Usually it's only the older people who sing. I told them one day I want to come back and give at least part of what they've given me. Ideally, he'd like to give back as leader of his people. She notes that he has become quite well known among the Cherokees for his community work and his pottery. He's also been active in Cherokee politics the past eight years.
Cherokee chief is an elected position.
Masters says it could be 20 years before he seeks office. Whether or not he wins depends on a variety of factors, including who else runs and how much campaign money he raises. In Houston he stays close to his roots through his works of pottery, which include masks and statuettes. At a home he shares in northwest Houston, Masters creates his art at an old wooden table, using tools similar to those used by the ancient Cherokee potters. For Masters, working with clay he transported from Oklahoma is therapeutic.