Charles W. Blackwell

Charles W. Blackwell (July 30, 1942 – January 2, 2013, Chickasaw Nation) was an American lawyer, educator, activist, and diplomat, who served as the first Ambassador of the Chickasaw Nation to the United States of America, from 1995 until his death in 2013. Blackwell was the first Ambassador of any Native American tribal government to the government of the United States. From 1990 to 1995, he had served as the Chickasaw Nation delegate to the US Congress, while also working on issues of health, education, and economic development for tribal nations.

Biography Early life and career Charles Blackwell was born at Concho Indian Hospital in El Reno, Oklahoma, on July 30, 1942.

Blackwell earned a Bachelor of Arts in education from East Central State College (present-day East Central University) in 1964, where he was named "Student of the Year" that year. He served as editor of the college's newspaper, and was the founding president of the Epsilon Omega chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

An official memorial service was held at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington on January 26, 2013. He was the first tribal leader to be so honored. Memorial services were also planned to be held in Ada, Oklahoma, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Honors and awards The U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency awarded Blackwell the National Director's Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2007. He received a Special Act Award from the Secretary of the Department of Energy in 2006.