Pictured together are the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Election Commissioners, the Legislators and Tribal Council Coordinator, along with Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reggie Wassana and Lt. Gov. Hershel Gorham. (Photos / Latoya Lonelodge)
(CLINTON, OK) Bringing in the New Year, tribal citizens near and far came together on Jan. 6 at the Frisco Conference Center in Clinton, Okla., to witness the inauguration of elected officials for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. Each official taking the oath of office won their respective office in the November 2023 general elections.
The ceremony opened with prayer given by Overton (O.T.) Sankey and was coordinated by master of ceremonies Isaac Rhoads.
Traditional drum songs were sung, as well as the presentation of colors and flags that were conducted by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Post 401.
As many tribal citizens continued filing into the conference center, Rhoads welcomed all the attendees to the 2024 inauguration.
“This is the sixth inauguration after the election commission has offered to take this constitutional requirement out to the communities. As a result, this has given everyone an opportunity to witness the progress that our tribes have accomplished since our origins began and throughout the history of our people,” Rhoads said.
Oaths of office were called next for the newly elected election commissioners. Supreme Court Justice Alexander Pearl administered the oaths of office as each elected official was called upon to raise their right hand and recite their oath of office.
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Election Commissioners Sarah Orange, C4, Kelly Loneman, A2 and Ray Mosqueda, A1, raise their right hands to take their oaths of office.
Election commissioners taking their their oaths, with hands raised, included Arapaho District 1 Election Commissioner Ray Mosqueda, Arapaho District 2 Election Commissioner Kelly Loneman, Cheyenne District 2 Election Commissioner Norma Yarbrough and Cheyenne District 4 Election Commissioner Sarah Orange.
Election Commissioner Norma Yarbrough recites her oath of office.
“I would like to give a big haho to each tribal member for their trust and faith in me to represent the election commissioner’s office. I look forward to serving the A2 district and all the tribal members and tribal elders, I thank each and everyone that voted and supported me through this election. I look forward to serving our people and for change to progress,” Loneman said.
Legislators were next to take their oaths of office. They included Arapaho District 3 Incumbent Travis Ruiz, Arapaho District 4 Incumbent Rector Candy, Cheyenne District 1 Incumbent Bruce Whiteman and newly elected Cheyenne District 3 Legislator Tommy Trout.
Legislators Travis Ruiz, A3, Rector Candy, A4, Bruce Whiteman, C1 and Tommy Trout, C3, swear their oaths of office.
“First and foremost I want to express my deep gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering kind support and words. You have touched my heart and filled me with much gratitude, I want to thank you for putting trust in me and granting me this opportunity to serve my tribe, it is truly an honor, I am humbled by the faith you have placed in me,” Trout said.
In a surprise twist, Tribal Council Coordinator Cedar Shirey was called upon to take an oath of office, a first for a Tribal Council coordinator to swear a public oath.
Tribal Council coordinators are chosen by majority vote yearly at the annual Tribal Council meeting and do not appear on election ballots.
Shirey said she reached out to the election commission and to Justice Pearl’s office to ask to take an oath of office.
Cedar Shirey, Tribal Council Coordinator
“I just felt it was very important, a public statement to make and promote the tribal members and just to show that I stand in solidary with the other branches of our government because I do know together we’re stronger and I just want us to have less separation, not separation of powers but less separation as people and just to come together more,” Shirey said.
Lastly, the incoming Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Lt. Governor, Hershel Gorham, was called upon to take his oath of office. Gorham was appointed by Gov. Reggie Wassana to fill the office of Lt. Governor left vacant by the sudden death of former Lt. Gov. Gib Miles in September 2023.
Hershel Gorham takes the oath of office, being sworn in as the new Lt. Governor for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.
After swearing his oath, Gorham addressed the attendees of the ceremony and showed his gratitude for the support as well as paying tribute to Lt. Gov. Miles.
“I want to thank Governor Wassana for thinking of me to ask me to fill this position for the last two years of his second term. Continued prayers go out to Gib Mile’s family, his daughters and his grandkids, who are still dealing with the death of our Lt. Gov. Gib Miles. He was a good friend of mine,” Gorham said.
Gorham continued to say he looked forward to working with Gov. Wassana, “I look forward to continuing being with all the people. I love working for Indian people. I started working for the tribes coming out of college back in the early 90s that’s when I first met Reggie and got introduced to him and we’ve known each other for over 30 years now. It’s been a long time coming, but I look forward to it, I love working for our people and I look forward to seeing you guys over the next two years,” Gorham said.
In closing, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reggie Wassana made final remarks as he gave special thanks to the public for their support of their newly elected officials.
“The tribes are growing stronger and it’s not just simply because of our legislators, our traditional people, our election board but it’s because of you guys sitting out there. If we don’t get that support, if we don’t feel that support, we can’t be successful and everybody wants to say we appreciate this, we truly do appreciate it,” Wassana said.
By Latoya Lonelodge, Senior Reporter
To read the full Jan. 15, 2024 issue, click here: https://www.cheyenneandarapaho-nsn.gov/public-affairs/tribal-tribune
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune 