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Cherokee Nation Tribal Council elects new speaker and approves FY26 budgets, code amendment and multiple resolutions
Summary
At its regular meeting, the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council elected Johnny Jack Kidwell as speaker, appointed Joshua Sam as secretary and approved several budget and policy measures, including an amendment to Title 21 of the Cherokee Nation Code and fiscal-year appropriations. Most votes passed on roll call with 15 affirmative votes.
The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council at its regular meeting elected Johnny Jack Kidwell as speaker and approved multiple budget and governance measures, including an amendment to Title 21 of the Cherokee Nation Code and the tribe’s fiscal-year 2026 capital and operating budgets.
The council voted to elect Johnny Jack Kidwell as speaker after a resolution to that effect was moved by Councilor Dora Petzkowski and seconded. Kidwell took the oath of office before the council. The council also approved a resolution electing Joshua Sam to the office of secretary.
Why it matters: the leadership changes and budget approvals set the council’s immediate priorities for governance and spending. The operating and capital budgets adopted Wednesday (motions labeled items p and q) were passed by roll call with 15 yes votes and no recorded opposing votes, moving the tribe into its fiscal-year 2026 appropriations cycle.
Most measures were adopted in…
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