Tribal Council District 1
Bill John Baker
3231 S. Muskogee
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Home: 918-456-8228
Cell: 918-453-1720
Email: Bill-Baker@cherokee.org
Residence and family information:
Tahlequah, Okla. Wife Sherry, six children, seven grandchildren.
Education: Graduate of Tahlequah High School, B.S. Northeastern State University 1972, Political Science and History in Education with minor in Psychology and Sociology.
Describe the leadership experience you would bring to the Tribal Council.
“After graduating from Northeastern State University in 1972 I began and have since enjoyed a 31-year career in many different areas of business. Throughout my life, I have always made it a priority to dedicate a part of my time to service in the community. In my tenure as a Cherokee Tribal Council member, I chose to serve on every standing committee within the council and was elected by council as the co-chair of the executive finance committee. Other committees within the Cherokee Nation I have served include TERO, Talking Leaves Community Development, Trail of Tears Award, Sequoyah Chapel, Native Vote, Board of Directors of WW Hastings Hospital, Cherokee Nation Trust Authority, president of Tahlequah JOM Parent Committee, board of directors Cherokee Nation Enterprises, first board of directors of the Cherokee Education Foundation, tribal council delegate to the Cherokee Constitutional Convention, only council member involved in negotiations of Motor Fuel Compact bringing millions of dollars to the tribe annually earmarked for direct services to the people, the first board of the 401C3 Private Education Corporation facilitating Cherokee scholarships by encouraging private sector donations with IRS tax benefits.”
Describe the role of the office for which you are a candidate in relation to the other branches of the Cherokee government.
“An effective council member has much work to do for the people. Council is the body of our government that writes the laws and appropriates all of the funding of our government. I intend to see that a proportional increase in our annual budget of $311 million actually get out to the people and doesn’t create a bigger government. Council is the only monitor over the spending of the administration to see that appropriated funds are used in the way that was intended. Council is the body within the government which studies the annual audits to determine the quality of life the government has provided to our people each year. Our government is young and council must always study our system to see where new laws are needed to more thoroughly define the intent of the allocation of money into any specific fund so that it actually gets out into the communities. My job as councilman is to see that direct services get all the way to the Cherokee people. One law I will commit to will be the return of independence to the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation and to return them as the recipient of HUD funds.”
What are your priorities for the Cherokee Nation?
“My priorities for the Cherokee Nation have always been and still are healthcare, housing, education, heritage and culture and economic development. I intend to see that we implement stringent rules in hiring and see that our contractual bids give Indian preference to our people. We must create every opportunity for Cherokees to receive preference in job opportunities throughout our government. I will commit to fighting against the administration’s trend, putting our people into mobile homes and taking jobs away from Cherokee people who build real, quality housing. I will always stand and fight for the best in healthcare. We have come a long way but still have much to do in providing a full coverage program for our members. I contend that to offer the best services to our people we must be on the leading edge of technology within all areas of our government. The most wonderful area of our government I commit to grow is our educational structure. I will see that what was once sacred to our ancestors, the education of our people, returns as a top priority to our government. I hope that someday scholarships can be made available to all Cherokees wherever they live.”
What is the biggest challenge facing the Cherokee Nation today and how do you plan on solving it?
“The quality of healthcare, at the most critical of times, determines the quality of life and can determine if a person will even live. For this reason healthcare is by far the biggest challenge facing our government today. Treaties throughout history have promised healthcare to our people but many times there are not funds available when needed. This is a serious service area our government tries to provide our people and we must effectively evolve this part of our system into perfection. We now serve our people on about one-half the dollars that Native Americans receive per capita in the Arizona and New Mexico areas and about one-third of the dollars for Alaska Natives. We must have strong negotiators within the council who will go to Washington and fight the battle with Congress to change the formulas used to determine the medical funding to Oklahoma Native Americans. I will fight this battle and will not stop until I am satisfied that my people are getting the best. I would support a campaign to provide full coverage healthcare insurance for our people so that Cherokees everywhere are covered.”