Sovereignty Speaks #22
Leadership Perspective
Chief Bill John Baker
Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation
Bill John Baker is the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest sovereign tribal government in the United States. He has devoted much of his life in service to the Cherokee people, having spent 12 years as a member of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council before being elected Principal Chief in October 2011 and re-elected in July 2015.
Chief Baker believes in integrity, accountability and honesty. Those are the things he brings to the office of Principal Chief. During his tenure as Chief, he has made a commitment to homes, health and hope for Cherokee people.
Over the past six years, more academic scholarships have been awarded than ever before in the history of the tribe.
Chief Baker secured a historic hunting and fishing compact with the state of Oklahoma, and he negotiated an expanded car tag compact for Cherokee Nation citizens statewide.
Chief Baker is a graduate of Tahlequah High School and Northeastern State University. He earned degrees in political science and history. He has also been a small business owner for more than 40 years. Chief Baker resides in Tahlequah with his wife, Sherry (Robertson) Baker. They have been blessed with six children and are the proud grandparents of 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson.