Editor’s Note: The following is an announcement from the Tulsa Creek Indian Community.
The Tulsa Creek Indian Community will hold a special election for TCIC Board of Directors vacancies. Voting will be done by secret ballot on April 24 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Candidate applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on April 17 to the Community Research & Development Department located at 600 N. Mission, Okmulgee, OK. MCN CR&D will be on-site at the Tulsa Creek Indian Community Center on April 12 from 9 a.m -3 p.m. to accept any candidate applications. Vacancies include – Vice Chairman – Secretary – Treasurer – Sergeant-At-Arms.
All community members interested in voting or becoming a candidate for office must show proof of residency within community boundaries, and have a copy of their Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizenship card prior to 4/17/2024.
REQUIREMENTS TO HOLD OFFICE
- Must be an enrolled citizen with a minimum of a 1⁄4 degree blood quantum as defined by the Muscogee (Creek) Naton constitution.
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Member of Tulsa Creek Indian Community (TCIC) as defined by the community’s constitution.
- Must present a current Muscogee (Creek) Naton citizenship card.
- Must not have been convicted of a felony within past 10 years as of the date of filing for candidacy in a court of competent jurisdiction.
- Must provide proof of residency within TCIC’s boundaries for one year.
- Must submit to background check to be paid for at own expense. Must provide $15.00 money order or check with candidate application.
- In order to avoid conflict of interest, immediate family members (i.e., mother, father, brother, sister, spouse, aunt, uncle) shall not hold an elected position on the TCIC Board of Directors at the same time.
- Per TCIC Constitution page 12 Section 2: If a Board of Directors Officer is subject to removal or resigns, they are not eligible to run for any Board of Director positions for one calendar year.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING MEMBERSHIP
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen.
- Established residency within the boundaries of the Tulsa Creek Indian Community.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
For additional information, contact the Community Research & Development Department at: 918-732-7963 or 918-732-7964.
The blood quantum restriction requirement prevents qualified, competent candidates from stepping forward to serve, leaving an ever increasing smaller pool of people eligible to do the work and the results speak for themselves.
It’s really no wonder TCIC is plagued with the problems it currently has considering this underlying issue. I wouldn’t expect much to change in Tulsa until this useless, racist restriction changes.