Chuck Hoskin Jr. was elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 2019.
Chief Hoskin has led an administration that is focused on strengthening our communities and families, creating job and homeownership opportunities, perpetuating Cherokee language and culture, and protecting Cherokee Nation’s tribal sovereignty. At the Supreme Court, in the Halls of Congress, and in our state capitol, he has fought tirelessly for the Cherokee people.
From the health and economic challenges that have threatened the Cherokee Nation, Chief Hoskin has made Cherokee families, communities, and culture his priority. The preservation of our language, traditional life ways, arts and culture will always be a vital part of what ties us together as a people. Together in the spirit of Gadugi, we are doing more than ever before for our people, including creating new jobs and investing in health care and housing.
He believes all Cherokees deserve an equal shot at economic opportunity, and to achieve a brighter future for all Cherokees, we need strong leadership in the administration, as well as the Council of the Cherokee Nation. He has testified at the United Nations and Congress on behalf of the Cherokee Nation and serves on multiple boards and commissions, including the United States Health and Human Services Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee.
Working together, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin and First Lady January Hoskin have:
Chief Hoskin is a graduate of Vinita High School, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Chief Hoskin and his wife, First Lady January, have two children, Triston and Jasmine and five grandchildren. He formerly served as a member of the Council of Cherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years and served his final two years as Deputy Speaker. He comes from a family of servant leaders and his father, Chuck Hoskin, is the current mayor of Tahlequah OK.
Bryan Warner was elected Deputy Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 2019 with almost 60% of the vote.
Working with Chief Hoskin, Deputy Warner has led an administration that took unprecedented steps to help preserve Cherokee language and culture while fighting to protect Cherokee sovereignty from continuous attack.
Before being elected Deputy Chief, Bryan served as a member of the Council of Cherokee Nation, representing District 6.
Deputy Warner grew up in Sallisaw where he spent much of his childhood on the back side of Blue Ribbon Downs where his family trained racehorses. He is a 1995 graduate of Sallisaw High School. He has a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and a Master’s in Education. In 2009, Bryan started his journey at Carl Albert State College as a science instructor, teaching chemistry, biology, microbiology, and botany.
He loved teaching and was good at it. He had a way of patiently explaining things so his students could understand them. His ability to fill classes eventually got Bryan promoted to the position of Campus Director at the Sallisaw Campus in 2017.
Deputy Warner has also worked as racehorse trainer, a heavy equipment operator and mining supervisor for his family’s rock quarry.
Prior to being elected as Deputy Principal Chief, Warner was honored by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development in 2016 as one of the 40 under 40. The 40 Under 40 is a prestigious award which recognizes 40 emerging American Indians from across Indian Country who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and dedication and made significant contributions in business and/or their community.
In 2017, Deputy Warner was appointed to the Tribal Advisory Committee for the Centers for Disease Control. His experience working with the CDC gave him valuable insight on working with the Federal Government as the Nation worked to navigate the COVID pandemic.
Deputy Warner has always had a heart for service and is always willing to lend a hand.
His civic and volunteer experience includes time served on the Sallisaw City Council, leading local youth in Church, as well as coaching youth league wrestling, football, and baseball for several years. Bryan is always trying to come up with ideas on how to make things better, especially when it comes to his community.
Bryan and his wife Maco make their home in Sallisaw. They have 3 boys; Kaden, Luke, and Clayton.