Matriarchal leadership on horizon for Seminole Nation as incumbent leadership ousted
By Sarah Liese (Twilla), KOSU
The Seminole Nation will soon have new leadership.
After a tight race, Seminole Nation citizens ousted both the incumbent principal chief Lewis Johnson and assistant chief Brian Palmer.
Seminole Nation voters decided Sena Michelle Yesslith is fit to serve the tribe over incumbent Lewis Johnson by a slim margin of only 25 votes. Her leadership is something, she says, her father saw coming.
“[When] I had grown up, my dad would have us always go to band meetings with my mom,” Yesslith recalled in an interview with the tribe. “He would always tell us, ‘It's a matriarch tribe. You're next in line.’”
Now, Yesslith gets to lead Sheila Harjo, who will replace incumbent Assistant Chief Brian Palmer. Harjo noted in a statement that this election highlights the inclusive and equitable present and path ahead.
“To the women of our nation, I want to say that your experiences, perspectives, and contributions are vital to our collective growth and prosperity,” Harjo said. “Don't ever doubt your worth or your abilities — you are the backbone of our community, and your leadership is essential to shaping a brighter future for ourselves and future generations.”
According to reporting from Non-Doc, Yesslith will be the second female chief of the Seminole Nation, following behind Alice Brown Davis, who led the tribe from 1922 to 1935. Yesslith’s background includes experience working for the Seminole Nation General Council and the Wewoka Indian Health Center, among other roles.
“Being personally connected to people who was dealing with things within the tribe — that's where I really got my voice,” Yesslith said. “Matter of fact, I had some people come to me and had asked me to help them write plans and write things in place that they felt were unjust within the tribe or the clinic.”
The change comes as Seminole citizens questioned the incumbents about the tribe’s annual audit. Voters have ousted three incumbent chiefs for replacements in the last eight years.
Despite a narrow loss, Johnson expressed thanks for his ability to guide the tribal nation and work shoulder to shoulder with the other leaders of the five big tribes in Oklahoma.
“I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the members of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma for granting me the honor of serving you in many capacities over the past decades—a journey that began in the early 1990s under the guidance and blessing of our respected elders,” Johnson said. “Service to our Nation has been a tradition and calling within my family for generations, and I am humbled to have carried that legacy forward.”
Yesslith and Harjo are set to be sworn in at 10 a.m. on Sept. 6 at the Mekusukey Mission in Seminole.
Chickasaw Nation breaks ground for medical student housing project
ADA, Okla. — Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby was joined by dozens of tribal leaders and medical providers in groundbreaking ceremonies Aug. 12 for a housing project designed for Chickasaw Nation Department of Health providers and resident students.
The project, consisting of 10 single-story apartments and six single-story duplex homes, will be constructed on the Ada South Campus near the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center.
The housing project signifies the Chickasaw Nation’s commitment to the future of health care and the long-term strength of the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, Governor Anoatubby said.
“We are dedicated to providing ample opportunity and convenience for future generations of health care professionals, to providing resources and experiences that will help them develop to their full potential without the unnecessary burden of housing inconvenience,” Governor Anoatubby said.
The single unit apartments, located at 2023 TeAta Drive, will include kitchen and laundry amenities. The duplex homes will feature two bedrooms and two bathrooms with an open floor concept, which includes a kitchen, dining and living room.
The site will be a gated community with lighted parking and badge entry to provide residents with privacy and security.
Throughout the year, the Chickasaw Nation hosts dozens of students as well as health care professionals working temporarily to fill staffing gaps. To accommodate these individuals and families, a need for safe, affordable and convenient housing was identified.
“It is our hope that these units will also be seen as a major attraction to students who visit us in the future, and this will help to further solidify the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health’s status as a leader in health care. They are a leader, and they also continue to be recognized for their leadership, not just here in this community and Oklahoma, but throughout the country," Governor Anoatubby said.
Comanche Nation Entertainment Unveils Four Dining Options and Renovations Across Three Casino Properties
LAWTON, Okla. – Comanche Nation Entertainment has debuted four new food and beverage concepts across three of its Southwest Oklahoma properties, introducing first-of-their-kind dining experiences to the region.
“Great food brings people together, and that’s what we’re focused on,” said Steven Doyle, CEO of Comanche Nation Entertainment. “We wanted to create spaces that feel fresh, exciting and true to the community, and I think guests are really going to feel that when they visit.”
Comanche Nation Entertainment’s newest dining options are as follows:
Comanche Red River Hotel Casino
The Chop House at Red River is a new upscale steakhouse, offering guests USDA Prime and Choice meats paired with locally curated wines from The Rusty Nail Winery. The restaurant also features a variety of fish and poultry, unique soups, desserts and special surprising service amenities
Comanche Spur Casino
Mazzio’s GO! is now open and serving guests hot and ready pizza slices at Comanche Spur Casino. This fast, fresh and flavor-packed pizza concept brings all the bold taste of Mazzio’s in a quick-service format—perfect for grabbing a personal pizza between games or enjoying a made-to-order meal on the go. The full menu includes breakfast, fresh salads, toasted hoagies, calzones, wings, desserts and more.
The casino has also refreshed its dining area, creating a more spacious and inviting environment that encourages visitors to relax and enjoy their meals.
Comanche Nation Casino
The newly redesigned Comanche Burger Company is now open at Comanche Nation Casino, offering guests an elevated take on a classic, the restaurant will feature gourmet burgers in a modern atmosphere.
Additionally, the Numunu Grill at Comanche Nation Casino is now serving Jackpot Pizza, bringing bold flavors to the table, piled high with melted cheese, hearty toppings and a crisp crust.
For more information about Comanche Nation Entertainment, visit www.comanchenationentertainment.com.
Choctaw Casino® & Resort – Durant Makes $10,000 Donation to Richardson ISD Schools as part of “3 Months 3 Millionaires” Promotion
June Million-dollar winner selects grandkids’ schools to benefit from donation
DURANT, Okla. (August 11, 2025) – Million-dollar prize winner, Fuong H. from Garland, selected two Richardson ISD schools to benefit from Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant’s $10,000 charitable donation as part of its “3 Months. 3 Millionaires.” promotion.
Fuong won $1 million in June, just one week after she retired from a 33-year career in the jewelry business. She selected her grandkids’ schools, Richardson Heights Elementary and Richardson West Jr. High, to benefit from the “3 Months. 3 Millionaires.” charitable donation.
“We are very grateful for this donation to our school,” said Megan Martin, principal for Richardson Heights Elementary. “We plan to use this money to improve our garden and courtyard area, making it a really exciting place for learning and adding another area where our kids can come and grow outside.”
“Richardson West Jr. High just acquired new iPads for our students and MacBook M4s for our teachers, we are going to work with our PTA to find innovative ways to help enhance the technology experience for our students,” said Jose Vega, principal for Richardson West Jr. High. “We are excited to enhance learning through this donation.”
“We are excited to see our first charitable donation make a positive impact for hundreds of students attending Richardson Heights Elementary and Richardson West Jr. High,” said Kaley Lehew, regional marketing director of Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant. “This is our first $10,000 ‘3 Months. 3 Millionaires.’ charitable donation to present and look forward to making an additional $20,000 impact on more lives this summer.”
