Victoria Vazquez
{{Short description|American artist and politician}}
{{infobox officeholder
| name = Victoria Vazquez
| image =
| office = Deputy Speaker of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council
| term_start = September 14, 2015
| term_end = August 29, 2024
| predecessor = Janelle Fullbright
| successor = Kevin Easley Jr.
| office2 = Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for the 11th district
| term_start2 = October 22, 2013
| term_end2 = August 29, 2024
| predecessor2 = Chuck Hoskin Jr.
| successor2 = TBD
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party =
| spouse =
| awards = Cherokee National Treasure
| mother = Anna Sixkiller Mitchell
| citizenship = American
Cherokee Nation
}}
Victoria Vazquez is a Cherokee Nation artist and politician who served on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council from 2013 to 2024. She was named a Cherokee National Treasure in 2012.
Early life and artistic career
Victoria Mitchell was born to Anna Sixkiller Mitchell and Robert Clay Mitchell. Her mother was a Cherokee artist credited with reviving traditional Southeastern Woodlands-style pottery. Victoria was awarded a Smithsonian Native Arts Fellowship in 2005 and her work is displayed National Museum of the American Indian. She was named a Cherokee National Treasure in 2012 for her traditional pottery.{{cite news |last1=Chavez |first1=Will |title=3 named 2012 Cherokee National Treasures |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/culture/3-named-2012-cherokee-national-treasures/article_b6793145-b552-5223-9f19-805a2bcdde1b.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=September 5, 2012}} She worked as a self-employed potter and pottery teacher for twenty years before running for office.{{cite news |last1=Kidd |first1=Chandler |title=Vazquez begins 2nd stint on Tribal Council |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/vazquez-begins-2nd-stint-on-tribal-council/article_af2bd7ae-ee75-5e3e-87ce-726afd9bb205.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=August 21, 2017}}
Cherokee Nation tribal council
In August 2013, Chuck Hoskin Jr. resigned from the Cherokee Nation tribal council's 11th district seat to serve as the Nation's Secretary of State. Vazquez ran in the October special election for the seat against Dana Jim and Lana Morris Daugherty.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jami |title=3 vie for Dist. 11 Tribal Council seat |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/3-vie-for-dist-11-tribal-council-seat/article_f98bbdc6-a38a-5dbb-bba0-9733b59d8afd.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=10 September 2013 |language=en}} She won the special election and was sworn in on October 22, 2013.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jami |title=Vazquez wins Dist. 11 Tribal Council seat |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/vazquez-wins-dist-11-tribal-council-seat/article_e13f1730-7cc3-5401-983b-5a96091472af.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=October 13, 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jami |title=Vazquez sworn in as Dist. 11 councilor |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/vazquez-sworn-in-as-dist-11-councilor/article_326c2594-5293-50bc-afe9-c43befc8971e.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=October 23, 2013}} On September 14, 2015, she was sworn in as the deputy speaker of the Cherokee Nation tribal council after being elected by fellow councillors the month prior.{{cite news |last1=Chavez |first1=Will |title=Councilors select new committee chairs and co-chairs |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/councilors-select-new-committee-chairs-and-co-chairs/article_7475510f-bbaf-5705-ae69-00dbb39abae0.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=August 18, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Chavez |first1=Will |title=Administration, council officials take oaths of office |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/administration-council-officials-take-oaths-of-office/article_8ad1cfc6-8b52-59fb-98cd-d4c75abf1eb2.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=September 15, 2015}} She was re-elected without opposition in 2017 after her only opponent to file was disqualified by the Cherokee Nation Election Commission and sworn in for a second term on August 14.{{cite news |title=Vazquez retains Dist. 11 seat |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/vazquez-retains-dist-11-seat/article_0c3649a3-437a-5324-b407-dd3846623525.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=June 4, 2017}} She was re-elected deputy speaker of the tribal council on August 15, 2017.{{cite news |last1=Bark |first1=Lindsey |title=Tribal Council speaker, deputy speaker sworn in |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/tribal-council-speaker-deputy-speaker-sworn-in/article_61a74c78-445a-5acb-825f-08b70581b819.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=August 17, 2017}} In 2021 she won re-election with 63% of the vote beating Mike Purcell, Randy Junior White, and Mason Hudson.{{cite news |last1=Rowley |first1=D. Sean |title=Vazquez retains Dist. 11 post with 63% of vote |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/cn_election_2021/vazquez-retains-dist-11-post-with-63-of-vote/article_3bf52384-c6d2-11eb-acde-1bfac2e59181.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=June 6, 2021}} She was re-elected as deputy speaker again in 2021.{{cite news |title=Cherokee Nation Tribal Council elects speaker, deputy speaker, secretary positions |url=https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/cherokee-nation-tribal-council-elects-speaker-deputy-speaker-secretary-positions/article_b334bfd1-77d5-5766-930d-636bb743d12a.html |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Tahlequah Daily Press |date=August 31, 2021}} She resigned on August 29, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-01 |title=Deputy Speaker Victoria Vazquez announces resignation from Council |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/deputy-speaker-victoria-vazquez-announces-resignation-from-council/article_0bb52ade-502c-11ef-914d-37d4391e4c1e.html#tncms-source=block-behavioral |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=cherokeephoenix.org |language=en}}
References
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Category:21st-century American politicians
Category:21st-century Native American politicians
Category:Cherokee Nation women artists
Category:Cherokee Nation artists
Category:Members of the Council of the Cherokee Nation
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Native American women potters
Category:Native American potters
Category:American women potters
Category:21st-century American women artists