Kalyn Free
Kalyn Free is an American attorney, former political candidate, and a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Early legal and political career
Free was born in Red Oak, Oklahoma, and after she graduated from law school she began her legal career by going to work for the United States Department of Justice; she was the youngest attorney ever hired by the DOJ. Later, in 1998, she ran for and became the first Native American woman ever to be elected a District Attorney in Oklahoma. During her administration, she focused her efforts on fighting for women, children, and crime victim's rights.
In 2004, she was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the open House seat in the 2nd Congressional District, with the support of Emily's List, the Sierra Club, and 21st Century Democrats. She lost the nomination to the eventual general election winner, Congressman Dan Boren.
Recent work
Kalyn established the very first political action committee devoted to electing Native American candidates at the local and state level, INDN's List [1] (Indigenous Native Democratic Network). An avid runner, Kalyn has participated in several marathons. Kalyn has an abiding interest in Japan and has represented the United States on trips to Japan sponsored by the American Council of Young Political Leaders. Kalyn and some friends and family capped her latest trip to Japan by climbing Mt. Fuji.
As part of her efforts to give Native Americans a greater voice in the political arena, Kalyn has created www.PrezOnTheRez.org, which invited Presidential candidates to meet and address the concerns of indigenous peoples.
Throughout 2011 Mrs. Free worked as the attorney and senior adviser of Councilmen Bill John Bakers campaign for Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation against the incumbent Chief, Chad "Corn-tassel" Smith. Mrs Free states in an interview with Indian Country News, "I started out as senior adviser on the campaign, and then as the election took the turns as it did, [Baker] suddenly found himself needing a lawyer. I was lead counsel on the recount, the court hearings, the appeals, the second election and the last appeal. That was 2011, which sucked the life out of me." Currently, Mrs. Free represents Cherokee Nation Principle Chief Bill John Baker's as his private attorney. “I’m paid by Cherokee Nation, but I’m an outside contractor, an outside attorney,” Free, herself a member of the Choctaw Nation, explains.[2]
Kalyn Free is also the author of "Why? Rising to the Challenge" in Voices of the Heartland where she describes her career and struggles as a Native American.
See also
References
Free, Kalyn. “Why? Rising to the Challenge.” Voices of the Heartland. Ed. Carolyn Anne Taylor et al. Norman: University of Oklahoma, 2007. 75-81. Print.