The Sac and Fox Nation currently has an enrollment of over 3,000 people, with a jurisidictional area covering all or parts of Pottawatomie, Lincoln and Payne counties. The administrative staff aids the elected Business Committee in operating efficiently and effectively over a wide range of responsibilities.

The Business Committee

• George Thurman, Principal Chief
George Thurman was elected to serve as the Principal Chief of the Sac and Fox Nation on August 25, 2007 and was installed to this office September 14, 2007. Prior to this office, he was elected to two terms as Secretary in 2001 and 2005. He served 2000-2001 fulfilling the remaining one year left of the previous administrative term, after being appointed Secretary unanimously by the Business Committee of the Sac and Fox Nation.

Thurman received his Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Southern Nazarene University. He is a member of Shawnee First Indian Baptist Church and resides in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He is a member of the Thunder Clan.

Thurman has two children, Kristin and Shawn. He also has three grandchildren, Granddaughter Aliyah, 10 yrs. old, Grandson Tristen, 4 yrs. old, and granddaughter Brooke, 3 yr. old

Thurman currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Self Governance Communication & Education Tribal Consortium Board, Bellingham, WA; representative to the 7 member TTFSP tribal consortium of the Intertribal Monitoring Association, Albuquerque, NM; member of National Congress of American Indians; Member of the National Indian Education Association; Central Tribes Shawnee Area Board Member; Inter-Tribal Monitoring Association Board Member; liaison to Sac and Fox Nation: Education Department, Environmental Department, Self Governance Department, Law and Order Committee, and Rodeo Committee.



Cheryl McClellan Tofpi
Cheryl Tofpi is an enrolled member of the Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and attended the University of Phoenix for a Masters of Arts in Organizational Management. Cheryl is currently pursuing management courses from the American Society of Quality.

Cheryl was an engineer with Honeywell in Albuquerque, NM, from 1983 until she was elected Second Chief of Sac and Fox Nation on September 14, 2007. Over the years, Cheryl held key positions at Honeywell such varied engineering disciplines such as Development, Test, Production, Program Office, and Quality Assurance.

Throughout her collegiate and professional career, Cheryl has been committed to the cause of professional development and opportunities for American Indians. As an under-graduate student at OU, she was charter member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and was instrumental in establishing the infrastructure for the parent organization.

As a young child, Cheryl lived with her grandparents in northeastern Oklahoma, without electricity or running water. She attributes her strength and stability to survive in the non-Indian world to the teachings and cultural exposure she received from her grandparents. The entire family remains active in their native culture, which includes Native American Church, Kiowa Gourd Clan and Oh-Ho-Ma, Creek Stomp Dance, Seneca cultural dances, and powwow singing and dancing.







Stella Nanaeto, Committee Member





Jackly K. Williams, Secretary





Randle Carter, Treasurer