Janees Taylor began serving as the treasurer of the Cherokee Nation in 2021 after Chief Hoskin nominated her and she was unanimously confirmed by the tribal council.
Taylor graduated with a degree in accounting from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. She went on to pass the CPA exam and began a career in the private sector. In 2013 Janees was elected to the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council where she represented Cherokees in Southern Rogers and Mayes counties for 2 terms.
While on the Tribal Council, Janees chaired of the Executive and Finance committee, working closely with the Cherokee Nation office of financial resources and the CFO of Cherokee Nation Business monitoring the tribe’s financial position and leading the yearly budget hearings. She also served as the Secretary of the Tribal Council from 2018 to 2021.
Taylor served on Chief Hoskin’s Special commission for the protection of Cherokee Nation Sovereignty established to prepare the Cherokee Nation for historic changes resulting from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in McGirt.
During her time on the tribal council, Taylor was an advisory member of the Cherokee Nation Housing Authority board of commissioners, served on the Claremore Indian Hospital Board of directors and was one of Cherokee Nation’s representatives on the Inter Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes.
Treasurer Taylor oversees the Cherokee Nation’s $3.4 Billion budget and manages the 100 employees in finance and related departments.
Taylor is mother of two daughters and lives in Pryor, OK with her husband Brent.
