Webinar: The Cherokee Nation Constitution -Design, Democracy and Constitutional Crisis

Proceed Undaunted: The Cherokee Nation Constitution, Power, and the People

The Cherokee Nation’s Constitution was not written for convenience. It was written for protection, accountability, and the survival of a people who have endured removal, war, and attempted dissolution of their government.

This webinar is led by former Principal Chief Chad Smith and grounded in his book Cherokee Nation: Proceed Undaunted, a foundational work examining Cherokee sovereignty, constitutional design, and the responsibilities of citizenship. Drawing from history, law, and lived experience, Chief Smith will explore why the 1999 Cherokee Nation Constitution exists, what it was designed to protect, and how constitutional erosion can occur, often quietly, when citizens disengage.

Joining the conversation are Cherokee attorneys Dana Jim and Debra Reed, who will provide legal insight into constitutional interpretation, judicial boundaries, transparency, and the real-world consequences of weakened safeguards. Together, the speakers will examine key case studies involving citizenship, elections, employment protections, FOIA,…