“I do want to say thank you to my fellow council representatives and I do look forward to serving the great Muscogee Creek Nation to the best of my ability and I know we will all do what we can to serve to the best of our ability.” Speaker Randall Hicks said.
TVLSE, Okla. – The legislative branch of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation entered a new era with the swearing in of the Pale-Hokkolen Tutcenohkakvt 23rd Session of the Council on Jan 6. The ceremony took place at the RiverSpirit Casino and Resort’s Paradise Cove theater. The morning ceremony preceded the MCN Principal and Second Chiefs’ afternoon inauguration ceremony.
The new session of the council swore in two new members. Representative Dode Barnett beat incumbent Joseph Hicks for Creek District Seat A. Representative Robyn Whitecloud beat incumbent Speaker William Lowe for Okmulgee District Seat A. Rep. Whitecloud previously served as a finance officer for MCN and Rep. Barnett previously served a term on the national council from 2012-2017.
The ceremony’s posting of the colors was conducted by the Mvskoke Nation Men’s Honor Guard. Opening remarks were given by Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation/Mvskoke Nation Youth Council Speaker Chenoa Barnett and Mvskoke Nation Youth Council Second Speaker Ariela Rodriguiz. The session then swore in members by taking an oath of office officiated by MCN Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard C. Lerblance.
After the new session was sworn in, the council then voted on the election of a new speaker, second speaker and sergeant-at-arms. Representative Randall Hicks was nominated by Representative Thomasene Yahola Osborn as the Speaker Chairman Pro Tem. Running unopposed, Rep. Hicks was unanimously elected as speaker by the council.
“I do want to say thank you to my fellow council representatives and I do look forward to serving the great Muscogee Creek Nation to the best of my ability and I know we will all do what we can to serve to the best of our ability.” Speaker Randall Hicks said.
The second speaker election saw two candidates compete for the position, Tukvpvtce District Seat A Representative Anna Marshall and Tukvpvtce Seat B Rep. Yahola Osborn. Rep. Marshall was nominated by Representative Darrell Proctor, Rep. Yahola Osborn was nominated by Representative Robert Hufft. In a 9-7 vote Rep. Yahola Osborn was elected as Second Speaker of the 23rd Session by the council.
The sergeant-at-arms election saw two candidates compete for the position, newly nominated Creek District Seat A Representative Barnett, and McIntosh District Seat A Representative Proctor. Rep. Barnett was nominated by Representative Mark Randolph and Rep. Proctor was nominated by Representative Joyce C. Deere. In a 10-6 vote Rep. Proctor was elected as Sergeant-At-Arms of the 23rd Session.
The special session concluded with a vote on the adoption of national council rules of procedures. A motion was made by Representative Nelson Harjo Sr., seconded by Rep. Hufft and was unanimously adopted by the council. The ceremony concluded with a traditional Creek hymn led by Representative Charles McHenry. After the meeting was officially adjourned, a reception was held at the Fireside Grill.
