Tribal Council

Chief Michelle Gilmore was first elected as at-large Councilor before being appointed as Vice Chief by former Chief Ronnie Williams. She was elected as Chief in 2019.  Chief Gilmore was appointed by  Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama to serve as a Commissioner of the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission in 2022 and also sits on the Inter-Tribal Council as well.  Chief Gilmore was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey to the Advisory Board for the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs on April 1, 2024.

After graduating from  high school Chief Gilmore entered the Paper and Printing Industry and became the first female in local market outside sales and went on to become the General Manager of a local paper company, before going on to work at the Alabama Department of Transportation and serves her Tribe. Chief Gilmore has four sons with her husband, U.S. Army Sgt. Major Gerry Gilmore, named Justin, Josh, Alex, and Max, and one grandson.

The Chief is a strong advocate for the Tribes of Alabama and has a clear vision for the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation's growth. Chief Gilmore recently appeared on a PBS/APT documentary entitled "Another River to Cross" that documents the history of the Alabama Creek Indians to raise awareness for Indigenous issues.  Chief Gilmore has participated in many Storytelling events spreading the word of Alabama's Indigenous history by telling her family history "Their Life, Their Path, My Ancestors:.

Eugene McCarley was first elected to the Tribal Council in 2019 as at-large Councilor. In 2023 he was elected as Vice Chief. After graduating from high school in Lanett, Alabama, he attended the institution now known as Lee University. 

Vice Chief McCarley served in ministry as a pastor and evangelist for 43 years in the Church of God. He retired from pastoral ministry in 2010 and continued to serve on the Spirit Care Board, among others. Serving in ministry prepared the Vice Chief for Tribal servant-leadership. Eugene and his wife, Ann, have two children, Fran and Christy, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Hannah Tolar is a dedicated citizen of our tribe, currently serving on the Genealogy Committee, where she passionately works to preserve and promote the rich heritage and history of the Mvskoke culture.  Her commitment to community and culture is deeply rooted in her own ancestry, alongside a rich tapestry of lineage from various other tribal nations.

Following her passion for healthcare she completed her Master of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) degree in 2021, and is board-certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.  Hannah’s commitment to the preservation of Mvskoke culture is matched by her vision for the future of healthcare in Alabama.  She is actively working towards establishing a health clinic that will serve all tribes in the state, ensuring that everyone has access to quality medical care while honoring the traditions and values of our heritage.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Hannah and her husband are proud owners of a farm where they raise cows and maintain chicken houses for Perdue Farms Inc.  Their rural lifestyle not only connects them to the land but also allows them to raise their two children in an environment that emphasizes the importance of hard work, community, and cultural values. 

Hannah embodies the spirit of our tribe.  She strives to keep Mvskoke culture alive and thriving for future generations while working towards a healthier future for all tribal citizens in Alabama. 

Racheal “Morning Flower” Smithey is an accomplished bank branch manager with more than 15 years of experience in the banking industry. She holds a degree in business management with a specialization in banking and finance.  

Racheal has previously served on the scholarship and genealogy committees. She also played a crucial role as the lead event coordinator for the 1st Annual Creek Friends' Festival. The festival was a great success, which reflectes her personal view on how the power of community  and the importance of bringing people together to celebrate their heritage. 

Racheal is a devoted wife and mother. She married her high school sweetheart, William and they have been married for 15 years. They share two sons, Ayden and Tucker, who are supportive and active citizens of the tribe as well.

Racheal is a strong advocate for preserving family history and actively engages in initiatives that promote historical awareness, appreciation, and preservation, and honoring the Mvskoke traditions and culture. She is a dedicated board member of the Chilton County Cemetery Rehabilitation Authority that actively restores forgotten and abandoned cemeteries. She works diligently to preserve, restore, manage, and most of all honor something that society sometimes forgets. She strongly believes that our ancestors should never be forgotten and deserves to have their stories told. She is also an active Indigenous Artisan that enjoys beadwork. She participates in the tribes Medicine School and is actively learning to speak the Mvskoke Creek language.

Tina is committed to advocating initiatives that support our growth, preserve our heritage and strengthen our unity as a people.  Tina has served as the Grant Committee Chairperson for the past two years and secured several grants that have funded Southeastern Mvskoke Nation's vision of a "Living Village".  Tina believes strongly in preserving and celebrating our culture and sharing it with the community.  Tina has integrated cultural teachings with our tribal family that enrich the knowledge not only of our citizens but of the community as well.  

Jason "Medicine Hunter" Wallace is an electrician and works hard for his beloved family.  Jason and his wife DeAnn have been married for 22 years and have three children, William, Grason, and Felicity, who are all active citizens in the tribe and support their heritage and culture.

Jason loves the outdoors and you will find him working on the trails and helping in the medicine garden.  Jason loves to work on projects on the tribal grounds as he envisions the "Living Village" and works towards making the vision come to life.

Jason is excited to serve his Tribal family and looks forward to continuing to watch it grow and learn more about our history and culture.

LeFrances is a devoted wife and mother, married to the love of her life, Neil Hughes for 32 years. Neil is a senior project manager for an architect firm.  Together they share two children, Anna Hughes Clark, who is a civil engineer and is happily married to Lane Clark.  Their son Ben Hughes serves in the Alabama National Guard and is a construction project manager for an architect firm.  

Fran has a genuine love for serving the public and bringing people together in unity.  Fran's background in human resources has helped her make connections to serve and make life better for others.  Fran served as an employee relations and human resource leader for a tier one supplier in the automobile manufacturing company for 15 years.  Fran has spent the last 11 years with the Crenshaw County Board of Education at its Central Office where she has received certificates in Financial Management and payroll through the Alabama Association of School Business Officials and the University of Alabama.  

Fran's love of her Mvskoke heritage is priceless.   Fran enjoys advocating for her tribal family to help preserve the mvskoke  culture for generations to come.  Fran believes every tribal citizens has a contribution to make to the community and that all are good stewards.  

Fran played a lead role in the Tribe's first Annual Creek Friends' Festival and looks forward to many more festivals to come.