Michell Hicks - Misplaced Pages

Cherokee politician

Michell Hicks
Hicks in 2023

Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
In office 2003–2015
Preceded by	Leon Jones
Succeeded by	Patrick Lambert
Incumbent
Assumed office October 2, 2023
Preceded by	Richard Sneed

Personal details
Born	(1964-09-08)September 8, 1964 North Carolina, United States
Nationality	Eastern Band Cherokee, American
Education	Western Carolina University (BBA) Southwestern Community College
Occupation	Accountant Politician

Michell Alexander Hicks (born September 8, 1964) is a Cherokee politician who has served as the Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians since 2023. He previously served three terms as Principal Chief from 2003 to 2015, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the position at age 38. In 2023, he was re-elected as Principal Chief, marking the beginning of his fourth term. Throughout his leadership, he has guided the 16,000-member tribe through significant economic growth and cultural preservation efforts.

He is recognized as a national leader in Indian Country, known for his commitment to the advancement and well-being of his tribe and community.

Personal life

Hicks was born and raised on the Qualla Boundary, the land trust of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Western Carolina University. He and his wife Marsha have 5 children.

Career

Prior to serving as Principal Chief, Hicks has also served as the Eastern Band's Executive Director of Budget and Finance.

Electoral history

2023 EBCI Principal Chief primary election
Candidate	Votes	%
Michell Hicks	1,075	41.73%
Richard Sneed (Incumbent)	548	21.27%
Robert Saunooke	441	17.11
Gary Ledford	254	9.86
Gene Crowe Jr.	141	5.47
Lori Taylor	117	4.54

2023 EBCI Principal Chief general election
Candidate		Votes	%
Michell Hicks		2,254	65.03%
Richard Sneed (Incumbent)		1,212	34.97%

References

"Michell Hicks, Principal Chief (1964 - d.)". Geni.com. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
^ Kays, Holly (September 7, 2023). "Hicks wins fourth term as Cherokee chief". Smoky Mountain News. Waynesville, NC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
Hodge, Rex (September 8, 2023). "Hicks voted in again as Principal Chief of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, defeating incumbent Sneed". Asheville, NC: WLOS. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
"Mental Etiquette of a Leader" (PDF). United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
^ "Principal Chief Michell Hicks". Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
"Unofficial results of the 2023 EBCI Primary Election". Cherokee One Feather. June 1, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
Knoepp, Lilly (October 3, 2023). "Hicks, Tribal Council sworn in as new Eastern Band of Cherokee leaders". Blue Ridge Public Radio. Retrieved January 13, 2024.

External links

Michell A. Hicks, CPA, Chief Strategy Group

Preceded byLeon Jones	Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 2003-2016	Succeeded byPatrick Lambert
Preceded byRichard Sneed	Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 2 October 2023 - Present	Succeeded byPresent

Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee

Early decentralized leaders
(pre-1794)

Outacite (d. 1729)
Charitey Hagey of Tugaloo (1716–1721)
Long Warrior of Tanasi (1729–1730)
Wrosetasetow, "emperor" of the Cherokees until 1730
Moytoy of Tellico (also known as Ama-edohi)
Attakullakulla (1708/1711–1780)
Amouskositte (1741–1753)
Old Hop (1753–1756)
Moytoy of Citico (1759–1761)
Uka Ulah (d. 1761)
Standing Turkey
Otacity Ostenaco (ca. 1703–ca. 1780)
Oconostota (also known as Ogan'sto', "Groundhog Sausage") (1778–1785)
Savanukah of Chota (1781–1783)
Old Tassel (or "Corntassel", "Tassel", Kaiyatahee) (1783–1788)
Raven of Chota
Little Turkey
- opposed by Hanging Maw (or Scolaguta) (served 1788–1794)

Chickamauga/Lower Cherokee
(1777–1809)

Dragging Canoe (1777–1792)
John Watts (1792–1802)
Doublehead, brother of Old Tassel served from 1802–1807
The Glass, or Ta'gwadihi (1807–1809)

Cherokee Nation East
(1794–1839)

Little Turkey (1794–1801)
Black Fox (1801–1811)
Pathkiller (1811–1827)
- Big Tiger (1824–1828); principal chief of Whitepath's faction
Charles R. Hicks (1827), de facto head of government from 1813
William Hicks (1827–1828)
John Ross (1828–1839)
- William Hicks (1833–1835)

Cherokee Nation West
(1810–1839)

The Bowl (1810–1813)
Degadoga (1813–1817)
Tahlonteeskee (1817–1819)
John Jolly (1819–1838)
John Looney (1838–1839)
John Brown (1839)
John Looney (1839)
John Rogers (1839–1840)

Cherokee Nation in
Indian Territory (1839–1907)

John Ross (1839–1862)
- Thomas Pegg, acting principal chief of the Union Cherokee (1862–1863)
- Smith Christie, acting principal chief of the Union Cherokee (1863)
- Lewis Downing, acting principal chief of the Union Cherokee (1864–1866)
Stand Watie, (1862–1866)
John Ross (1866)
William P. Ross (1866–1867)
Lewis Downing (1867–1872)
William P. Ross (1872–1875)
Charles Thompson (1875–1879)
Dennis Bushyhead (1879–1887)
Joel B. Mayes (1887–1891)
C. J. Harris (1891–1895)
Samuel Houston Mayes (1895–1899)
Thomas Buffington (1899–1903)
William Rogers (1903–1905); deposed by the council
Frank J. Boudinot (1905–1906); also president of the Keetoowah Nighthawk Society
William Charles Rogers (1906)

United Keetoowah Band of
Cherokee Indians (1939–present)

John Hitcher (1939–1946)
Jim Pickup (1946–1954)
Jeff Tindle (1954–1960)
Jim Pickup (1960–1967)
William Glory (1967–1979)
James L. Gordon (1979–1983)
John Hair (1983–1991)
John Ross (1991–1995)
Jim Henson (1996–2000)
Dallas Proctor (2000–2004)
George Wickliffe (2005–2016)
Joe Bunch (2016–present)

Cherokee Nation of
Oklahoma/Cherokee Nation
(1907–present)

Appointed	William C. Rogers (1907-1917) Charles J. Hunt (December 27, 1928) Oliver P. Brewer (May 26, 1931) William W. Hastings (January 22, 1936) J.B. Milam (1941–1949) W. W. Keeler (1949–1971)
Elected	W. W. Keeler (1971–1975) Ross Swimmer (1975–1985) Wilma Mankiller (1985–1995) Joe Byrd (1995–1999) Chad "Corntassel" Smith (1999–2011) S. Joe Crittenden (acting, 2011) Bill John Baker (2011–2019) Chuck Hoskin Jr. (2019–present)

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
(1824–present)

Yonaguska (1824–1839)
Salonitah, or Flying Squirrel (1870–1875)
Lloyd R. Welch (1875–1880)
Nimrod Jarrett Smith (1880–1891)
Stillwell Saunooke (1891–1895)
Andy Standing Deer (1895–1899)
Jesse Reed (1899–1903)
Bird Saloloneeta, or Young Squirrel (1903–1907)
John Goins Welch (1907–1911)
Joseph A. Saunooke (1911–1915)
David Blythe (1915–1919)
Joseph A. Saunooke (1919–1923)
Sampson Owl (1923–1927)
John A. Tahquette (1927–1931)
Jarret Blythe (1931–1947)
Henry Bradley (1947–1951)
Osley Bird Saunooke (1951–1955)
Jarret Blythe (1955–1959)
Olsey Bird Saunooke (1959–1963)
Jarret Blythe (1963–1967)
Walter Jackson (1967–1971)
Noah Powell (1971–1973)
John A. Crowe (1973–1983)
Robert S. Youngdeer (1983–1987)
Jonathan L. Taylor (1987–1995)
Gerard Parker (1995)
Joyce Dugan (1995–1999)
Leon Jones (1999–2003)
Michell Hicks (2003–2015)
Patrick Lambert (2015–2017)
Richard Sneed (2017–2023)
Michell Hicks (2023–present)

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See also: Cherokee-language Misplaced Pages

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Personal life

Career

Electoral history

See also

References

External links