Wes Nofire facts for kids

John Wesley "Wes" Nofire, born on April 30, 1986, is a politician from the Cherokee Nation and the United States. He was also a professional heavyweight boxer. Since 2023, he has served as the Oklahoma Native American Affairs Liaison. During his boxing career, he was known as "The Cherokee Warrior." Before his current role, Nofire was a member of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council from 2019 to 2023. He also ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 and for Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 2023.

Early Life and Education

Wes Nofire was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on the Cherokee Nation Reservation. His parents are Sherman and Annette Nofire. He grew up in the Welling area of Oklahoma.

Nofire went to Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah. This school is special because it is for Native American students and is run by the Cherokee Nation. While in high school, Nofire was part of the 2004 State Champion Basketball team for Sequoyah.

Boxing Career

Nofire started boxing in 2007 to stay in shape. As an amateur boxer, he became the Oklahoma State Champion in the Super Heavyweight Division. He then competed in the 2010 National Golden Gloves boxing tournament.

In 2011, Nofire moved to Miami, Florida. There, he met John David Jackson, a former world champion boxer. Jackson saw Nofire's natural talent and encouraged him to become a professional boxer. Nofire had his first professional heavyweight fight on August 26, 2011. He won the match by knocking out his opponent in the first round. In his next fight, Nofire won again in less than a minute.

Nofire Entertainment

In 2013, Wes Nofire started his own company called Nofire Entertainment Corporation. This company helps promote boxing and other fight events. Their first event was called "Cherokee Fight Club" in 2013. It featured ten fights and took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Retiring from Boxing

Wes Nofire's last professional boxing match was on June 10, 2018. He fought against Gerald Washington. Nofire had a record of 20 wins and only 1 loss before this fight. The match was tough and went for 10 rounds. Washington won the fight by decision, meaning the judges scored more points for him. After this fight, Nofire retired from boxing.

Political Career

Serving on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council is a group of seventeen members who help make laws and decisions for the Cherokee Nation.

Campaign for Council

In December 2018, Nofire announced he would run for a seat on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. He was one of seven candidates for the District 3 seat. In the first election on June 1, 2019, Nofire received the most votes. This meant he moved on to a runoff election in July against Debra Proctor. Nofire won the runoff election on July 27, receiving 63.75% of the votes.

Time on the Council

During his time on the Tribal Council, Nofire often questioned the tribal sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation. He made claims about the Cherokee Nation's court system and its power. He also made serious accusations against Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.. Chief Hoskin Jr. called these accusations "unhinged conspiracy theories."

Running for U.S. Congress in 2022

Nofire ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in 2022. He was one of sixteen candidates from the Republican Party. During his campaign, some people criticized Nofire for his comments about a court decision called McGirt v. Oklahoma. He said this decision was a "threat to Oklahomans." Another Tribal Councilor, Candessa Tehee, said his statements were "treasonous" to the Cherokee Nation. Nofire finished seventh in the election and did not move on to the next round. He later supported Governor Kevin Stitt in his re-election campaign.

Running for Cherokee Nation Principal Chief in 2023

In 2023, Nofire decided to run for Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. He initially planned to run with Ryan Dirteater as his deputy chief, but Dirteater later withdrew. Nofire still ran for the position. He lost the election to the current Principal Chief, Chuck Hoskin Jr..

Oklahoma Native American Affairs Liaison

On September 5, 2023, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Wes Nofire as the Native American Affairs Liaison for Oklahoma. This role involves working with Native American tribes on behalf of the state.

Cherokee Nation officials criticized Nofire's appointment. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. called it "disappointing." The Speaker of the Tribal Council, Mike Shambaugh, said the appointment was "very disturbing." Shambaugh wrote an article comparing Nofire to historical figures who worked against Native American interests. He also criticized Nofire for spreading "fact-free unhinged and ideologically extreme conspiracy theories." The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes also voted that they had no confidence in Nofire. They said the Native American Affairs Liaison position was not effective under Governor Stitt.