Latest news with #Cherokee
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
In Oklahoma, Juneteenth highlights tribal slavery descendants' fight for recognition and citizenship
Juneteenth may mark the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out they had been freed, but thousands of people in Oklahoma are still fighting for full citizenship in the tribal nations that once held their ancestors in bondage. Several tribes practiced slavery, and five in Oklahoma — The Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Muscogee nations — signed reconstruction treaties with the U.S. in 1866 abolishing it three years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. They granted the formerly enslaved, known commonly as Freedmen, citizenship within their respective tribes. Only one of those tribes, the Cherokee Nation, continues to fully grant the rights of citizenship . For descendants of people who were enslaved by tribal nations , Juneteenth is both a celebration of freedom for people of African descent and a reminder of their struggle to be fully embraced by the Indigenous communities with whom they share history and in many cases ancestry. Muscogee Nation Traditionally, Freedmen in the Muscogee Nation celebrate emancipation day on August 4, marking when the tribe's council drew up a law to declare them free, said Rhonda Grayson, the founder and director of the Oklahoma Indian Territory Museum of Black Creek Freedmen History. She traces her lineage to formerly enslaved people listed on a 1906 U.S. census of Native Americans who had been forcibly removed to Oklahoma. Known as the Dawes Rolls, the census created two lists - those who appeared Native and those who appeared Black. Those with African ancestry were put on the Freedmen rolls, although many also had Native ancestry. Last week, the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by Grayson and Jeff Kennedy, who are fighting for their citizenship rights and recognition within the Muscogee Nation. 'Our ancestors were Muscogee people of African descent,' said Damario Solomon-Simmons, an attorney representing Grayson and Kennedy whose ancestor was also a Freedmen in the tribe. 'We were transformed into 'Freedmen' by the Dawes Commission.' Their ancestors were also forced on the Trail of Tears, and after the Civil War they were granted citizenship and served in the tribe's legislative bodies, Kennedy said. 'We believe that the (Muscogee) Nation would not be what it is today without the bloodshed and tears of those African people,' he said. But, in 1979, the tribe adopted a new constitution restricting citizenship to Muscogee people 'by-blood.' Grayson and Kennedy's lawsuit countered that citizenship requirement is a violation of the 1866 treaty, and in 2023 a Muscogee Nation district court agreed. The Muscogee Nation's citizenship board appealed and is asking the Supreme Court to overturn that decision. 'That provision has guided our Nation for decades and reflects the will of the people through a democratic process,' Jason Salsman, a spokesperson for the Muscogee Nation said in a statement. 'We believe that any change to our citizenship laws must come from our own citizens—not from outside interpretations.' The court's ruling is expected later this year, and it could open the door for thousands of new members to the tribe. For Grayson, the legal battle is about more than their birthright to citizenship she said, it's also about setting straight the historical record. 'We weren't just slaves,' Grayson said. 'Our people need to know that. Our young people need to know that.' Seminole Nation In 2021, following pressure from Congress and the administration of President Joe Biden, the Indian Health Services began allowing Freedmen citizens in the Seminole Nation to access healthcare at IHS facilities after several reported that they had been denied COVID-19 vaccinations. While the descendants of formerly enslaved Seminole Nation tribal members had previously been granted citizenship, in 2000 the tribe voted to restrict citizenship to those who had one-eighth Seminole ancestry according to the Dawes Rolls, thereby disenrolling more than 1,000 citizens of African ancestry. In 2002, a U.S. district court ordered the tribe to reinstate their membership, however, today the descendants of those on the Seminole Nation's Freedmen rolls are only allowed to vote and sit on tribal council and are thereby not full citizens. 'They're using something that the United States used to separate us, and now they're using it to keep us in a very bad position by putting a lot of our people at a disadvantage,' said LeEtta Osborne-Sampson, a Freedmen member of the Seminole Nation and one of four who sit on its tribal council. She said members like her are not given access to others services provided by the tribal nation, such as education and housing assistance. There are about 2,500 Freedmen citizens of the tribe today, she said. Seminole Nation Chief Lewis Johnson did not respond to requests for comment. Choctaw Nation Starting in 1885, the Choctaw Nation had given citizenship to Freedmen descendants, but in 1983 the tribal nation adopted a constitution that restricted membership to those with Choctaw ancestors 'by blood' according to the Dawes Rolls. In 2001, the House Financial Services Committee threatened to withhold tens of millions of dollars in housing funds from the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muscogee, and Seminole nations if they did not honor their 1866 treaty obligations and fully recognize the descendants of Freedmen as citizens. In response, Chief Gary Batton issued an open letter promising to confront the issue. 'The story of Choctaw Freedmen deserves our attention and thoughtful consideration within the framework of tribal self-governance,' Batton wrote. 'Today our tribal membership is based on the Dawes Rolls — a poisonous legacy from 125 years ago that took root and caused a myriad of membership issues for tribal nations, including Freedmen.' Batton, who remains in office, called for an open dialogue between Choctaw Freedmen, tribal citizens, elected officials, and the federal government. But since then, Freedmen descendants say that dialogue hasn't taken place. 'It became obvious, unfortunately, that it was an empty gesture,' said author and genealogist Angela Walton-Raji. Like many Freedmen descendants, Walton-Raji said her ancestors were both Black and Choctaw but were forced to enroll on the Dawes Rolls as a Freedmen only. 'It's very clear that there was an anti-Black sentiment then, as there is now,' she said. Randy Sachs, a spokesperson for the Choctaw Nation, said in a statement to The Associated Press that the tribe set up an internal committee and asked tribal members for comment on the issue, but over that two year period they only received about 20 calls - more than half of which were from a single family. 'Determining our membership is an essential part of defending our sovereignty, and we will continue to listen to a variety of voices,' he said. There has never been a legal challenge to the tribe's 1983 constitution, and Walton-Raji said many Freedmen descendants either don't know that part of their history, because it is not taught in schools or fully acknowledged by the tribe, or do not have the funds to mount a court case that could last decades. Chickasaw Nation The Chickasaw Nation jointly signed its 1866 reconstruction treaty with the Choctaw Nation. However, unlike the Choctaw, the Chickasaw Nation never recognized the people it held in slavery as citizens of the tribe. 'They broke the treaty, they never gave citizenship to their Freedmen. So up until statehood, Chickasaw Freedmen had no country, they were never citizens of any nation,,' said Walton-Raji, who is also a co-founder of the Choctaw & Chickasaw Freedmen Association. Oklahoma became a state in 1907. The Chickasaw Nation did not respond to requests for comment. Since they were never granted citizenship, their descendants are at the greatest disadvantage when it comes to any legal claim to citizenship in the Chickasaw Nation, Walton-Raji said. In 2021, following the Cherokee Nation's amendment to its constitution that granted full citizenship to Freedmen descendants, Dept. of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland encouraged other tribes 'to take similar steps to meet their moral and legal obligations to the Freedmen.' Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby responded by saying that the tribe's citizenship is a matter of tribal sovereignty. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. 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Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
In Oklahoma, Juneteenth highlights tribal slavery descendants' fight for recognition and citizenship
Juneteenth may mark the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out they had been freed, but thousands of people in Oklahoma are still fighting for full citizenship in the tribal nations that once held their ancestors in bondage. Several tribes practiced slavery, and five in Oklahoma — The Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Muscogee nations — signed reconstruction treaties with the U.S. in 1866 abolishing it three years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. They granted the formerly enslaved, known commonly as Freedmen, citizenship within their respective tribes.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
In Oklahoma, Juneteenth highlights tribal slavery descendants' fight for recognition and citizenship
Juneteenth may mark the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out they had been freed, but thousands of people in Oklahoma are still fighting for full citizenship in the tribal nations that once held their ancestors in bondage. Several tribes practiced slavery, and five in Oklahoma — The Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Muscogee nations — signed reconstruction treaties with the U.S. in 1866 abolishing it three years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. They granted the formerly enslaved, known commonly as Freedmen, citizenship within their respective tribes. Only one of those tribes, the Cherokee Nation, continues to fully grant the rights of citizenship. For descendants of people who were enslaved by tribal nations, Juneteenth is both a celebration of freedom for people of African descent and a reminder of their struggle to be fully embraced by the Indigenous communities with whom they share history and in many cases ancestry. Muscogee Nation Traditionally, Freedmen in the Muscogee Nation celebrate emancipation day on August 4, marking when the tribe's council drew up a law to declare them free, said Rhonda Grayson, the founder and director of the Oklahoma Indian Territory Museum of Black Creek Freedmen History. She traces her lineage to formerly enslaved people listed on a 1906 U.S. census of Native Americans who had been forcibly removed to Oklahoma. Known as the Dawes Rolls, the census created two lists – those who appeared Native and those who appeared Black. Those with African ancestry were put on the Freedmen rolls, although many also had Native ancestry. Last week, the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by Grayson and Jeff Kennedy, who are fighting for their citizenship rights and recognition within the Muscogee Nation. 'Our ancestors were Muscogee people of African descent,' said Damario Solomon-Simmons, an attorney representing Grayson and Kennedy whose ancestor was also a Freedmen in the tribe. 'We were transformed into 'Freedmen' by the Dawes Commission.' Their ancestors were also forced on the Trail of Tears, and after the Civil War they were granted citizenship and served in the tribe's legislative bodies, Kennedy said. 'We believe that the (Muscogee) Nation would not be what it is today without the bloodshed and tears of those African people,' he said. But, in 1979, the tribe adopted a new constitution restricting citizenship to Muscogee people 'by-blood.' Grayson and Kennedy's lawsuit countered that citizenship requirement is a violation of the 1866 treaty, and in 2023 a Muscogee Nation district court agreed. The Muscogee Nation's citizenship board appealed and is asking the Supreme Court to overturn that decision. 'That provision has guided our Nation for decades and reflects the will of the people through a democratic process,' Jason Salsman, a spokesperson for the Muscogee Nation said in a statement. 'We believe that any change to our citizenship laws must come from our own citizens—not from outside interpretations.' The court's ruling is expected later this year, and it could open the door for thousands of new members to the tribe. For Grayson, the legal battle is about more than their birthright to citizenship she said, it's also about setting straight the historical record. 'We weren't just slaves,' Grayson said. 'Our people need to know that. Our young people need to know that.' Seminole Nation In 2021, following pressure from Congress and the administration of President Joe Biden, the Indian Health Services began allowing Freedmen citizens in the Seminole Nation to access healthcare at IHS facilities after several reported that they had been denied COVID-19 vaccinations. While the descendants of formerly enslaved Seminole Nation tribal members had previously been granted citizenship, in 2000 the tribe voted to restrict citizenship to those who had one-eighth Seminole ancestry according to the Dawes Rolls, thereby disenrolling more than 1,000 citizens of African ancestry. In 2002, a U.S. district court ordered the tribe to reinstate their membership, however, today the descendants of those on the Seminole Nation's Freedmen rolls are only allowed to vote and sit on tribal council and are thereby not full citizens. 'They're using something that the United States used to separate us, and now they're using it to keep us in a very bad position by putting a lot of our people at a disadvantage,' said LeEtta Osborne-Sampson, a Freedmen member of the Seminole Nation and one of four who sit on its tribal council. She said members like her are not given access to others services provided by the tribal nation, such as education and housing assistance. There are about 2,500 Freedmen citizens of the tribe today, she said. Seminole Nation Chief Lewis Johnson did not respond to requests for comment. Choctaw Nation Starting in 1885, the Choctaw Nation had given citizenship to Freedmen descendants, but in 1983 the tribal nation adopted a constitution that restricted membership to those with Choctaw ancestors 'by blood' according to the Dawes Rolls. In 2001, the House Financial Services Committee threatened to withhold tens of millions of dollars in housing funds from the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muscogee, and Seminole nations if they did not honor their 1866 treaty obligations and fully recognize the descendants of Freedmen as citizens. In response, Chief Gary Batton issued an open letter promising to confront the issue. 'The story of Choctaw Freedmen deserves our attention and thoughtful consideration within the framework of tribal self-governance,' Batton wrote. 'Today our tribal membership is based on the Dawes Rolls — a poisonous legacy from 125 years ago that took root and caused a myriad of membership issues for tribal nations, including Freedmen.' Batton, who remains in office, called for an open dialogue between Choctaw Freedmen, tribal citizens, elected officials, and the federal government. But since then, Freedmen descendants say that dialogue hasn't taken place. 'It became obvious, unfortunately, that it was an empty gesture,' said author and genealogist Angela Walton-Raji. Like many Freedmen descendants, Walton-Raji said her ancestors were both Black and Choctaw but were forced to enroll on the Dawes Rolls as a Freedmen only. 'It's very clear that there was an anti-Black sentiment then, as there is now,' she said. Randy Sachs, a spokesperson for the Choctaw Nation, said in a statement to The Associated Press that the tribe set up an internal committee and asked tribal members for comment on the issue, but over that two year period they only received about 20 calls – more than half of which were from a single family. 'Determining our membership is an essential part of defending our sovereignty, and we will continue to listen to a variety of voices,' he said. There has never been a legal challenge to the tribe's 1983 constitution, and Walton-Raji said many Freedmen descendants either don't know that part of their history, because it is not taught in schools or fully acknowledged by the tribe, or do not have the funds to mount a court case that could last decades. Chickasaw Nation The Chickasaw Nation jointly signed its 1866 reconstruction treaty with the Choctaw Nation. However, unlike the Choctaw, the Chickasaw Nation never recognized the people it held in slavery as citizens of the tribe. 'They broke the treaty, they never gave citizenship to their Freedmen. So up until statehood, Chickasaw Freedmen had no country, they were never citizens of any nation,,' said Walton-Raji, who is also a co-founder of the Choctaw & Chickasaw Freedmen Association. Oklahoma became a state in 1907. The Chickasaw Nation did not respond to requests for comment. Since they were never granted citizenship, their descendants are at the greatest disadvantage when it comes to any legal claim to citizenship in the Chickasaw Nation, Walton-Raji said. In 2021, following the Cherokee Nation's amendment to its constitution that granted full citizenship to Freedmen descendants, Dept. of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland encouraged other tribes 'to take similar steps to meet their moral and legal obligations to the Freedmen.' Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby responded by saying that the tribe's citizenship is a matter of tribal sovereignty.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Feed The Right Wolf: How 2025 Leaders Are Fighting Workplace Burnout
What if the root cause of workplace burnout in 2025 isn't the back-to-back meetings, tight deadlines, or that never-ending project tracker—but something deeper, more human, and more cultural? To rethink workplace well-being, let's revisit a timeless story: the Cherokee fable of the Two Wolves. A grandfather tells his grandson that inside every person, two wolves are in constant battle. One represents fear, anger, greed, and ego. The other stands for peace, kindness, humility, and compassion. When asked which one wins, the grandfather replies: 'The one you feed.' This lesson has a direct parallel to leadership and culture within organizations. Think about it: every day, leaders have the power to 'feed' one of two wolves in their workplace culture. One wolf thrives on unhealthy competition, internal politics, and self-serving behaviors. It feeds on endless meetings, superficial initiatives, and mind-numbing bureaucracy that sucks the life out of employees. The other wolf, though—this wolf embodies collaboration, purpose, and simplicity. It fuels meaningful work, genuine connection, and a collective mission that energizes people instead of draining them. In today's hyper-connected, AI-accelerated workplace, this metaphor has never been more relevant. Leaders aren't just managing teams—they're shaping workplace culture. Every decision they make either feeds the wolf of toxic work culture (one that breeds burnout and disengagement) or the wolf of clarity, simplicity, and human-centered leadership. Agnelo Fernandes, CEO, COTE Hospitality agrees: 'Every decision we make—big or small—either builds trust or chips away at it. As leaders, we have to be intentional - and courageous - about feeding the kind of culture we'd want to work in ourselves.' He has a strong point. And across industries in 2025, we're seeing this choice play out in very real ways. In response to rising burnout and attrition rates, Microsoft just expanded its Japan-based 4-day workweek pilot it implemented in 2019 to offices in the UK and Europe. The results? A 27% drop in employee stress, a 35% boost in productivity, and record-high engagement scores. The message was clear: by feeding the wolf of simplicity—focusing on outcomes over hours—Microsoft built a culture that respects employee time and fosters well-being. Asana, a leading work management platform, integrated AI features into its operations, resulting in significant efficiency gains. The company reported saving approximately 1,972 workdays annually by consolidating tools and incorporating AI functionalities. According to the company's latest earning reports, Asana's total revenue for Fiscal Year 2025 was $723.9 million, an increase of 11% year over streamlining of processes not only improved operational efficiency but also contributed to a more focused and less stressful work environment for employees. It's easy to blame employee burnout on external pressures, economic uncertainty, or digital overload. But real culture change starts inside organizations—with leadership choices. Feeding the wolf of purpose, trust, and simplicity isn't just a mindset—it's a leadership imperative in 2025. As organizations grapple with rising burnout and disengagement, the path forward lies in creating environments rooted in clarity, autonomy, and meaning. Below are four practical ways teams are rethinking how they work—favoring clarity over chaos, people over process, and real impact over surface-level optics: When team members have a clear understanding of their roles, they experience greater control, clarity, and confidence in their work. This clarity reduces ambiguity, minimizes overlap, and fosters trust within the team. For instance, Atlassian employs a "Roles and Responsibilities" play to help teams define individual responsibilities and identify any gaps, leading to more effective collaboration. Clarity about what constitutes meaningful work enables employees to prioritize effectively, reducing stress and enhancing engagement. Patagonia exemplifies this by aligning every role with its mission to "save our home planet," ensuring that employees think about the environmental impact of their daily tasks. Eliminating unnecessary or outdated rules can dramatically reduce workplace stress. Netflix embodies this approach with its five-word expense policy: "Act in Netflix's best interest." By trusting employees to interpret this directive to make sound decisions, Netflix fosters a culture of responsibility and autonomy untethered to a traditional multi-layer approval process. Allocating uninterrupted time for focused work is essential for mental rejuvenation and productivity. Companies like Asana have implemented "No Meeting Wednesdays" to protect deep work time, allowing employees to concentrate without the constant interruption of meetings. Leadership in 2025 isn't about solving every problem—it's about deciding which values to amplify. Every policy, process, and conversation either fuels burnout or fosters well-being. Imagine the power of consciously choosing to feed the wolf of simplicity and humility. Leaders who do this break down silos, cut through the noise, and strip away the layers of unnecessary complexity that choke innovation and morale. They focus on values like transparency and authenticity, removing distractions that prevent employees from doing their best work. They create environments where people feel valued, trusted, and connected to a larger purpose. Here's the 'ah-ha' moment: Leadership isn't about fixing every problem; it's about choosing which values to amplify. Every decision, every policy, every team structure either adds complexity or promotes clarity and focus. The culture you want is a choice, one that's made daily, in seemingly small moments. The right wolf—the one that drives true culture and sustainable success—will only win if you make the conscious choice to feed it.
The Advertiser
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 Jeep Cherokee spied: A better look at forbidden hybrid SUV for Australia
Last month, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee was teased in a pair of official images, which revealed the crisp styling of the SUV brand's revived mid-size SUV. Now, CarExpert has spied a development prototype just outside of Detroit, which has given us a better look at the new hybrid-powered Toyota RAV4 rival. Official imagery didn't show the rear, but these spy photos show slim, wraparound tail lights with chunky internals, bookending a trapezoidal area containing the number plate. The overall look is similar to that of the flagship Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, though while the next-generation Cherokee is more squared-off than its predecessor, it's not quite as squared-off as its larger stablemates. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The belt line is quite straight but the roof line curves gently, making it less boxy than not only the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer but also the old GMC Terrain you can see next to it in the below photo. There's only a slightly rounded-off kink at the D-pillar, while the wheel arches are trapezoidal. Up front there's Jeep's seven-slot grille and slim headlights that wrap around the corners and contain U-shaped daytime running lights. We don't yet know dimensions, though we'd expect the new Cherokee to sit somewhere between the old KL generation (4651mm) and the current two-row Grand Cherokee (4915mm) in overall length. It's also unclear which of Stellantis' platforms it'll use: STLA Medium like vehicles including the Peugeot 3008, or STLA Large with vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger. Both of these platforms support pure combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The Cherokee is re-entering production late this year after an over two-year absence. Jeep had let the previous KL generation stay in production for 10 years, then axed it without replacement despite mid-size SUVs being a huge segment in markets such as Australia and the US. The new Cherokee will be the first to offer a hybrid powertrain, but Jeep Australia has previously told CarExpert the new Cherokee isn't planned for Australian showrooms. This follows the local axing of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee in right-hand drive markets earlier this year. Taking its place instead – while also replacing the old Compass – will be the new-generation Compass. This model has grown in size and will offer electric power for the first time, and it's due here during 2026 along with the Recon and Wagoneer S electric vehicles (EVs). The mid-size SUV segment accounted for almost a quarter of new car sales in Australia last year, with 287,637 of the total 1,237,287 total new vehicles sold bring medium SUVs. The previous-generation KL Jeep Cherokee was sold in Australia between 2014 and 2022 with four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. Production ended globally in February 2023. MORE: Everything Jeep Cherokee Content originally sourced from: Last month, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee was teased in a pair of official images, which revealed the crisp styling of the SUV brand's revived mid-size SUV. Now, CarExpert has spied a development prototype just outside of Detroit, which has given us a better look at the new hybrid-powered Toyota RAV4 rival. Official imagery didn't show the rear, but these spy photos show slim, wraparound tail lights with chunky internals, bookending a trapezoidal area containing the number plate. The overall look is similar to that of the flagship Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, though while the next-generation Cherokee is more squared-off than its predecessor, it's not quite as squared-off as its larger stablemates. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The belt line is quite straight but the roof line curves gently, making it less boxy than not only the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer but also the old GMC Terrain you can see next to it in the below photo. There's only a slightly rounded-off kink at the D-pillar, while the wheel arches are trapezoidal. Up front there's Jeep's seven-slot grille and slim headlights that wrap around the corners and contain U-shaped daytime running lights. We don't yet know dimensions, though we'd expect the new Cherokee to sit somewhere between the old KL generation (4651mm) and the current two-row Grand Cherokee (4915mm) in overall length. It's also unclear which of Stellantis' platforms it'll use: STLA Medium like vehicles including the Peugeot 3008, or STLA Large with vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger. Both of these platforms support pure combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The Cherokee is re-entering production late this year after an over two-year absence. Jeep had let the previous KL generation stay in production for 10 years, then axed it without replacement despite mid-size SUVs being a huge segment in markets such as Australia and the US. The new Cherokee will be the first to offer a hybrid powertrain, but Jeep Australia has previously told CarExpert the new Cherokee isn't planned for Australian showrooms. This follows the local axing of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee in right-hand drive markets earlier this year. Taking its place instead – while also replacing the old Compass – will be the new-generation Compass. This model has grown in size and will offer electric power for the first time, and it's due here during 2026 along with the Recon and Wagoneer S electric vehicles (EVs). The mid-size SUV segment accounted for almost a quarter of new car sales in Australia last year, with 287,637 of the total 1,237,287 total new vehicles sold bring medium SUVs. The previous-generation KL Jeep Cherokee was sold in Australia between 2014 and 2022 with four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. Production ended globally in February 2023. MORE: Everything Jeep Cherokee Content originally sourced from: Last month, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee was teased in a pair of official images, which revealed the crisp styling of the SUV brand's revived mid-size SUV. Now, CarExpert has spied a development prototype just outside of Detroit, which has given us a better look at the new hybrid-powered Toyota RAV4 rival. Official imagery didn't show the rear, but these spy photos show slim, wraparound tail lights with chunky internals, bookending a trapezoidal area containing the number plate. The overall look is similar to that of the flagship Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, though while the next-generation Cherokee is more squared-off than its predecessor, it's not quite as squared-off as its larger stablemates. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The belt line is quite straight but the roof line curves gently, making it less boxy than not only the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer but also the old GMC Terrain you can see next to it in the below photo. There's only a slightly rounded-off kink at the D-pillar, while the wheel arches are trapezoidal. Up front there's Jeep's seven-slot grille and slim headlights that wrap around the corners and contain U-shaped daytime running lights. We don't yet know dimensions, though we'd expect the new Cherokee to sit somewhere between the old KL generation (4651mm) and the current two-row Grand Cherokee (4915mm) in overall length. It's also unclear which of Stellantis' platforms it'll use: STLA Medium like vehicles including the Peugeot 3008, or STLA Large with vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger. Both of these platforms support pure combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The Cherokee is re-entering production late this year after an over two-year absence. Jeep had let the previous KL generation stay in production for 10 years, then axed it without replacement despite mid-size SUVs being a huge segment in markets such as Australia and the US. The new Cherokee will be the first to offer a hybrid powertrain, but Jeep Australia has previously told CarExpert the new Cherokee isn't planned for Australian showrooms. This follows the local axing of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee in right-hand drive markets earlier this year. Taking its place instead – while also replacing the old Compass – will be the new-generation Compass. This model has grown in size and will offer electric power for the first time, and it's due here during 2026 along with the Recon and Wagoneer S electric vehicles (EVs). The mid-size SUV segment accounted for almost a quarter of new car sales in Australia last year, with 287,637 of the total 1,237,287 total new vehicles sold bring medium SUVs. The previous-generation KL Jeep Cherokee was sold in Australia between 2014 and 2022 with four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. Production ended globally in February 2023. MORE: Everything Jeep Cherokee Content originally sourced from: Last month, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee was teased in a pair of official images, which revealed the crisp styling of the SUV brand's revived mid-size SUV. Now, CarExpert has spied a development prototype just outside of Detroit, which has given us a better look at the new hybrid-powered Toyota RAV4 rival. Official imagery didn't show the rear, but these spy photos show slim, wraparound tail lights with chunky internals, bookending a trapezoidal area containing the number plate. The overall look is similar to that of the flagship Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, though while the next-generation Cherokee is more squared-off than its predecessor, it's not quite as squared-off as its larger stablemates. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The belt line is quite straight but the roof line curves gently, making it less boxy than not only the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer but also the old GMC Terrain you can see next to it in the below photo. There's only a slightly rounded-off kink at the D-pillar, while the wheel arches are trapezoidal. Up front there's Jeep's seven-slot grille and slim headlights that wrap around the corners and contain U-shaped daytime running lights. We don't yet know dimensions, though we'd expect the new Cherokee to sit somewhere between the old KL generation (4651mm) and the current two-row Grand Cherokee (4915mm) in overall length. It's also unclear which of Stellantis' platforms it'll use: STLA Medium like vehicles including the Peugeot 3008, or STLA Large with vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger. Both of these platforms support pure combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The Cherokee is re-entering production late this year after an over two-year absence. Jeep had let the previous KL generation stay in production for 10 years, then axed it without replacement despite mid-size SUVs being a huge segment in markets such as Australia and the US. The new Cherokee will be the first to offer a hybrid powertrain, but Jeep Australia has previously told CarExpert the new Cherokee isn't planned for Australian showrooms. This follows the local axing of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee in right-hand drive markets earlier this year. Taking its place instead – while also replacing the old Compass – will be the new-generation Compass. This model has grown in size and will offer electric power for the first time, and it's due here during 2026 along with the Recon and Wagoneer S electric vehicles (EVs). The mid-size SUV segment accounted for almost a quarter of new car sales in Australia last year, with 287,637 of the total 1,237,287 total new vehicles sold bring medium SUVs. The previous-generation KL Jeep Cherokee was sold in Australia between 2014 and 2022 with four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. Production ended globally in February 2023. MORE: Everything Jeep Cherokee Content originally sourced from:
