Original Teachings

Crosslin Fields Smith was born November 27, 1929, to a traditionalKeetoowah family. The members of the Keetoowah Society are bestknown as the keepers of God's Eternal Flame. Crosslin is a KoreanWar veteran, having served as a member of the famous 45th infantry, or"Thunderbird" Division of the U.S. Army. He holds a BS in Educationand an Elementary & Secondary Teaching Certificate from NortheasternState University and is now retired from a 30-year career of civil service.Crosslin states that he has always represented the Cherokee Nation.He is the first employee of the Cherokee Nation - from 1964 to the present- as a spiritual resource person. He has worked under Chiefs W.W.Keeler, Ross Swimmer, Wilma Mankiller, Bill John Baker, and the presentChuck Hoskin, Jr. During the reorganization of the Cherokee Nation inthe 1960s, Crosslin served as a U.S. liaison officer to his Cherokee peopleand was responsible for informing them on the status of negotiationsbetween the tribe and the U.S. government. Through the years, he becamethe tribe's spiritual practitioner, performing blessings at official functionsand at the start of new tribal development projects. In 2020, Crosslin wasrecognized by the Cherokee Nation as a Cherokee National Treasure.In 2014, Smith was among seven Cherokees honored at the AARPOklahoma Indian Elder Honors event for their impact on their tribesand communities. A noted keynote and university lecturer, Mr. Smith hasstanding engagements in the United States and abroad. Crosslin states,"With the highest diplomatic credit and character, I have worked to build aCherokee Nation for the Cherokee people. I fought in the Korean War. In this war, I represented the U.S. government and the American system. Inall of my efforts, I worked to be part of the system instead of against it."