Tribal Council District 7
Cara Cowan Watts
P.O. Box 2922
Claremore, OK 74018
Cell: 918-752-4342
Fax: 918-341-3753
Email: cara@caracowan.com
Cara is serving her 2nd term on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council for District 7 – Will Rogers (Rogers County, Oklahoma). During both terms, Cara is the youngest Tribal Council member.
Raised in Seminole, Oklahoma until her High School graduation, Cara returned to Rogers County for her mother’s family in 1999 after leaving Oklahoma for work. Cara is married to Doug Watts, Wyandotte Nation citizen and descendant of Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
In 1997, Cara graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Oklahoma State University. Following graduation, she moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to work for Hewlett-Packard as a New Product Introduction Engineer. Homesick for family and community, Cara returned home and began work for WilTel Communications in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While at WilTel, she completed a Masters degree in Telecommunications Management in 2002.
Cara ran for Tribal Council in 2003 and won. One year after taking office, she planned her exit from Corporate life to commit full-time to her community work. In 2005, she accepted a National Science Fellowship (NSF) to pursue a PhD in Biosystems Engineering. Her PhD work on Cherokee Nation's Culturally Significant Waters should be complete in July 2008.
In 2007, Cara was elected Deputy Speaker of the Tribal Council and Co-Chair of Executive and Finance Committee.
Nationally, Cara is appointed to the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Health Research Advisory Council (HRAC) and serves as Chair. In addition, she serves on the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Advisory Council on Minority Health (ACMH).
In 2007, Governor Henry appointed Cara to the Will Rogers Memorial Commission. The same year, she was elected for her 2nd term to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Board of Directors.
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?
My four years on the job as the Tribal Council representative for Rogers County Cherokees has been an honor and privilege for me. My daily work has given me the opportunity to learn the realities and dreams of our Cherokee people. Fellow Cherokees are dedicated to family and work hard to make a living. My proudest moments have been with other Rogers County Cherokees practicing 'Ga Du Gi' and coming together to redo a roof for a local church or build the community building.
I am proud of our accomplishments as a Nation and know we cannot stand idle. There is much work to be done to ensure every Cherokee has the opportunity to pursue a career path, which guarantees their family economic self-reliance with jobs in the Cherokee Nation.
Being able to develop strong, thriving businesses that employ hard working Cherokees with good employee benefits and pay has been the most rewarding experience for me. I want to continue working with business and community leaders to provide needed programs to support schools and infrastructure such as roads, emergency management, police and fire departments.
I will continue working with community members to strengthen knowledge of Cherokee culture and working to protect our historic sites through the Rogers County Cherokee Association and the Saline (Courthouse) Preservation Association.
- What is the greatest priority in your district and how will you address it as a legislator?
Strengthening the Cherokee Nation's business development in Rogers County to help create more quality jobs for Cherokee Citizens, this is my top priority. I will continue to work closely with local business leaders and elected officials to find opportunities for new industry and business to be brought in to Rogers County.
While serving on Cherokee Nation Enterprises' (CNE) Board of Directors as a non-voting member, I have pushed for the Jobs Growth Act legislation which mandates significant gaming dollars be spent on job creation as well as voted to increase the minimum wage for working Cherokees. As an active participant in CNE Board meetings, I push for Cherokee preference in hiring and promotion at CNE.
In order to successfully bring meaningful quality jobs into the Cherokee Nation and Rogers County, we must strengthen the self-sufficiency of individual tribal members through education, home-ownership and work experience.
After completing my term as the Secretary of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) National Board of Directors, I have been working with schools and students across the tribe to strengthen math and science skills by creating K-12 AISES chapters. For more than 8 years, I have operated an email list dedicated to providing scholarship, internship and job opportunities to students and professionals.
I have fully supported the new Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) to help more Cherokees realize their dream and become homeowners.
I am committed to building a stronger Cherokee community in Rogers County by making sure we get our fair share of the Cherokee Nation's resources. For additional details on my plan for Rogers County, visit my website at www.caracowan.com.
- 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?
Currently, our businesses return is 30 percent of net profits to the tribe as a dividend for services.
Determining the appropriate balance to support and reinvest in Cherokee businesses is crucial in continuing the incredible growth the Cherokee Nation has experienced the past eight years. Profits should be spent on buying or building businesses that allow people to work and earn benefits including health care, profit sharing and retirement plans.
At this time, the 30 percent is appropriate for our current tribal infrastructure and population needs. The casino profits should be focused on job creation, which has a greater long-term return, compared to services. When a person learns how to fish, they will be fed for a lifetime. I feel self-sufficiency is important to the long-term viability of the Cherokee Nation as well as our individual tribal citizens and their families.
- Should the Cherokee Nation make campaign contributions to local, state and federal candidates and why?
Campaign donations to all levels of government and both parties are