Lisa Johnson Billy

Lisa Johnson Billy (born February 21, 1967) is a Chickasaw and American politician who has served in the legislatures of Oklahoma and the Chickasaw Nation. She has served as a tribal councillor for the Chickasaw Nation since 2016 and previously served on the council between 1996 and 2002. She represented Oklahoma House of Representatives district 42 from 2004 to 2016 and was appointed by President of the United States Donald Trump to the board of trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation in 2017.

Lisa Johnson Billy
Member of the Chickasaw Tribal Legislature from Pontotoc District, Seat 5
Assumed office
2016
In office
1996–2002
Member of the board of trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
Assumed office
December 27, 2017
Appointed byDonald Trump
Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs
In office
January 2019 – December 2019
GovernorKevin Stitt
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byBrian Bingman
Oklahoma Native American Affairs Liaison
In office
January 2019 – December 2019
GovernorKevin Stitt
Preceded byChris Benge
Succeeded byBrian Bingman
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 42nd district
In office
2004–2016
Preceded byBill Joel Mitchell
Succeeded byTimothy J. Downing
Personal details
Born (1967-02-21) February 21, 1967
Purcell, Oklahoma
NationalityAmerican
Chickasaw Nation
Political partyRepublican
Alma materNortheastern State University,
University of Oklahoma
ProfessionEducator, small business owner

She held the positions of Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs and Oklahoma Native American Affairs Liaison in 2019 after her appointment by Governor Kevin Stitt.

Early life and education

Billy was born on February 21, 1967, in Purcell, Oklahoma. She is the daughter of Frank Johnson Sr. and the late Beverly Jones Johnson.[1] Frank was a Chickasaw elder and former tribal legislator.[2]

Billy earned a bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University and a Master's degree from the University of Oklahoma.[3]

Career

Prior to serving in elected office, Billy worked as a teacher for the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oklahoma and was a board member of Girl Scouts of the USA and cub scout leader for the Boy Scouts of America.[4] Billy served as a member of the Chickasaw Nation's tribal legislature between 1996 and 2002.[3]

Oklahoma House of Representatives

In 2004, she was elected to represent house district 42 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She served as the deputy whip from 2004 to 2006, vice chair of the Republican caucus from 2006 to 2008, and majority floor leader from 2014 to 2016.[3] She was the first Native American, the first woman, and the first Chickasaw Nation citizen to represent her district. She formed the state's first Native American caucus. During her term, she supported legislation related to tribes in Oklahoma such as allowing Native American language classes to be taken for a foreign language credit in Oklahoma high schools.[2] She cites Helen Cole as her mentor.[4]

Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation

On November 21, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Billy to be a member of the board of trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation for a term expiring August 25, 2024.[5] On December 21, 2017, the United States Senate confirmed her nomination by voice vote.[6] She officially took office on December 27, 2017.

Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs

In January 2019, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Billy to serve as the first Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs. She resigned in December 2019 citing the Stitt administration's conflict with tribal governments over gaming compacts in the state.[7]

Return to Chickasaw Nation legislature

In 2016, Billy was elected to a three-year term in the Chickasaw Nation legislature.[8] She was sworn in October 3, 2016.[9] She was unopposed in her campaign for re-election in 2019 and 2022.[10][11]

References
  1. Lisa Billy -- Women of the Oklahoma Legislature Oral History Project
  2. Bolitho, Tom (May 2016). "GOP Floor Leader; Lisa Billy Completing Oklahoma House Term". Chickasaw Times. Chickasaw Nation. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  3. "Lisa Billy receives Leadership Legacy Award". The Journal Record. February 12, 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. "50 Making a Difference profile: Lisa Johnson-Billy". The Journal Record. October 6, 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  5. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-02 – via National Archives.
  6. "Congressional Record". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  7. Savage, Tres (December 23, 2019). "Lisa Billy resigns as Gov. Stitt's secretary of Native American affairs". NonDoc. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  8. "5 Chickasaw Nation leaders sworn into office". Associated Press. October 3, 2016.
  9. "Chickasaw Nation elected officials take oath of office". The Ada News. October 6, 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  10. "Pontotoc District Seat 5". Chickasaw Times. No. June 2019. Chickasaw Nation. p. 5. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  11. "Pontotoc District Seat 5". Chickasaw Times. Chickasaw Nation. June 2022. p. 3. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
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