Curt Lawrence was elected as Second Chief in June of 2021. While he may be unfamiliar to some, Mr. Lawrence is a proud and prominent member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. He was asked to accept the nomination by another tribal member after he expressed a desire to bring more openness and continuity to the Nation, its government, and its programs.

After serving in the Army, Mr. Lawrence’s Choctaw father met his Seneca-Cayuga mother, Sarah Luther, in Haskell, OK. After his mother passed when he was five-years-old, they ended up living in Choctaw territory. He and his brother would spend summers on the Cayuga Road with his grandmother, Esther Hubbard-Luther. At Grandma’s, the two brothers would attend Bible School at the Council House—and Greencorn.

Once he graduated from high school, Mr. Lawrence moved back to the Cayuga Road to live with his grandfather, Jake Luther (grandmother passed away in 1966). While there, he managed supermarkets and put himself through MSSU in Joplin. Eventually he would go on to earn a law degree from Washburn University School of Law and pass the bar. He and his wife also started a family during this time.

With a law degree under his belt, they moved to the Branson area where he worked at a law firm, and was “hired away to manage a commercial and residential development company.” With a passion for helping those in need, particularly children, he and his wife also managed a group home and became foster parents.

Mr. Lawrence was hired by the Seneca-Cayuga Nation in 2011 as the Indian Child Welfare Director. For two and a half years he would commute daily from Springfield, MO to the SCN offices. In 2016, he was asked to serve as Executive Director for the Tribe. Among his numerous accomplishments, he also served as guardian ad litem for area tribal courts for seven years.

In the next year, he would like to see the Business Committee come to a consensus on a short-term and long-term plan for tribal improvements. In particular, he believes “expanding mental health and substance abuse resources for our young people” is a preeminent concern. Other tribes have received large grants to accomplish this and he hopes Seneca-Cayuga Nation can do the same. He is also aiming to provide better care for tribal elders while in office.

Mr. Lawrence was recently inducted into the Prestigious “Who’s Who in America” biographical registry due to his prominence in his field, position in our community, and noteworthy accomplishments. But more importantly, he is humbled by “the honor and trust bestowed upon me by my tribe at General Council to serve as Second Chief.” As Second Chief, he aims to bring about positive lasting change and strengthen the Nation.