Latest news with #Cherokees
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cherokee Nation General Election sees local incumbents re-elected to Council
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Six incumbents were re-elected to the Council of the Cherokee Nation during the tribe's General Election on Saturday. The incumbents re-elected include Candessa Tehee of District 2, Joshua Sam of District 7, Melvina Shotpouch of District 10, Kendra McGeady of District 11, Danny Callison of District 15, and at-large Councilor Johnny Jack Kidwell. Newcomer Ashley Grant was also elected to District 5. The Cherokee Nation Election Commission is set to meet on Monday to certify the results of the 2025 General Election, which unofficially show 7,714 votes. Newly elected and re-elected Tribal Councilors will be sworn in on August 14. McGeady won the District 11 race with 614 votes, or more than 58%. 'My heart is overflowing with gratitude to all Cherokees in District 11, my family and my dedicated volunteers. I am honored and humbled that you have chosen me to represent you.' Kendra McGeady, District 11 McGeady was appointed to the Tribal Council almost a year ago. 'Representing District 11 is a special responsibility,' said McGeady. 'Northeast Oklahoma holds a special place in the hearts of the Cherokee Nation. As our Nation expands services to Cherokees throughout District 11, I will continue to work to ensure our communities have access to transportation, education funding, and better access to quality health care, close to home. Shotpouch received 376 votes for the District 10 race, more than 70%. 'I am so grateful to have been re-elected to serve for another term on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council,' said Shotpouch. 'Thank you to everyone who supported and believed in me throughout this journey.' 'Your trust and encouragement mean everything, and I will continue to work hard every day on behalf of our citizens. I will never stop being a strong voice for our communities, protecting our sovereignty, and investing in our culture, language, and future.' Melvina Shotpouch, District 10 'This victory belongs to all of us. Wado for the opportunity to serve – you have my deepest gratitude, and I look forward to working for you. Together we will build a stronger Cherokee Nation,' said Shotpouch. In Districts 4 and 9 races, no candidate received the required 50% plus one vote, so voters in those districts will select among the top candidates from the General Election results for a runoff to be held July 26. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fisherman stunned after reeling in monstrous, record-breaking fish: 'It's incredible'
A skilled angler has landed what is likely to be confirmed as a record-setting bighead carp, according to Wired2Fish. The catch was made by Bryan Baker in Oklahoma's Grand Lake o' the Cherokees. The tally for the bighead carp was 118 pounds and 10 ounces. While the catch weight is awaiting official confirmation, that beats the previous state record of 118 pounds and 3 ounces, which was also made by Baker, and Wired2Fish argued it could even be considered a world record. According to the outlet, since Baker "snagged" the fish, meaning impaled it rather than caught it using a traditional hook and line, it cannot be registered as an official world record with the International Game Fish Association. Snag fishing is encouraged in the area, though, to keep the populations under control. Carp are classified as invasive, making them a useful target for fishermen. The fish are known to feed voraciously on phytoplankton. This is useful in areas overrun with plankton, which was the primary reason for the original introduction of the fish to the area. However, carp feeding on plankton can quickly lead to ecosystem collapse when there's no plankton left for other species. The problem has gotten big enough in the Mississippi River Basin that it has spawned an interagency effort to combat the invasion, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service explained. Another similar initiative is underway around the Great Lakes. This is a classic story of invasive species. They are usually moved by humans into new areas, where wildlife may not encounter the same checks and balances as their native habitat. This allows invasive species to outcompete local natives, monopolizing resources like food and space. This leads to a decline in biodiversity and ultimately carries hundreds of billions in economic costs annually around the world. While Baker's specialized targeting of carp is good news for reducing populations of an invasive species, his use of sonar to do so has its own ecological costs, as The Conversation noted. Sonar produces significant noise pollution underwater, which can disorient all animal life in the area. That noise can dissuade fish from feeding or breeding in an area, introduce difficulties in offspring learning survival skills, and hamper an animal's ability to avoid predators. Baker remained highly impressed with the work done by state biologists on the carp he caught. They extract a bone in the fish's ear canal to determine a wealth of information. "Biologists can take the otoliths and, by looking at growth rings, they can tell how old a carp is," Baker said, per Wired2Fish. "It's sort of like reading the growth rings of a tree trunk. They can even learn what rivers a fish was in during its lifetime. It's incredible what the Oklahoma fishery folks are doing. There are some very smart people doing this work." Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cherokee Nation provides food to children and elders
TAHLEQUAH — The Nowata Food Distribution and Senior Nutrition site celebrated its grand opening on Wednesday. The Cherokee Nation's Senior Nutrition Program provides seniors across the 14-county reservation with weekly meals and opportunities to fellowship with others. 'We opened our first original site here 13 years ago, and now, just 13 years later, we are serving 771 individuals, and I am just so pleased with that,' District 11 Councilor Kendra McGeady said. She said that food sovereignty and the ability to meet your nutritional needs matter in many ways. 'This serves as a hub for fellowship and community, and I think that all those things play into the health and wellness of our citizens,' McGeady said. Cherokee Nation's Nowata Food Distribution Program, which operates in the same facility as the Senior Nutrition Program, serves eligible families nutritious foods and operates in a grocery store environment that allows participants to shop in a comfortable and familiar setting. The Nowata Food Distribution facility serves over 400 homes and 8,400 people through in-person and home-delivered meals annually. The new upgrades and expansion of the facilities are an investment of $2.8 million from the Cherokee Nation. 'These improvements to the Nowata Food Distribution Store and Senior Nutrition Site have been a long time coming. It's an incredible feeling knowing that we need to expand, because that means that Cherokees are utilizing these facilities in this community and surrounding communities,' said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. The Nowata facility houses the tribe's senior nutrition site and food distribution store, which started operating in 2012. The new expansion to the building includes a 1,500-square-foot warehouse, a 400-square-foot conference room, a 500-square-foot dining expansion for the senior nutrition program, and a 1,500-square-foot freezer/cooler. Cherokee Nation is also helping the tribe's youngest citizens with its Summer EBT program, known as 'Sun Bucks. ' This program, offered through Cherokee Nation Public Health's Nutrition Programs, helps families buy nutritious foods during summer. Cherokee Nation expects to serve an estimated 50,000 children this summer, serving all eligible applicants, whether Cherokee or non-Cherokee citizens. Qualifying families will receive $120 in food benefits per child on one benefit issuance on an EBT card, which works like a debit card. Participation in this program will not impact other government assistance participants may receive. The deadline to apply is August 30. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Two local women to travel historic 'Trail of Tears' journey
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Two women from Grove and Vinita are part of a 12-cyclist group to ride in Cherokee Nation's Remember the Removal Bike Ride this June. By bicycle, the cyclists retrace the famed and historic 950-mile northern route of the Trail of Tears. Baylee Gregg, 21, Grove, Lexi Melton, 24, Vinita, and the other 10 riders will travel through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma for nearly three weeks. One rider, Kalina Campos, 25, is from Concord, California. 'Each year we are honored to remember our ancestors' sacrifices on the Trail of Tears through the Remember the Removal Bike Ride. The 12 cyclists will complete a nearly 950-mile journey. Along the way, they will stop at historically significant sites that our ancestors marched through at the end of a bayonet. The physical and mental fortitude of the riders will be tested, but I have full confidence that the riders are ready for the challenge at hand.' Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. Other local riders include: Adriauna Garcia, 19, Tahlequah Aaron 'AP' Anderson, 17, Bentonville, Arkansas Baleigh James-Levy, 22, Fort Gibson Jenny Kliest, 24, Stilwell Jeremy Hamilton, 47, Tulsa Kacey Fishinghawk, 22, Tahlequah Kiyah Holmes, 25, Tahlequah Mackenzie Teehee, 23, Stilwell 'I'm excited to see the landscape from my bike in a few weeks and connect to the same land my ancestors lived on,' said Aaron Anderson, of Bentonville. A team from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina will join the Cherokee Nation cyclists. They will start the ride in New Echota, Georgia, the former capital of the Cherokee Nation. The cyclists will complete an estimated 60 miles daily along the routes used by their Cherokee ancestors, who made the same enduring trek by foot over 180 years ago. During the bike ride, cyclists will visit several Cherokee gravesites and historic landmarks. Among the sites is Blythe Ferry in Tennessee, on the westernmost edge of the old Cherokee Nation, and Mantle Rock in Kentucky, where Cherokees spent several weeks during the harsh winter of 1838 to 1839 waiting for the Ohio River to thaw and become passable. Participants were selected based on an essay, in-person interviews, and a physical to ensure they were up for the grueling challenge. As part of their training, the group spent weekends undergoing rigorous physical training and cycling on various routes throughout the Cherokee Nation Reservation. The cyclists participated in Cherokee language lessons during their weekend trainings and had their family trees mapped out by a professional genealogist. This provided them insight into their ancestral past and connected any family links they might share with one another. Of the estimated 16,000 Cherokees who were forced to make the journey to Indian Territory in 1838 and 1839, before the state of Oklahoma was imposed, about 4,000 died due to starvation, disease, and exposure to the elements. 'Not only is the ride a solemn tribute to all of those we lost, it's a reminder of our future,' said Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner. 'These 12 riders have proved their strength and commitment to each other since their training began last year. We will continue to pray for their strength while they undertake the ride.' Highlights and daily outings of the journey, Remember the Removal Bike Ride, will be captured online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
ICON 4x4 Debuts First EV Bronco, Blending Classic Design with Modern Electric Muscle
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious Famed restomod builder ICON 4x4 has unveiled its first-ever fully electric vehicle—a bespoke EV Bronco that blends classic Ford styling with cutting-edge electric performance. Dubbed the 'Blue Star,' the project marks ICON's entrance into the electric future of automotive customization. Known for breathing new life into vintage Land Cruisers, Cherokees, and Defenders, the California-based shop took on one of its most ambitious builds to date—converting a first-generation Ford Bronco into a high-performance EV without losing the soul of the original design. Built in collaboration with Moment Motor Company of Austin, Texas, the project took 18 months and more than 5,000 hours of engineering and testing. The result is a Bronco unlike any other. Packing a 105-kWh battery and a 400-volt architecture, the EV produces 500 horsepower, launches from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, and offers up to 200 miles of range. 'This was a dream project,' said ICON founder Jonathan Ward. 'Our client gave us the freedom to push boundaries, and we've delivered an EV that honors the heritage of the Bronco while redefining what it can be.' The EV Bronco features full-time four-wheel drive, massive off-road tires, upgraded suspension, and modern amenities like air conditioning and audio—all housed in a classically styled interior with bespoke blue-and-white leather and custom gauges designed to display EV information with a vintage flair. Charging is handled via an onboard 6.6kW system or fast-charged with CCS, and the waterproof battery is IP67 rated for rugged adventures. ICON says the Blue Star is only the beginning, with more electric restomods planned as EV technology continues to evolve.
