Kimberly Teehee

Kimberly Teehee (born October 13, 1968) is an American attorney, politician, and activist on Native American issues. She is a Delegate-designate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Cherokee Nation. She served as senior policy advisor for Native American affairs in the administration of President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2012.

Kim Teehee, Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs, in the Oval Office, April 26, 2012

Quotes

• It is an interesting time. It's also an historic time because we've seen, on one hand, an administration that has prioritized native issues.
  • [1] Kimberly Teehee during her acceptance speech after Cherokee Nation nominated her to be its first ever delegate to Congress in 2019.

• It would be small measure of justice for those who lost their lives on a forced march.
  • [2] Kimberly on the importance of the delegacy to her tribe and others.

• A Cherokee Nation delegate to Congress is a negotiated right that our ancestors advocated for, and today, our tribal nation is stronger than ever and ready to defend all our constitutional and treaty rights.
  • [3] Teehee tells CNN

• We are a sovereign nation that is capable of exercising a sovereign right to move forward with appointing a delegate to honor our treaties.
  • [4]she said in an interview with Samantha Leach of Glamour

• Even though I’d be representing the governmental interests of the Cherokee Nation, I imagine I wouldn’t see myself as any different than being an extra voice to not only represent the governmental interests of my tribe but also to aid in advancing Indian Country generally.
  • [5] she told Leach of Glamour

• Extraordinary responsibility and is grateful for an opportunity to serve the Cherokee Nation. This journey is just beginning and we have a long way to go to see this through to fruition.
  • [6]she said to CNN

• That the United States fulfills its treaty rights would send a huge message, not only to the Indian tribes of this country but internationally.
  • [7] she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview in Washington

• Allowing me to take up the seat, values its indigenous populations and honors legal documents through the treaties that they signed with the Indians even if it’s nearly 200 years later.
  • [8] she said, would send a strong signal that the United States

• A Cherokee Nation delegate to Congress is a negotiated right that our ancestors advocated for, today, our tribal nation is stronger than ever and ready to defend all our constitutional and treaty rights.
  • [9] she said in a statement to CNN this week

Quotes about her

• Teehee’s fingerprints are on a wide variety of policy and laws affecting Indigenous people, from the Violence Against Women Act to the creation of Congress' first Native American caucus
  • [10] According to NPR’s Graham Lee Brewer

• We know this is just the beginning and there is much work ahead, but we are being thorough in terms of implementation and ask our leaders in Washington to work with us through this process and on legislation that provides the Cherokee Nation with the delegate to which we are lawfully entitled.
  • [11] Hoskin Jr said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday on Teehee nomination

• Ms. Teehee has a wealth of experience working in Washington, DC with representatives from both sides of the aisle.
  • [12] Victoria Vazquez, deputy speaker of the council said on Teehee nomination

• She has a storied career of advocating and working on issues for both the Cherokee Nation and Indian Country in general, these two attributes make her appointment as the first-ever delegate an easy decision and I am happy to support her nomination and Chief Hoskin's efforts to exercise our treaty rights.
  • [13] Vazquez said