Rob Burkybile III Candidate for Chief

Email: rburkybile@gmail.com

918.325.3185

My name is Rob Burkybile and I am running for Chief of the Modoc Nation. As a tribal member and employee, I am very invested in the operations of the Nation and the services that we provide to members. I live in Miami, OK, and have many ties to the community. I think I would make an excellent candidate because I have a full understanding of the day-to-day business operations of the Nation. I have been involved in multiple entities of the Nation for the past 8 years. Including serving as the executive director for Modoc Tribe Financial Services Authority, a Stables Casino board member, director of Modoc Housing, IHS water grant administrator, a liaison with California government entities and local businesses, and serving as second chief since being appointed in October 2021, among other duties. I also explore new grants and business opportunities for the Nation. I try to use cautious judgement when making big decisions that affect us and try to see the issue from all points of view. As your Chief, I will strive to be an upright and just steward of the Nation. Decisions need to be made that benefit all, not just for us now, but for multiple generations to come. There are many hopes that I have for our future. I would like to see continued services like education, home improvement, burial, and others for tribal members. I would like to add to our current list of social services by seeking out new programs and funding from multiple agencies. Also, I would like to expand our clean energy capabilities for our tribal offices and homes in Oklahoma and our California properties. Not only would that be great for the environment, but it would also be a step closer to energy independence and with the amount of grants and support available, it makes financial sense. Another hope is to continue our progress of language revitalization and cultural meetings. I think it’s beneficial for all tribal members, especially children, to understand where they are from and how that has shaped them today.
Lastly, I would like us to get more involved in inter-tribal and community-related projects to benefit more in the area. With the number of resources that each group can bring together, I think there is a great opportunity for something big to happen and benefit a larger group of people. Supporting each other and the community is important to me because I am a believer in helping the greater good. With your vote, I will make myself available to listen to members thoughts, suggestions, criticism, or ideas to help keep our tribe moving in the right direction.