Julian Fite, the general counsel for the Cherokee Nation, collapsed and died while attending the 18th annual Sovereignty Symposium in Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Two people attempted to administer CPR to Fite, 60, when he collapsed. After being taken to a hospital, he was pronounced dead. A drum group later sang a song in honor of Fite at the Symposium.

Fite, a former U.S. attorney and director of the Northeastern State University Center for Tribal Studies, was in the news recently for speaking out against a trust land acquisition for the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees. His salary as general counsel was also being called into question.

Get the Story:
Cherokee Nation lead attorney collapses, dies (The Native American Times 6/2)
Tribe's attorney dies during event (The Oklahoman 6/3)
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Relevant Links:
United Keetoowah Band - http://unitedkeetoowahband.org
Cherokee Nation - http://www.cherokee.org

Related Stories:
Cherokee Nation threatens county over UKB trust (5/26)
Keetoowah Band survives despite CNO opposition (03/15)