SYCUAN INDIAN RESERVATION (August 13, 2025) – The Sycuan tribal council has announced the appointment of Kele Bigknife as the tribe’s next General Counsel, effective immediately.Bigknife, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, has served previously as Associate General Counsel and Interim General Counsel for Sycuan, with many years in private practice before that. Bigknife will oversee all legal affairs for the tribe and their economic and land development affairs, including Sycuan Casino Resort, gaming commission and human resources.
“The Sycuan Tribe is extremely proud to have Kele Bigknife as our next General Counsel”, stated tribal chairman Cody Martinez. “Kele has served Sycuan admirably for nearly three years.He is a strong defender of tribal sovereignty, always protecting the interests of Sycuan. He has quickly acclimated himself well within the Sycuan family.”
“I’m looking forward to representing Sycuan through this new opportunity and building upon both its tremendous accomplishments and well-earned positive reputation,” Bigknife said. “The Tribe has been a model in responsible tribal governance, infrastructure and economic development, and tribal government gaming, and I can’t wait to continue to assist in this new capacity.”
The General Counsel position serves as the tribe’s chief legal officer. In this capacity, Bigknife will serve as in-house legal counsel for the tribe and its affiliated business entities and any related developments or projects. He will also manage outside retained specialized legal services on an as-needed basis. The protection of the tribe’s sovereignty, assets, and strategic business direction are paramount for this important executive position.