Welcome! – My name is Ben Karnes and I am running for 2nd Chief of the Modoc Nation.
Some of you may know me from my time working for the Modoc Nation as Network Admin/Webmaster where I met many of you while trying to get refurbished computers to members in need; others from efforts in repatriating Adam McCarty’s remains from the Carlisle Indian School and getting him laid to rest on Modoc soil or from cemetery clean up days. For those of you I haven’t had the honor of meeting or who would like to know more about me, I am a Christian and a father of two. I am a descendant of Modoc POW Sam Ball. I was born in Claremore, OK, and aside from time away for military duties, I have been a lifelong resident of the Picher/Quapaw/Miami area. I graduated from Quapaw High School, received my Associate’s Degree (Psychology & Sociology) from NEO A&M, and graduated as Distinguished Honor Graduate from the Army Signal School (25B Information Systems Tech) in Fort Gordon, GA. During my time as a soldier, I served as an Information Systems NCO and a Unit Administrative Tech. The diversity of my technical training and higher education has allowed me to develop a unique set of problem solving skills that I believe closely match those of our common ancestors. Good leadership has to have a heart for the people first and actions must have greater benefits to the majority, not to the individual. If you bless me with the honor of being elected as your 2nd Chief, that principle will always be first and foremost in my decision making process. We are all equals in the Modoc Nation; no single individual or family is greater than another. We are all descended from ancestors who shared the exact same hardships and atrocities. My heart yearns for realization of this equality looking toward the future. We have got to be a sharing family of equals who judge our personal success by making sure that our neighbors are successful. No Modoc should go without while another has an abundance. These are my philosophies that I will follow as your 2nd Chief. I encourage an open door policy as well as complete transparency in Modoc Nation matters, whether cultural, day to day, or even financial. As an equal in the Modoc Nation, we each deserve to know everything that is happening with our Nation. On the topic of culture, I would love nothing more than to reach out to our brethren in the Klamath areas and establish the first of many Modoc pow wows. I would also like to, with the help of the Chief, establish a naming ceremony. These are two things that have long been on my heart. It would be an honor to meet and speak at length with any of you prior to the election if you have any questions for me. God Bless.
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