TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation has named Sally Wilson as Senior Director of the tribe’s Indian Child Welfare department, Patricia Kidwell Mancillas as Senior Director of the tribe’s ONE FIRE Victim Services department and Sydnee Krenek as Executive Director of Natural Resources.
“These three departments are essential to the heart of Cherokee Nation. Two of these are dedicated to supporting the welfare of families, including those facing neglect and abuse, while our Department of Natural Resources ensures our tribe remains a leader on environmental stewardship and sustainability,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “I have full confidence that these three exceptional women will lead these departments to continued success, while always prioritizing serving the Cherokee people.”
Sally Wilson, who grew up in Tulsa, now lives in the Carlisle community in Sequoyah County, where she has deep family roots. Wilson has been with Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare for more than 17 years, where she focused on the recruitment, training and retention of foster/adoptive homes. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work with a child welfare specialization from Northeastern State University. Child welfare has been a part of her life both professionally and personally, as she is a third generation foster and adoptive parent. Wilson is married with four children, two of which she adopted while she was single. Wilson was also recently selected for the Minority Leadership Development Program through Adopt US Kids, a prestigious fellowship for leaders in the field of child welfare.
“It is an absolute honor and privilege to be selected as the new Senior Director for ICW and continue this work for my tribe. In a recent discussion, the conversation led to careers, and I was asked, which job within my life I liked best. To answer; I liked them all, but it truly hits different when you are working in service to your people, it has a much deeper meaning. It's humbling and makes me strive to do the very best I can and all that I can to improve life for my fellow Cherokees, for our children and the next seven generations. Simply put, it is a sacred thing,” Sally Wilson said.
Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare has spent decades focusing on the well-being of Native children and making sure they are not split from their families and separated from their culture.
Patricia Kidwell Mancillas grew up in Spavinaw and graduated from Ketchum High School. She attended Northeastern State University. Her expertise includes crisis management, strategic growth and operational excellence.
“I’m excited to be here and I am looking forward to contributing positively to ONE FIRE and most importantly to Cherokee Nation,” Patricia Kidwell Mancillas said.
ONE FIRE Victim Services has helped support and protect thousands of women who suffer at the hands of domestic violence with a variety of services including housing, legal and advocacy assistance.
“I am proud to welcome these ladies into their new positions. They have all spent years dedicating themselves to the important work that they do every day and I’m thankful that we have people like that here at the Cherokee Nation, who will proudly serve the Cherokee people,” Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said. “These departments already work tirelessly, and I know with these positions, they will continue to support their staff on to success.”
Sydnee Krenek grew up and attended school in Porter. She attended Northeastern State University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in English before obtaining a Master of Business Administration degree from Oklahoma State University. Krenek began her career with Cherokee Nation in 2016 as a Technical Writer, where she worked extensively with departments across the tribe on the development of grant applications. She became the Chief Administrator of Natural Resources in 2023, serving under Secretary of Natural Resources Christina Justice.
The Executive Director of Natural Resources is a new job position at the tribe.
“I am incredibly grateful to be named Executive Director of Natural Resources. It is a tremendous honor to be part of Chief Hoskin's Executive Leadership team and to work alongside Secretary Justice to promote, protect, and improve our natural resources. I can't express how proud and blessed I am to play a role in the amazing work that this department does, and I look forward to continuing to serve the tribe in this new capacity,” Krenek said.
The Cherokee Nation Natural Resources department administers environmental, conservation, and sustainability programs for the tribe.