Lottie Coody recently announced her candidacy for principal chief of the Seminole Nation, a bid that would make her the first woman elected by the citizens of the tribe if she wins this summer.
Coody, an elder of the nation, would be the first female chief since Alice Brown Davis, who was appointed by President Warren G. Harding in 1922. Davis served as chief until her death in 1935 at the age of 82.
Coody said she believes her elder status and the fact that she’s a woman set her apart from other candidates.
“The maternal instinct that a woman possesses and would enable her to lift a vehicle up off a pinned child is the type of power I inherently have, and a power that no man possesses,” Coody said. “I will speak up for my people and defend them.”
Coody said she will be frugal with the nation’s money, but will provide for her people.
She plans to be accessible to tribal members and to keep them informed of the business of their nation. She said the tribal members who know her know that she speaks the truth.
Raised in Wewoka by her great-aunt Mollie Thomas, she is the daughter of the late Effie Harjo McCulley and the late Andrew Coody. She is a Sequoyah High School alumnus, a fluent speaker of the Seminole language and an active member of the Nurcup Harjo Band.
In 1985 Coody negotiated a five-year bingo contract — the first Bureau of Indian Affairs contract negotiated with any tribe — between the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and the BIA. Coody established the Seminole Nation Bingo — funded with her own money – and helped generate income for the Seminole Nation.
She served on the Seminole Nation General Council from 1992 to 1995.
The Seminole Indian Action Association awarded her honors in outstanding and dedicated service to the General Council Assembly; and the Nurcup Harjo Band awarded her honors in appreciation of her dedication and support.
In 2004 Coody accepted a gaming commissioner position with the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and was instrumental in helping the management and staff in upgrading the gaming machines in the Mystic Winds Casino in Seminole, as well as opening the Rivermist Casino in Konawa and the Seminole Nation Trading Post in Wewoka.
“Lottie is well known to many business people as sincere, honest and capable, and a hard working person with more than 18 years of experience,” said James Billie, former chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. “I support her in whatever endeavor she chooses because she is more than qualified to lead her tribe into prosperity.”
To read her full story visit http://lavernedouglas.typepad.com where she presents an agenda covering health, elders, housing, youth, education, veterans, communication, tribal businesses, infrastructure, history and heritage, churches, national agenda, tribal court and trust assets. She may be reached at lottiecoody@yahoo.com.
SEMINOLE, Okla. —
