A legacy of strength: Neal McCaleb, Chickasaw politician, died!

Neal McCaleb, a prominent politician of the Chickasaw Nation and former member of the Oklahoma House of Representative, died at the age of 90. McCaleb had a significant political career and was known for his role as a Republican minority leader in the house for four years.

He was appointed the first Secretary of Transportation by Oklahoma under governor Henry Bellmon and led the Oklahoma Department of Transportation during the introduction of urban and rural motorways. In addition, McCaleb was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Interior by President George W. Bush in 2001, where he headed the Bureau of Indian Affairs and campaigned for the tribal autonomy. In his career he was also a member of the Indian Reservation Economies Commission, which was appointed by President Ronald Reagan.

life's work and legacy

After his political career, McCaleb worked as a special advisor for the governor of the Chickasaw Nation, Bill Anoatubby, and also acted as a chickasaw ambassador-at-Large. In an interview, he expressed the desire to be remembered as a good father and grandfather and advised young people to follow their dreams and have confidence. McCaleb leaves his wife Georgann, four children and 13 grandchildren.

In another development, Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, took on a new leadership role in the area of Tribal & External Affairs for the Oklahoma House of Representative. This office is intended to improve communication with Tribal Government, the Congressional Delegation and Local Governments. Fetgatter emphasizes the need to continuously work on solutions for problems such as the renewal of contracts between the state and the tribes and to help citizens with infrastructure matters.

A reference to Fetgatter is his membership of the Choctaw Nation and his former initiative to include indigenous votes in state affairs, such as the creation of the "Filmed in Oklahoma Act" in 2021. This law has led to the production of films such as "Killers of the Flower Moon" and the "Reservation Dogs" series. Fetgatter has also campaigned for economic development and the creation of jobs in Oklahoma and works closely with the members of the house to better understand the needs of the municipalities and counties.