Cherokee Nation council confirms Christian Smith Snell Thomas as registrar

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council on June 8 approved a resolution confirming Christian Smith Snell Thomas as registrar, the council announced after a brief special rules session.

The resolution — introduced by Deputy Speaker Kevin Easley — was put to a voice vote and carried. "All in favor say I," the presiding Speaker called; after members voiced their assent and applause, the Speaker said the motion passed.

The council heard brief remarks from a speaker identified in the transcript as Kristen, who addressed the body from the podium. "I am more than humbled and honored to stand before this body today in this position of nomination," Kristen said, adding she would be glad to answer questions. Deputy Speaker Kevin Easley told the nominee, "My vote's going to depend highly on how you answer this next question," and asked a lighthearted follow-up off camera.

Councilman Uriah Grass asked to be added as a sponsor of the resolution before the vote. The transcript records a motion and a second; no roll-call vote tally or named mover/second is recorded in the transcript.

The Speaker noted the council held the special rules session to avoid delaying tribal registration applications: "we don't want to hold up tribal registration for those many citizens who are trying to submit applications," the Speaker said. The meeting concluded with an announcement that Councilman Danny Callison's wife had been moved out of the ICU to a regular floor and was improving.

The resolution as recorded confirms the appointment; the transcript does not include a recorded roll-call tally or a scheduled swearing-in date. The council adjourned after the vote.