Tribal Council District 3
Phyllis Yargee
Rt. 1, Box 284
Gore, OK 74435
Home: (918)489-2052
Cell: 918-797-8400
Email: Phyllis-Yargee@cherokee.org
Residence and family information: “I am a lifelong resident of Sequoyah County, specifically Notchietown Community in the Gore area. I have four sons: Robert “Buddy” (31), Curtis (26), and Jason (26), who also reside in Sequoyah county with their families, and Kenneth (18) who is a senior at Sequoyah High School. My parents, both deceased, are Betsy Wildcat Jones and Robert Lee Jones, Sr.”
Education: I attended Notchietown and Gore Public Schools, received my GED in 1979, and attended Connors State College and Northeastern State University from August 1979 to December 1983. I received a bachelor of arts degree in Education.
Describe the leadership experience you would bring to the Tribal Council.
“The safety and future of our children and grandchildren are major concerns for most Cherokee citizens. They are our most precious resource for our future survival. For 14 years, I have worked with Cherokee youth instituting summer culture camps, initiating the first Cherokee Challenge Bowl and the first Cherokee Language Bowl competitions for Cherokee youth. From one end of the Cherokee Nation to the other, I have worked with children and their families. As a teacher in the tribal Adult Education Program, I have visited with families, taught Cherokee adults and tried to connect families to resources in the tribe.
All of these and many more experiences have engrained in my mind the needs, hopes and desires of Cherokee families and children. I know the communities. I know and understand the needs and problems. Further, my family has deep roots in Sequoyah County. The land, the culture and the history are important and living precepts for our family.
The Cherokee Nation services system is large and complex. It takes a road map to get through all the services. You need a representative who knows the programs and can help you access them. I know the programs and the people.”
Describe the role of the office for which you are a candidate in relation to the other branches of the Cherokee Nation government.
“The council legislates and approves budgets. The chief and deputy administer programs and services. The courts enforce our laws and rule on constitutionality of actions, laws and issues. Each branch has an important role to play. We have seen what happens when one branch does not respect the powers of the other. I understand those differences and respect them. In addition to the regular legislative duties of a council representative, I believe a tribal council member should: represent the interest of their communities and the Cherokee Nation; give priority to the welfare of our children, youth, and elders; communicate effectively within the community by meeting regularly with tribal members; listen for community consensus and be considerate of all views; understand the policies, responsibilities, and roles of Tribal Council members; be supportive of the Cherokee Nation employees and Cherokee Nation programs, and Cherokee Nation tribal members; and be willing to deliberate and consider all decisions. If you choose me as your council person, I will work hard to see that your needs are met. I will introduce and support legislation that meets your needs.”
What are your priorities for the Cherokee Nation?
“Of course, I believe Education must be a priority for the Cherokee Nation. We must make an investment in our children and youth. Funds for scholarships continue to be an important part of the annual budget from the Motor Fuels Tax, and I wholeheartedly agree with this. However, there must be some additional allowances considered for Head Start, JOM, Sequoyah High School, and local school districts. What is currently being done to supplement or enhance the educational needs of pre-school and school aged students? Currently, we have only one Cherokee language “immersion” classroom.
I would like to take a look at ways to work with local, state, and the national governments that would allow us to make the most efficient use of our resources and territories. This includes partnering with health agencies, Indian Health Services, government and military health care and local health providers to share expenses for the services of health professionals. Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions – all of these and many more plague our population. Every elderly person needs access to not only health care, but all of the medications, tests and services that they need. We’ve made great progress, but there is more to be done.”
What is the biggest challenge facing the Cherokee Nation today and how do you plan on solving it?
“I think the biggest challenge facing any tribe today is the loss of cultural identity through its language. I truly believe that we must pass our language to the next generations in order to preserve our culture as Cherokee people. These times make me think of the earliest phase of Cherokee history when the Cherokee people faced near extinction due to the small pox epidemic, removal, World War II, and relocation when families were separated and precious language, religion, customs, and traditions were lost. One of these days, I would like to see the day to day and formal business of the tribe conducted in Cherokee. One simple way to start is to just do it! Employees, clients, community members, tribal council, tribal administration should all be asked to learn to speak the language, if they are not currently speakers, and then just speak. The more you (everyone) hear the language, the quicker you can learn to understand, the quicker you can learn to speak. Then, I believe we will truly understand our challenges as Cherokee people and will be able to accept our responsibility.”