Tribal Council District 5
Curtis G. Snell
55569 So. 550 Rd.
Rose, OK 74364
Home: 918-868-2800
Cell: 918-232-0233
curtis-snell@cherokee.org
Curtis Snell is a lifelong resident of the Kansas, Kenwood and Leach, Oklahoma area. He and his wife of 43 years, Leetha, have one daughter and four sons. His parents were Curley Snell and Ruby (Noe) Snell and his grandparents were Gilbert Snell and Susan (Blackfox) Snell. He graduated from Kansas High and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 through 1960. Curtis is a member of the Lowery Free Will Baptist Church in Twin Oaks and has been a member of the Leach, Oklahoma Public Schools Board of Education the past 16 years. He owned and operated his own steel construction company and helped build the first Cherokee Nation gaming facilities at Catoosa and West Siloam Springs in the early 1990s. Curtis believes it is imperative that we educate our children for the continued success of the Cherokee Nation. As a Council Member, his focus is on education, health care, housing, jobs and roads.
Curtis is currently serving his first term on the Council and also serves as the Chair of the Resources 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 would like to serve on the Cherokee Tribal Council because I am a construction worker and builder. I like to see projects built and have a voice in the planning stage of these projects. There a lot of issues in our district that needs to be addressed and I would like to bring them before the council.
- What is the greatest priority in your district and how will you address it as a legislator?
There are a lot of Issues in our district that need addressing. The greatest priority in our district I think is health care. Our people here want a clinic in south Delaware County. I know the population plays a great part in funding but, I am sure Team Cherokee can find solutions.
- Cherokee Nation-owned businesses return 30 percent of profits to the Cherokee Nation as a dividend. Is that amount appropriate or should it be changed and why?
I think that 30% dividend is a good return on investment.
I think the additional 70% should be re-invested wisely create new jobs, pay benefit to the large number of Cherokee Nation Employees. We have many programs that receive funding of these funds.
- Should the Cherokee Nation make campaign contributions to local, state and federal candidates and why?
Yes. I think the Cherokee Nation should make Campaign Contributions to Local, State, and Federal candidates. It should be used as seed money to support all parties. Other tribes are contributing and I think we should also.
- 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?
Is there a public backlash or a media backlash? The media hit the Cherokee Nation hard, from the East to West Coast.
When we cease to be an Indian Tribe that is the big backlash.
The Cherokee people have voted and 77% said you had to have at least an ancestor on the Dawes Roll by Blood. It does not matter how much Indian you are or what you look like. About 19% of Cherokee Nation populations have a Freedom Ancestor as well as a Cherokee Ancestor.
- 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. The only Opinion that counts is the Cherokee Nations opinion. Our highest court in the Cherokee Nation is what matters, our people spoke, the court decided, and its over.
- 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. We have a 3-part government, Judicial, Legislative, and Executive. I think all power should be distributed equally. Keep the Government in check and balance.