Teehee named to Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission

Kimberly Teehee, Cherokee, brings tribal, federal policy experience to commission

TULSA, Okla. – Kimberly Teehee, vice president of special projects for Cherokee Nation Businesses, has been named to the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission. Teehee also serves as acting director of government relations for Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses. Teehee, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is a native of Claremore and formerly served as the first-ever senior policy advisor for Native American affairs to President Obama in the White House.

The mission of the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission is the advancement of American Indian culture and heritage and the provision of services to American Indians.

“I am humbled and honored to receive this appointment by Mayor Bartlett, and I thank the city council for approving my appointment,” Teehee said. “The Tulsa area has a substantial and growing Indian population with vast cultural knowledge and rich traditions. I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners and other stakeholders, including the neighboring tribal governments, to address the needs facing local American Indians.”

The Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission falls under the city Tulsa’s Human Rights Department, which also oversees the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, the BRIDGE Certification Committee, the HUD Community Development Committee, the Human Rights Commission, the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic Affairs Commission and the Fair Housing Committee.

For more than 20 years, Teehee worked in the nation’s capital to improve the lives of Native Americans across the nation. She brings her experience and wealth of knowledge to the commission to advance the local needs of the Native American population.

“Having Kim’s voice on this commission is important to the status of all Native Americans in the Greater Tulsa area,” said Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation secretary of state. “We’re confident Kim will be vigilant in ensuring the rights of all Natives are respected and help bring Native issues to the forefront locally.”

The commission is comprised of more than a dozen Natives from many area tribes, appointed from both the city of Tulsa mayor’s office and Tulsa County commissioners.