Members of the 2024-25 Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council were sworn in by Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice Shawna Baker during a recent inauguration ceremony.

“This is an important program that serves as a resource to the Cherokee Nation,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “Having youth in our government and in our leadership helps put our young Cherokees in the position to learn, grow and contribute. We are expecting a great deal, but those expectations are always met by the youth council. This is a generation that is at the same time, collectively, the best educated, best equipped for the future, and in the best position to succeed – not only because of their efforts, but because of the collective efforts of the Cherokee Nation.”

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council consists of 17 members from various tribal districts. The members will serve a one-year term, during which they will learn about the Cherokee Nation government structure, history, language and culture, while learning to identify issues that are impacting the Cherokee Nation.

This year the Tribal Youth Council also revised its policies to include two at-large Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council representatives. Hannah Neugin, of Muskogee, Okla., and Alyssa Theofanidis, of Houston, Texas, were chosen as the at-large youth councilors.

“The Cherokee Nation Youth Council continues its proud tradition of serving our Cherokee communities, and I look forward to the work they will do in the coming year,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “I am also proud to see a growing interest among our atlarge Cherokee youth. In 2019, we added one at-large youth position on the council, and the interest has grown so much since then that we added a second at-large position beginning this year.”

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council, established in 1989, is celebrating 35 years of a successful leadership development program.

The 2024-25 Tribal Youth Council members include Alexis Marsh and Jenna Hamlin of District 1, Tosh Pivec of District 3, Addison Rouse of District 4, Averey Smith and Maysi Fields of District 5, Rayleigh Terrill, Katelyn Callahan, Dawson Lynch, Brooklyn Hawkins, Emily Pack of District 6, Jaycee Gideon of District 8, Wylie Robertson and Landon Pilcher of District 9, James Procter of District 11, and Hannah Neugin and Alyssa Theofanidis of at-large regions.