Hollis E. Roberts

Hollis Earl Roberts (May 9, 1943 – October 19, 2011) was a Native American politician whose career was highlighted by his 19-year period as chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Hollis Roberts was born in Hochatown to Laura Beam Roberts and Darrell E. Roberts. He attended Holly Creek Elementary and Idabel High School, graduating in 1961. Roberts married Helen R. Rodriguez in 1963. They had three children: two boys and one girl.^[1] Following his political career, Roberts died on October 19, 2011 at 68 years of age.^[2]

Roberts remains an extremely polarizing and controversial figure among Native Americans. His 19-year reign as Chief of the Choctaw Nation came to end in 1997 amid convictions of sexual contact and sexual abuse. From these convictions (leading to an eleven-year prison sentence and removal from office), to his then-extravagant $120,000 per year salary,^[3] to his alleged corruption; all have led to a negative public opinion of Roberts. Nevertheless, he served for 19 years as chief of the one of the largest Native American tribes in the United States. He governed well over 195,000 members, including over 79,000 in Oklahoma.^[4]

Early Political Career

Roberts began his political career as a city council person in Hugo City where he served for 14 years. Hugo is a town within the Choctaw Reservation in Oklahoma. Following his time in Hugo, Roberts served six years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing Choctaw County. Choctaw county was only six per cent Indians, making his dramatic victory that much more captivating. Following his time as a member of the Oklahoma House Representative, Roberts served from 1975-1978 as Choctaw Chief David Gardner’s assistant.^[5]

Election as chief

Following the 1978 death of Chief David Garner, Hollis Roberts was elected chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. His election into office came at the tail end of the Red Power movement. As a young, energetic, and charismatic leader, Roberts embodied much of the Red Power Movement and became a guiding voice for change at a time when Indian sovereignty was at a countrywide high. Roberts ran against political rival Charles Brown. Brown was a popular, but older politician, who was well respected by Choctaws. Roberts won in a tight election, winning by only 339 votes.^[6]

Accomplishments

1983 was big year for both Roberts and the Choctaw. Roberts proposed a new constitution to the Choctaw people. A major component of this new constitution was the removal of blood quantum for tribal membership, which effectively increased the number of members of the Choctaw tribe. The new constitution did not come without controversy; while there was no minimum blood quantum for tribal membership, there was an enforced blood quantum of ¼ to be elected to tribal office. Additionally, women were given the right to vote with the new constitution. This new constitution was voted in 2,253 to 780 on July 9, 1983. As chief, it was Roberts job to appoint tribal judges. In 1983 Roberts appointed Juanita Jefferson, the first female Choctaw judge.^[7] Roberts was reelected in 1983. 1992 was another big year: in '92 the Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes signed a compact with State of Oklahoma. This compact equates to Indians paying a fee to the federal government each year instead of paying taxes on tobacco products sold to non-natives on their reservations. The end result was that the Choctaw paid 75% less to the federal government and were thus able to increase their profit on products sold on the reservations.^[8] Roberts worked to improve health standards, increase the tribe's population, and promote a healthy economy. During his time in charge, tuberculosis and infant mortality rates among the Choctaw decreased dramatically.^[9] Roberts effectively used his influence and abilities to negotiate federal funding and to set up programs for his people. Under his reign, the Choctaw Nation improved health standards, saw an increase in population, and set forth intensive economic growth campaigns.^[10] Today many view Roberts as a criminal, but in his heyday many also viewed him as a charismatic politician who brought much needed change to the Choctaw.

Controversy

On June 6, 1997, Roberts’ time as chief came to an end following his conviction in a federal court in Muskogee, Ok. Roberts was convicted on two counts of sexual contact and one count of aggravated sexual abuse involving two female employees of the tribe. The aggravated sexual abuse count carried a possible life sentence; however, he was eventually sentenced to eleven years in prison. The jury acquitted Mr. Roberts on four similar counts, three of them involving a former tribal employee who testified that Mr. Roberts had raped her.^[11][12] Hollis Roberts attempted an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on sexual-abuse convictions and his 11-year prison sentence, but lost both appeals. One of his appeals was that the U.S. District Court lacked jurisdiction where the assaults took place because they happened in Tribal complex property which was trust land and thus not Indian Country nor formally a part of the reservation. The government ruled against this appeal claiming that the federal government owned the land in trust for Indians and it was thus Indian Country. Roberts also argued that he should not have an enhanced sentence for abusing a position of trust.^[3]

References

External links

• Hollis E. Roberts at choctawnation.com