Cherokee Nation Council approves seal, health center act, easements and other measures in unanimous votes

The Cherokee Nation Council on Feb. 26 approved a package of resolutions and acts that the body described as largely procedural and noncontroversial.

Councillor Cody Poindexter moved to approve the Council of the Cherokee Nation seal; the motion received a second and passed with no discussion. The council then passed a resolution authorizing limited consent to suit for a transaction involving Cherokee Nation and Oracle America, Inc., with Dr. Jones present to speak on the item. Both measures were approved by voice vote.

The council approved the Cherokee Nation Claremore outpatient and emergency health center act by roll‑call vote that recorded 15 yes votes and 0 no votes. Councillor Sasha Black Fox Qualls presented the act; Shelley recorded the roll call. Councillor Clifton Hughes moved and the council approved an amendment to the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act tied to the 2026 opioid settlement; that motion likewise passed 15–0.

Councillor Lisa Hall moved a resolution authorizing Cherokee Nation to grant a right‑of‑way easement to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or The Conservation Fund for ingress and egress across a portion of tribal trust land in Adair County, Oklahoma. The council approved the easement with no substantive discussion on the floor.

A resolution authorizing a lease of a portion of tribal trust land to the AMO Health Center in Salina and related parties to support community health and culture was offered, considered as a revised version on the floor, and approved after a motion and second. The council also passed an act to name the Cherokee Immersion Middle School (motion carried on a roll call 16–0) and approved a Bureau of Indian Affairs‑related resolution to update the Nation's inventory of tribal transportation facilities.

The council confirmed the reappointment of Luke Barto as a district judge of the Cherokee Nation District Court after Judge Barto addressed the body and members offered praise for his service. The rules committee's proposed amendment to Title 19, Chapter 4, Section 33 (time and place of session) was adopted on a roll call that recorded 16 yes votes and 0 no votes.

Most measures on the Feb. 26 agenda passed with little or no debate and were presented as routine or technical items. The council set a tentative date for its next meeting on Thursday, March 26 at 1 p.m. and adjourned.

Votes at a glance:
• Council seal — passed (voice vote)
• Limited consent to suit (Oracle America, Inc.) — passed (voice vote)
• Claremore outpatient and emergency health center act — passed, roll call recorded 15–0
• Public Health and Wellness Fund Act (2026 opioid‑settlement amendment) — passed, 15–0
• Easement to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Adair County) — passed (voice vote)
• Lease of tribal trust land to AMO Health Center (Salina) — passed (voice vote)
• Cherokee Immersion Middle School naming — passed, roll call 16–0
• BIA inventory update resolution — passed (voice vote)
• Reappointment of Luke Barto, Cherokee Nation District Court — passed (voice vote)
• Amendment to Title 19, Ch. 4, §33 (time and place of session) — passed, roll call 16–0

The council recorded few substantive objections on the floor; where roll calls were taken, the clerk recorded unanimous or near‑unanimous support for the measures.