August 14, 1999 Principal Chief Smith's Inaugural address was framed under the following topics: a) Question
b) Designed Purpose
c) Journey
e) Strength
f) Guidance
g) Lay Aside Differences
h) Renaissance
i) Closing
Question: I have taken the Oath of Office of Principal Chief and commit to you my dedication to fulfill my oath to the people and the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation suffered turmoil, crisis, chaos and pain for the past several years. All agree that healing, rebuilding and renewal is needed. Where do we turn for the guidance to bind our wounds, design our future, refresh and recreate our energy? Where does the journey go from here? We must look to our history and culture to determine what values and attributes were responsible for carrying us through trials, tribulations and challenges of the past. What carried us through the 1720 small pox epidemic, the 1760 frontier wars, the Trail of Tears, the Cherokee civil war, the American Civil war, allotment, the Depression, and 70 years of disenfranchisement when our right to govern ourselves as a people was denied? What trait gave us the reputation of being a people with the ability to survive, adapt and prosper as a unique nation? From where do we derive our human and tribal strength? What is the commonality of our diverse people? What is the tie that binds us as a people whether we be full blood, mixed blood or thin blood, whether we live in Coffeyville, Nicut, Miami, Tulsa, Dallas Tampa or Los Angeles, whether we are rich or poor or young or old? What is the designed purpose of the Cherokee? We begin this inquiry on sacred ground, here at our Courthouse and Capital. The spirits of our ancestors come here to reminiscence about their days of long ago and reflect upon our behavior. This is a place of strength, perseverance, pride, compassion and reflection. It has also been the focus of controversy, chaos and pain. In our acknowledgement, re-dedication and assertion of the principles of sovereignty of our Nation, we respectfully remind our Oklahoma neighbors that this Courthouse is the most visible symbol of our existence, our endurance, our commitment and desire to survive, and our respect for law. Without question it is Indian country. It is within our jurisdiction. It is our territory. We will never give it up. Designed Purpose: My great grandfather, Redbird Smith, one hundred years ago spoke of a "designed purpose of the Cherokee." He stated, "I have always believed that the Great Creator had a great design for my people, the Cherokees... Our forces have been dissipated by the external forces, perhaps it is has been just a training, but we must now get together as a race and render our contribution to mankind... We are endowed with intelligence, we are industrious, we are loyal and we are spiritual but we are overlooking the particular Cherokee mission on earth for no man nor race is endowed with these qualifications without a designed purpose." Bobbie Gail Smith, my wife, has captured for me the spirit of the designed purpose. She said we are "survivors not victims." We are not only survivors but we adapt, prosper and excel. Senator Dawes.....in 1881 "... head chief told him that there was not a family in the whole nation that had not a home of its own. There was not a pauper in that nation, and the nation did not owe a dollar. It built its own capitol... and built its schools and hospitals." However, Senator Dawes concluded in an absurdly ironic statement, "Yet the defect of the system was apparent... there is no selfishness, which is at the bottom of civilizations. Till this people will consent to give up their lands, and divide them among their citizens so that each can own land he cultivates, they will not make much more progress." The Cherokee are hard-working, spiritual, and intelligent people. We have continued to survive and prosper in every circumstance. We must not be afraid to prosper and excel. As Redbird Smith said, "Work and right training is the solution of my following... A kindly man cannot help his neighbor in need unless he has a surplus and he cannot have a surplus unless he works." The end of the journey and the success to be celebrated is when we no longer have the needy among us; when we each are so self-reliant that we may contribute, not only financially, but also spiritually back to our family, clan, neighbors and Nation. I believe this is our designed purpose. Journey: It is here and today that we mark a continuation of our journey to fulfill our designed purpose. The task on our journey is to preserve our rich culture, reestablish our strong tribal government and achieve economic self-reliance of our people. On this journey we must help the elderly and frail. We must lead and teach our children. To complete this journey we must be strong, wise and joyful. It is not longer a journey toward doom and extinction. It is a journey to fulfillment as people and as a people. Strength: Along this journey, we must pray - not for an easier path or ask for lighter load. Instead, we must ask for strength to face challenges, wisdom to make right decisions, and perseverance to never give up. We ask the Creator for compassion to help our hearts become loving, warm and vibrant so that the journey is praise to He who set us on this way. We must run to the Creator when we grow tired, we must turn to our elders when we become confused, and must look to ourselves for responsibility. We must hold to our family when our hearts are saddened. We must turn to our culture when our spirits are challenged. We must find strength as Cherokee people. Guidance: We are a matrilineal society. From our mothers we get our clans and identity, just as we get life. Women have been given a special place in our culture. "Grandmother" is one of the most sacred words in the Cherokee language. We ask our Cherokee women to step forward and guide us. The leadership of the our Nation has been entrusted to our women since earliest times. Our laws in the 1820s first memorialize the ancient and honored leadership status of Cherokee women. Perhaps, the greatest honor noted to our Cherokee women is that in our language there is no gender difference. We are one people. But over the last 200 years of influence by an external culture, we may have forgotten that it is the Cherokee women of our nation who carry our indomitable spirit. We humbly ask that our Cherokee women, our grandmothers, mothers, daughters, aunts and nieces step forward and lead us as they have so many other times in our history. We ask them to hold us responsible as a people for our actions, discipline us, and praise us when warranted. In this most crucial time it is the strength, guidance and nurturing of our Cherokee women that will help us through our present difficulties. It is important for the voices of both Cherokee women and men to be heard in every aspect of our lives, from raising our children and keeping our homes, to leading our nation. Lay aside Differences: It is proper that here, we lay aside our differences, both political and personal, that we declare our dedication to the service of our people, that we focus on the same horizon and future, and that we continue our journey "holding hands." We must listen to the admonition of John Ross from his annual meeting on Oct. 9, 1861 in which he stated: "The Cherokee People stand upon new ground. Let us hope that the clouds which overspread the Land will be dispersed and that we shall prosper as we have never done before. New avenues to usefulness and distinction will be opened to the ingenious youth of Country. Our right of self-government will be more fully recognized." He continued, "No just cause exists for domestic difficulties. Let them be buried with the past and only mutual friendship and harmony be cherished." Hastings, Loretta, Bobbie and I listened to respected elder Agnes Cowan several nights ago from her hospital bed. From the weakness of illness, I heard the strength of wisdom when she said, "We must teach our children to work together. After all, we are but one large family." The Cherokee Nation is a family of families. In this spirit and with the example of our ancestors, let us declare that we are one people, working together for the common good of the Cherokee Nation. Renaissance: Here in the presence of our loved ones, including those who have passed on before us, and with their blessing and encouragement, we commit ourselves to renaissance, reawakening and renewal. Redbird Smith said one hundred years ago, "Our mixed bloods should not be overlooked in this program of racial awakening. Our pride in our ancestral heritage is our great incentive for handing something worth while to our posterity, it is this pride in ancestry that make men strong and loyal for their principle in life. It is this same pride that make men give up their all for their Government." These principles ring true today. Unfortunately, efforts dissolve the Cherokee Nation continue. We, the Cherokee Nation, believe as Redbird Smith believed one hundred years ago, that we have something unique and sacred to share with the world. We will do our best to preserve, protect, and express that unique spirit that is the Cherokee nation, so that we may fulfill our responsibility to the Creator, our ancestors, our children and their children. Closing: How do we close this ceremony on this glorious morning, where we have the warmth of the sun and the fellowship of Cherokees among us; where we are protected by the shade of the trees and the shadow of our capitol building as we gather in community, and where sit in hope and anticipation of the coming days and years? The answer is, we don't. Let us move forward to our final destination and fulfill our designed purpose. Let us, armed with our indomitable Cherokee spirit and ancestral pride, proceed on our journey relying upon the strength and wisdom of our Cherokee women and men and guided by our Creator. Wado,
Your humble servant,
Chad "Corntassel" Smith | 
