Catawba Nation Elects New Executive Committee
"We move forward, building on the strength and accomplishments of our current and past leadership."
Over the past year, rather than visiting the halls of local universities, the debate stage for the Catawba Nation has largely been in the form of text messages, social media posts, and email campaigns. While this approach has been the norm in US politics for years, it's a brand-new frontier for the citizens of the Catawba Nation.
On Sunday morning, the Catawba Nation announced our newly elected Executive Committee members. Brian Harris has been elected as the next chief, with Patricia Leach as assistant chief, and incumbent Rod Beck re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer. Connie Wade and DeLesslin “Roo” George-Warren will join as Executive Committee members at large. Per a press release from the Longhouse, Harris won with a total vote count of 457, passing his opponent by 92 votes.
“Preserving and protecting our culture should be all of our priorities.”
- Connie Wade
Community First
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the tribal government has experienced a remarkable surge in engagement and participation from Catawba Citizens. This increase could be attributed to enhanced accessibility resulting from greater funding and the utilization of technology to create a variety of support programs and access to tribal meetings and information. As a result, citizens now have the opportunity to remain connected with the Catawba community, irrespective of physical distance, without the need to travel.
Milton Watts, a Catawba Citizen who voted absentee while residing in Arizona, had this to share:
As a Catawba citizen, I am pleased and excited for the outcome of our elections. We can move forward with the greater “voice of the people” being heard and responded to more intensely. Having tried to contribute and participate in the election process, I feel a stronger sense of connectedness with my people, our Nation. We move forward, building on the strength and accomplishments of our current and past leadership. The future is brighter before us than ever. Our ancestors count on us now to move ahead working toward unity and harmony by and for all citizens.
Nevertheless, there are some citizens who still made the journey in person. Take, for instance, Teyani Nichols, a dedicated Catawba Citizen residing in North Carolina, who recently traveled to the Catawba Reservation to cast their ballot in person.
"As someone who was born and spent most of my childhood on the reservation, regardless of the fact that I have since moved to North Carolina, I will always consider it home. Traveling back to vote meant more than making sure my vote counted, but rather reconnecting with friends and family that also took the time to make sure we are electing officials that will help the tribe continue to grow and flourish," Nichols says. "It was my first time back on the reservation in a while and seeing what growth had already been made only allowed for me to get more excited about where we are going!"
A New Chief for the Catawba Nation
In a Facebook post on July 31, Harris celebrated: “As we continue to grow and our citizens recognize the need for the right people, at the right time, for the right reasons that number will continue to grow as transparency starts to grow and our people feel included.” Harris already appears to be planning out his first steps in office, starting discussions with the other candidates-elect, and working to continue forward with the mantle of leadership he is set to inherit.
When asked how his values and personal experiences will guide his decisions for the betterment of our community, Chief-elect Harris had this to say:
I was indoctrinated morally by my grandfather who raised me. He was a tribal leader who died while in office and it has been through these personal experiences I have grown to understand the following things:
Always honor your people by staying on the same level as they are. Do not think to get ahead of yourself.
Always find a happy median to balance things out. Don't always be so set in your ways that you cannot bend as long as you do not break.
Stay humble always. Only a fool forgets where he/she comes from. Always promote your people over yourself to be in the position to take the credit for things.
Do not belittle your people. Always try to empower them to feel like they are part of something, to include them for motivation and self-actualization.
Never spend money you don't have. My father was a member of the Mormon Church. He talked about integrity and that your name and your handshake is a bond, even if it costs you. I really didn't understand what that meant so I asked one day. He got out the Bible and he read from Proverbs, "A good name is to be chosen over great riches." This made it clear when he always told me there is nothing wrong with being poor, but you don't have to walk around unclean and not groomed.
Historic Victories
"Growing up as a poor little Native girl on the Old Reservation, I faced many challenges. I never thought I would have the opportunity to attend college and earn the degrees I have, let alone that it could be possible that I could have the opportunity to serve my tribe as Assistant Chief, " Patricia Leach said in a Facebook post this past Wednesday. Leach is the first woman in modern history to be elected Assistant Chief of the tribe.
Catawba Future checked in with our newly elected Assistant Chief and this is what she had to say:
Leach isn't the only first for this Executive Committee, however. Roo George-Warren also represents the first member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to be elected to Catawba leadership.
When asked how he plans to fill his role in office, George-Warren went on to say, “Transparency is obviously at the top of everyone's mind. I think that a lot of folks perceive it as kind of a black and white issue - like you're either transparent or you're not, but there's a lot of minute questions within it… I think it's totally on a spectrum.” Check out more of what he had to say in the audio below:
A Fresh Face
Connie Wade was diligent in getting back to our team for this article, especially considering he was asked last minute. This gives some hope for the future of getting in touch with members of the new Executive Committee. He was asked the same questions the rest of our new leaders - “As a newly elected official, what values and personal experiences do you believe will inspire and guide your decisions in serving the best interests of our tribal community?" Here's what he had to say:
First and foremost, gratitude. It is incredibly humbling to know that the Catawba people have faith in me to lead our great Nation. I will always lead with that in mind. Growing up, I watched my dad serve on the Economic Development Board and be very active in Tribal government. I learned from him the value of relationship building and hard work. I was also raised by my grandmother, Florence Harris Wade, who instilled in me the value of family and culture. No matter what direction my life took, I could always count on those two things. As the new Executive Committee takes office, my biggest goal is to make informed decisions that align with our values and set us on a path of progress.
When asked how he intends to use his office to promote progressive change and positive development while respecting our cultural heritage, he started strong - “Preserving and protecting our culture should be all of our priorities.” He adds, “Growing economically will allow us opportunities to expand our sovereignty and teach others who we are. I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the EC to identify and pursue opportunities for development.”
A Path Forward
The Catawba Nation's future is bright, and together, we forge ahead, embracing innovation while cherishing our heritage. As we step into this new chapter of leadership for the Tribe, we look forward to charting our own path, ensuring transparency and inclusivity as we make history, one step at a time. The road ahead will have challenges, but our shared determination and unity will pave the way for success.
Editor's note: Secretary/Treasurer Rod Beck could not be reached for comment for this article. The Catawba Nation is also set to conduct a legally mandatory recount on August 7 for the position of Secretary/Treasurer as there were 7 votes difference between Rod Beck and runner-up Thomas Cabaniss.
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