Cherokee Nation's Chief's Records Task Force Releases Findings on Management of Principal Chief Records

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Cherokee Nation's Chief's Records Task Force has released its findings and recommendations on the management, reacquisition, and disclosure of records held by former principal chiefs. The report, submitted to Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., outlines a path forward to ensure that the records of Cherokee Nation's principal chiefs remain accessible to the Cherokee people and preserved for future generations.

Chief Hoskin established the task force by executive order in April 2026, directing a six-member panel to examine the status of records held by former chiefs, develop strategies for reacquiring those records, and recommend how the office of the Principal Chief should manage records going forward. The order explicitly prohibited political influence from interfering with the task force's work.

"The records of principal chiefs belong to the Cherokee people, and it is our responsibility to ensure they are preserved, properly managed, and accessible for generations to come," Chief Hoskin said. "This task force did important work in charting a clear path forward, and their findings will guide how we safeguard the history of this office, not just for scholars or officials, but for every Cherokee citizen who deserves to know the story of their nation."

The task force is chaired by Keith Austin, a former member of the Council of the Cherokee Nation, and includes Molly Jarvis as co-chair, alongside members Jack Baker, Camerin Fite-James, Dr. Ross Mulcare, Todd Enlow and Todd Hembree. All living former principal chiefs accepted invitations to serve as advisory members, receiving briefings and opportunities to provide input throughout the process.

"By finalizing a formal protocol for the management, reacquisition, and public disclosure of these records, we will help secure the history of our leadership free from political bias. This work is vital because how we govern ourselves is an important part of our culture. Through this effort, we are ensuring that the legacy of Cherokee sovereignty is not just documented but preserved as a living foundation for our future generations," Keith Austin, task force chair, said.

The task force's work is rooted in the long history of the office of Principal Chief, which the tribe established in 1827 as part of its first constitution. John Ross, the first elected principal chief, took office in 1828. Since then, the records generated by that office have documented nearly two centuries of Cherokee self-governance and self-determination.

The task force's findings indicate:

• A significant volume of records remains outside Cherokee Nation custody.
• Surviving records are unevenly inventoried and incompletely inventoried and incompletely digitized.
• The Cherokee Nation has no executive records management policy and inconsistent practices across administrations, placing current and future records at risk.
• Through a survey, the task force found that 88% of citizens rated preservation as "very important" and 94% supported reacquiring externally held records.

The report recommends establishing a formal records management policy for the office of the Principal Chief, creating a process for reacquiring records and ensuring that all future records are transferred to Cherokee Nation's custody at the conclusion of each chief's term. Additional recommendations include digitizing existing records for long-term preservation and expanding public access in alignment with Cherokee Nation's transparency commitments. These findings and recommendations are expected to shape how Chief Hoskin and future principal chiefs store and disclose official records.

The tribe will review the task force's findings and recommendations and determine next steps for implementation.