Audra Smoke-Conner (born August 10, 1968) is a Cherokee politician who served on the

Cherokee Nation tribal council The Cherokee Nation tribal council (officially: Council of the Cherokee Nation; ) is the legislative branch of the Cherokee Nation. One councilor is elected to represent each of the 15 districts of the Cherokee Nation in the 14 county tribal jurisd ...

for district 1 from 2003 to 2007.

Early life and education

Audra Smoke-Conner was born on August 10, 1968, to William and Deborah Smoke and Terri Stoner. She grew up in

Spavinaw, Oklahoma Spavinaw is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 350 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 437 in 2010 United States census, 2010. The town is best known as the birthplace ...

, where she attended grade school and junior high, later graduating from Ketchum High School in 1986. She attended

Northeastern State University Northeastern State University (NSU) is a public university with its main campus in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The university also has two other campuses in Muskogee and Broken Arrow as well as online. Northeastern is the oldest institution of hig ...

(NSU), where she participated in work-study programs and worked for the Cherokee Nation's Summer Youth Employment Program. During her college years, Smoke-Conner competed for the title of

Miss Cherokee Miss Cherokee () is an annual cultural leadership title awarded by the Cherokee Nation to a young woman of Cherokee descent. The role of Miss Cherokee includes acting as an ambassador for the Cherokee Nation, representing the tribe at various cultur ...

three consecutive times, winning the title in 1988 after two prior attempts. As Miss Cherokee, she served as an ambassador for the

Cherokee Nation The Cherokee Nation ( or ) is the largest of three list of federally recognized tribes, federally recognized tribes of Cherokees in the United States. It includes people descended from members of the Cherokee Nation (1794–1907), Old Cheroke ...

, visiting various communities and sharing the tribe's history and future aspirations. Smoke-Conner earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications from NSU in 1989, specializing in television and radio broadcasting. In May 2000, she earned a master's degree in college teaching.

Career

Since 1991, Audra Smoke-Conner has worked as a guidance specialist at the American Indian Resource Center in

Tahlequah, Oklahoma Tahlequah ( ; , ) is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It is part of the Green Country region of Oklahoma and was established as a capital of the 19th-century Cherokee Nation in 1839, as p ...

. Her role involves promoting

post-secondary education Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational school ...

among students in

Mayes Mayes is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Adrian Mayes (born 1980), American football player * Alan Mayes (born 1953), English footballer * Bernard Mayes (1929–2014), British-American lecturer and author * Clifford Mayes (bor ...

and Adair Counties, encouraging them to pursue educational training for improved job opportunities. In May 2003, she was elected to the

, representing District 1. As a council member, Smoke-Conner focused on informing citizens about available tribal services and programs, as well as addressing housing and education funding concerns. She served on several council committees, including education, executive finance, health, language and culture, rules, resources, and employment, the latter of which she chairs. Smoke-Conner expressed a desire to enhance communication between the Cherokee Nation and local communities, particularly by organizing community meetings and working to increase Cherokee cultural and language activities in local schools. Additionally, she advocated for the establishment of a Head Start facility in northern Cherokee County. Smoke-Conner ran for re-election in 2007 but was defeated in a run-off election by Tina Glory-Jordan, a local attorney and former Cherokee Nation district court judge. In the run-off, Smoke-Conner received 580 votes (37.04%) compared to Glory-Jordan's 986 votes (62.96%).

Personal life

Smoke-Conner married to D.J. Conner and they have three children: Trey, Lynsey, and Macey. As of 2004, the family resided in

Peggs, Oklahoma Peggs is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States. It had a population of 813 at the 2010 census, compared to 814 at the 2000 census. A large minority of its residents are Nati ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smoke Conner, Audra Living people 1968 births 21st-century American women politicians 21st-century Native American women Members of the Council of the Cherokee Nation Women in Oklahoma politics Cherokee Nation women 21st-century Native American politicians Native American women in politics Northeastern State University alumni People from Mayes County, Oklahoma People from Cherokee County, Oklahoma