected Chiefs

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Leaders (1939–present)

The UKB Cherokee are mostly descendants of the "Old Settlers" who organized under U.S. federal laws in the 1930s. They approved their constitution and were recognized by the federal government in 1950.

Here are their Principal Chiefs:

  • John Hitcher (1939–1946)
  • Jim Pickup (1946–1954)
  • Jeff Tindle (1954–1960)
  • Jim Pickup (1960–1967)
  • William Glory (1967–1979)
  • James L. Gordon (1979–1983)
  • John Hair (1983–1991)
  • John Ross (1991–1995)
  • Jim Henson (1996–2000)
  • Dallas Proctor (2000–2004)
  • George Wickliffe (2005–2016)
  • Joe Bunch (2016–present)

See also

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