Johnnie L. Greene
Wagoner/Roger/Mayes District - Seat B
Human Development Committee - Vice Chair
Internal Affairs Committee
Fact Finding and Investigations Committee - Alternate

Johnnie Lou Greene, Wagoner District Representative, was born and raised in Coweta, Oklahoma to John and Fannie (Berryhill) Chalakee. She is married to Johnny Greene and they reside in the town of Coweta where she attends church at the Springtown Indian Methodist Church. Her clan is Wind and she is from the Kialegee Tribal Town. She graduated from Coweta High School and attended Haskell Institute where she received her degree in Business Education. Representative Greene worked in accounting for the St. Johns Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma and later became employed with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She worked as a secretary for the Office of The Principal Chief, Secretary for the Human Development Director and Executive Secretary for the Executive Directors office.

After retiring from work she had more time for her love of gardening. “ But, I still had concerns for Creek citizens in different aspects, all these things weighed heavily on my mind and the thought of running for National Council occurred to me. I talked things over with my husband first before I made any decision and he encouraged me that if I was still interested with the concerns of the tribe he was in full support of my endeavors.”

The fourteenth session of the Muscogee (Creek) National Council will be going into their fifth month, Representative Greene stated, “it’s a lot broader than I thought, you have to cover all aspects for your citizens, sometimes its overwhelming, but its getting better.” “I believe that attendance as a council representative is important to us especially to the standing committee you serve on. I know there are some citizens who are not happy with the Councils salary and maybe this is one of the reasons. To be an informed representative you have to make yourself available to your committee, the programs of this tribe, attending training, seminars, summits and inter-tribal that address tribal policies, regulations and standards. The National Council Rules of Procedures does not address attendance, this is something I will be looking at doing.”

“The finances of our tribe is a concern to me, being new to the council I see a lot of appropriations although, I realize we must spend money in order for our communities and tribe to progress, but are we spending wisely?” In my district I feel the economy is good for our citizens, most of them live in the surrounding metropolitan area ,the city of Tulsa is accessible and Broken Arrow is growing with economy. We have a new Coweta Indian Health Facility, our Coweta Indian Community has just entered into a embroidery business, we have a small smoke shop, and are looking at the possibilities of putting in a small snack shop near the Coweta Indian Health Facility.

Historically, Muscogee (Creek) National Council Representatives are mostly comprised of men. For many years the council had two ladies serving, but those numbers have changed to as many as ten ladies serving as National Council Representatives.

This session the people elected six women who serve on the National Council, three women are from the southern rural areas of the Creek Nation, two from the Tukvpatce District (Wetumka and Holdenville) and one from the Okfusgee District, (Okemah) and three women from the northern urban areas of the Creek Nation, two the Tulsa District (Tulsa) and one from the Wagoner District (Coweta).

Representative Greene perceives her role as a female elected official as being equal and serving with respect. “I see both men and women serving on the National Council as equals.”“ The men who serve on this council are educated, experienced and come from all walks of life and I respect this when making a decisive vote.” “ I do not voice myself a lot in meetings, I am attentive to the discussion being made by my colleagues whether it is in committee or discussion on the floor and if I am in agreement why should I repeat what’s already been said.”

“When I was growing up I remember my father always sat at the head of the table, he was the leader of our home, we knew and respected his position.”“ I hope to gain the respect of the citizens not only in Wagoner District, but all citizens within the Creek Nation by being available to them in the position I serve.”