| Updated: 1/21 9:25 am |
Published: 1/20 10:03 pm
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Several Cherokee tribal councilors from Green Country are in the nation’s capital for inaugural activities.
President Barack Obama will be publicly sworn in on Monday. The President was sworn in during a private ceremony on Sunday because the U.S. Constitution mandates that the president take office on January 20th.
Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor Joe Byrd arrived in Washington, D.C. on Friday. Byrd tells FOX23 he attended President Barack Obama’s first inauguration four years ago, but the second one holds special meaning.
“There is a lot of optimism going into the second term,” said Councilor Byrd, “There’s just a lot of hope.”
The former Cherokee Nation Chief conducted an interview with FOX23 via Skype and says the weekend is important for all 39 Native American tribes in Oklahoma.
“We are very optimistic we need to have a presence in Washington, D.C.,” said Byrd.
Byrd says that there were several tribal leaders in the nation’s capital in support of the President. He says he saw members of the Muskogee Creek Nation, leaders of Osage Nation and Choctaw Nation.
Byrd says he and several Cherokee Tribal Councilors met with Oklahoma Second District Congressman, Markwayne Mullin, on Sunday.
Byrd says that he is looking forward to hearing the President’s speech during the inaugural ceremony on Monday.
“I want to hear more on how it pertains to our housing, our health care, our education and first and foremost how he is going to relate to the sovereignty of our tribe,” said Byrd.
Byrd says a five tribes meeting will be held on January 29th in Oklahoma to assess the President's inaugural speech. The concerns and questions will then be discussed with the National President of American Indians.
