Tribal Council District 5
Harley L. Buzzard
8385 County Road 396
Eucha, OK 74342
Home: 918-253-8665
Cell: 918-353-3001
harley-buzzard@cherokee.org
Harley is a lifelong resident of Delaware County and lives on the family allotment land three miles west of Jay. His parents are the late Loyd and Emma Sumerfield Buzzard. Grandparents are the late Daniel and Clara Bennett Buzzard and Swimmer and Molly Kingfisher Sumerfield. His brothers are Levi, Henry, Delbert, Odis and Albert and sisters, Claretta Buzzard Meadows and Viola Buzzard Easter. Harley has been married for forty years to Cynthia Buzzard, who currently works at the Sam Hider Community Clinic, Jay, OK They have two children, Darren and Haley.
Harley is a graduate of Jay High School and Haskell Indian Institute of Lawrence, Kansas, and is a military veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1967 – 1970 with the rank of Staff Sergeant E-6.
Prior to his election to the Council, Harley was employed by the Nation as the Director of the Roads program and has also served in areas of community development and water and sanitation. Bringing 24 years of experience and employment at the Cherokee Nation, infrastructure remains one of his top priorities as a representative of Cherokee citizens.
Harley is currently serving his first term as a Council Member and also serves as the Chair of the Community Services Committee.
The Cherokee Phoenix asked Tribal Council candidates to respond to seven questions of concern to Cherokee citizens. Read the questions and responses below.
- Why do you want to serve on the Tribal Council?
I want to be a part of the team that will bring the Cherokee Nation to prominence. I want Cherokee Nation to be at the forefront in all their endeavors, to be the best. I would like to see our Nation develop enough growth so that every Cherokee has a good job, good housing, and good healthcare. I would like to see our children well-educated, whether it is college or technical training. Eldercare is important. Provisions need to be made for facilities to care for our elders. Our citizens should be an informed people; I will keep you informed through community meetings if you elect me. When questions are asked, you will receive an answer. If you make a call to me, I will answer the phone or I will return phone calls. I have 24 years of service working for the Cherokee Nation. I will use this knowledge to help you and to represent all Cherokee citizens. I will keep you informed of issues facing the Nation and will listen to your ideas and concerns. I want to be a part of the legislative process to ensure laws are adopted that are in the best interest of the Cherokee people and the Cherokee Nation. All of this can be done with your help. Elect me and I will work toward achieving our goals.
- What is the greatest priority in your district and how will you address it as a legislator?
The Delaware District has one of the largest land bases of trust lands and an abundance of water and I will advocate for the preservation of these trust lands and will work with the administration to study our water rights. I will continue to support the infrastructure (roads and waterlines) for the Delaware District and to ensure the infrastructure of the Cherokee Nation is continued. Other priorities are to continue the support of our school systems, drug enforcement, and cross deputation; school dropouts and truancy, housing, healthcare and other issues are important priorities. Another priority is to hold community meetings so the Cherokee people are informed of issues and to list to their needs. As a legislator, I will work with all tribal council members to make the best decisions that will affect all Cherokees.
- Cherokee Nation-owned businesses return 25 percent of profits to the Cherokee Nation as a dividend. Is that amount appropriate or should it be changed and why?
I don’t believe the percentage of Cherokee Nation receives is adequate to address all of our needs; however, I realize we must invest in other businesses to create more economic opportunities for our Cherokee people. If job opportunities are available for our citizens, this will enable them to have medical insurance, to purchase a home and many other benefits from having a job, which in turn will allow Cherokee Nation to provide more services to those in need.
- Should the Cherokee Nation make campaign contributions to local, state and federal candidates and why?
Yes. We want elected official that understand and respect our sovereignty and to be fair in all of their decision that affect the Cherokee Nation.
- If a constituent asked about the recent amendment to remove non-Indians from Cherokee citizenship rolls and the public backlash, how would you explain the issue to them?
77 percent of the Cherokee people voted to change the constitution. In order to have citizenship in the Cherokee Nation, you must be Indian by blood, tracing an ancestor back to the Dawes Rolls and be either Cherokee, Shawnee or Delaware. The backlash from some people is because they not have all of the facts and they do not realize that as a sovereign nation, the Cherokee citizens have the right to determine citizenship.
- The Cherokee Nation received a letter from the Department of Interior stating that it did not recognize the 2003 Constitution approved by Cherokee Nation citizens. Do you agree or disagree with that opinion and why?
I disagree. I believe the citizens of the Cherokee Nation have the right to decide what our constitution should be and voted to accept the 2003 constitution. Our Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee Nation did not need the approval of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- A Cherokee Nation District Court judge ruled that due to the separation of powers clause only the attorney general can file suit on behalf of the Cherokee Nation. Do you agree or disagree with that ruling and why?
I agree. I do not believe it would be in the best interest of the Cherokee Nation to have lawsuits filed by the individuals of the legislative body.