{{infobox officeholder | name = Ashley Grant | image = | office = Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for the 5th district | term_start = August 14, 2025 | term_end = | predecessor = E. O. Smith | successor = | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|43|2025|08|14}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = | spouse = | citizenship = Cherokee Nation<br>United States | education = Oklahoma State University }} '''Ashley L. Grant''' (born {{Circa|1982}}) is an American healthcare professional and politician serving as the Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for District 5. A former employee of Cherokee Nation Health, she was elected to the council on June 7, 2025, winning the general election with over 51 percent of the vote and avoiding a runoff. She was sworn into her first four-year term on August 14, 2025. Her policy priorities include expanding healthcare access and housing rehabilitation for Cherokee citizens, protecting tribal sovereignty, and promoting cultural and language initiatives.
== Early life and education == Grant was born {{Circa|1982}} and grew up in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Chad |date=2025-06-10 |title=Newcomer Grant takes District 5 |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/cn_election_2025/newcomer-grant-takes-district-5/article_85fe799f-19d4-43fd-a574-cc4168b509f4.html |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Cherokee Phoenix |language=en}}</ref> Throughout her life, she received support from the Cherokee Nation, including educational scholarships and healthcare services.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Tyler |date=2025-09-03 |title=Q&A: Grant talks vision, goals, and legacy as she begins first term |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/q-a-grant-talks-vision-goals-and-legacy-as-she-begins-first-term/article_0f7bce6b-b97e-4407-aaa8-c326557fd80e.html |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Cherokee Phoenix |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2025-04-01 |title=CN Election 2025: District 5 Tribal Council candidates Q&A |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/cn_election_2025/cn-election-2025-district-5-tribal-council-candidates-q-a/article_376a0bd6-11ec-46ce-af1f-288f517f0f1c.html |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Cherokee Phoenix |language=en}}</ref> Grant earned a doctoral degree in health care administration from Oklahoma State University.<ref name=":1" />
== Career == Grant is a healthcare professional who previously worked for Cherokee Nation Health.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> As of 2025, she currently works as a consultant for Oracle Health.<ref name=":1" /> Grant has stated that she was taught the values of hard work and perseverance by her parents and credits a mentor, Dr. Jones, with reinforcing the importance of integrity.<ref name=":0" />
=== Cherokee Nation Tribal Council ===
==== 2025 Election ==== Grant stated she was motivated to run for the District 5 Cherokee Nation Tribal Council seat as a way to give back.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> Another motivating factor was her desire to address a feeling of disconnect from the tribal government that some Cherokee citizens in her district had expressed.<ref name=":1" />
In the June 7, 2025, general election, Grant faced two opponents, Frank Whitlock and Charles Wilkes.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> She won the election with 158 votes, or 51.13 percent of the total, which was enough to meet the "50 percent plus one vote" threshold required to avoid a runoff.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> Grant replaced the incumbent councilor, E. O. Smith, who was term-limited.<ref name=":1" />
Her district, District 5, was changed during the 2024 redistricting and now represents a portion of Tulsa County within the Cherokee Nation Reservation.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />
==== Tenure ==== Grant was sworn into office for her first four-year term on August 14, 2025.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=New, returning council members of Cherokee Nation to be sworn in |url=https://www.fox23.com/news/new-returning-council-members-of-cherokee-nation-to-be-sworn-in/article_8df2e6ca-ccaf-4860-bfcc-f966128b3f0e.html |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=KOKI-TV |language=en}}</ref> She serves on the 17-member Tribal Council.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />
Upon taking office, Grant stated her priorities included fostering collaboration within the council and increasing awareness of and access to Cherokee Nation programs and services.<ref name=":0" /> Her policy goals include expanding healthcare access, particularly through supporting a new clinic in North Tulsa, and advocating for resources to address housing rehabilitation.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> Grant also supports working across political lines to protect tribal sovereignty and Native rights.<ref name=":0" /> She has expressed a commitment to expanding cultural initiatives, such as Cherokee language programs and immersion schools.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Grant, Ashley}}
Category:Living people Category:Date of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:1980s births Category:People from Tahlequah, Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma State University alumni Category:Politicians from Tulsa, Oklahoma Category:Health professionals from Oklahoma Category:Members of the Council of the Cherokee Nation Category:Women in Oklahoma politics Category:Cherokee Nation women Category:Native American women in politics Category:21st-century Native American politicians Category:21st-century Native American women Category:21st-century American women politicians