The Cherokee Nation intends to exercise 200-year-old treaty provisions that allow it to appoint a delegate to Congress, tribal officials confirmed Monday.

“As native issues continue to rise to the forefront of the national dialogue, now is the time for the Cherokee Nation to execute a provision in our treaties,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “It’s a right negotiated by our ancestors, reaffirmed in two treaties with the federal government and reflected in our constitution.”

Hoskin has called a press conference for Thursday to outline his proposal to name Kim Teehee, the tribe’s vice president for government affairs, as the Cherokees’ congressional delegate.

The Cherokee Tribal Council is expected to act on Hoskin’s recommendation next week.

In theory, the nonvoting delegate would have the same status as delegates from the District of Columbia and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam.

Although many people have represented the Cherokees in Washington since the late 1700s, the tribe says none has ever acted as a congressional delegate.

In practice, the tribe could be months or years away from actually seating a delegate.