For the second time in less than two years, the Supreme Court spoke clearly: The United States must keep its treaty promise to Cherokee Nation. Now, let us move forward.

The Cherokee Nation celebrates the Supreme Court’s rejection of a blatantly political request to overturn its McGirt decision.

Cherokee families deserve emergency responders who can always bring rapid care in a crisis. That’s why Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I have proposed more than $54 million in funding to enhance Cherokee Nation’s Emergency Medical Services and upgrade our fleet of ambulances.

Leaders of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Tribes met for their quarterly meeting Jan. 14 via videoconference.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed an executive order today to re-establish the tribe’s task force on domestic violence, following up on similar action he took last year.

The Cherokee Nation’s Catoosa Tag Office is temporarily relocating to the former JW Sam Elementary School building, 701 W. Rollins St., and will reopen to tribal citizens at that new location starting Wednesday, January 19.

The Cherokee Nation held a dedication ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the newly refurbished Attucks School Building in Vinita, and give the historical property new life as the future home of the Boys and Girls Club.

Bunch, of Adair County, has served as acting Chief of Staff since November and has been instrumental in the tribe’s efforts to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic while safely ensuring critical services are available for Cherokee citizens.

The Cherokee Nation Veterans Color Guard has reorganized as a non-profit organization to continue honoring veterans and presenting the national colors during tribal events and ceremonies.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation is accepting applications for the College Housing Assistance Program until Jan. 14.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner are proposing over $54 million in funds to support the Cherokee Nation’s Emergency Medical Services. 

Cherokee Nation leaders joined Craig County officials to cut the ribbon on the completed reconstruction of NS4340 Road in White Oak on Jan. 5.

Native students preparing for the national ACT exam can now register for a free virtual workshop hosted by Cherokee Nation Foundation.

Cherokee Nation citizens will soon have better access to world-class health care. I recently signed legislation that will invest $440 million into major health care capital improvements. This commitment will ensure our people get the kind of quality health care they deserve for many years ahead.

aidThe Cherokee Nation will offer GED classes to anyone wishing to continue their education by participating in the tribe's Adult Education program at Bell School in the Bell community of Adair County. 

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. was recently elected Chair of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Tribal Advisory Council.

Cherokee Nation will rely on its existing law to regulate hunting and fishing activities among Cherokee citizens within the tribe’s reservation area in Northeast Oklahoma

Cherokee Nation was not the only tribal government with a compact like this. A similar deal with the Choctaw Nation generated another $6 million. Those funds supported the responsible management of fish and wildlife for all Oklahomans to enjoy. That was until Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt abruptly decided to abandon the agreements. 

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed legislation today that will invest a total of $440 million into health care capital improvement projects.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has said he will not renew standing hunting and fishing compacts with tribal governments after they expire this year.

The Cherokee Nation honored eight standout Native-owned businesses with special recognition for their outstanding performances with the tribe’s annual TERO Certified Indian Owned Business Awards on Monday, December 6, at the Cherokee Nation W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex.

Cherokee Nation officials joined leaders from the town of Fort Gibson and Muskogee County Commissioner for district 1 to cut the ribbon on the East Benge road improvement project on Monday, December 6.

The Cherokee Nation is partnering with the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper to provide a free, one-year subscription to Cherokee citizens to help connect them with important public health information and details about the tribe’s ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

In continued efforts to keep Cherokee families and students safe, the Cherokee Nation held a COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinic at Sequoyah High School on Friday, December 3. 

First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited the Cherokee Nation’s Cherokee Immersion School in Tahlequah on Friday to experience first-hand how the tribe is successfully making historic investments in preserving and perpetuating the Cherokee language.

The Cherokee Nation recently donated a total of nearly $47,000 to two area Court Appointed Special Advocates organizations.

 To minimize the risk and spread of COVID-19 during the holiday season, Cherokee Nation Public Health is recommending Cherokee citizens follow health and safety guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Cherokee Nation is welcoming a new principal and assistant principal to Sequoyah High School. Ramona Ketcher has been named Sequoyah High School principal and Justin Brown has been named assistant principal.

The Cherokee Nation Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2022-23 academic year. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2022.

A workforce that is fairly compensated and treated with respect is a workforce that can deliver for the Cherokee people. 

The Cherokee Nation has now signed agreements with 13 city municipalities to donate traffic citation fines the tribe receives back to support those cities in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court McGirt decision.

Cherokee Nation Marshal Shannon Buhl was sworn in to begin his third term as the tribe’s head law enforcement officer Tuesday afternoon following a vote of confirmation by the Council of the Cherokee Nation Monday evening.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. on Monday participated in the White House Tribal Nations Summit, encouraging the United States government to support new educational opportunities for Native students and to make key investments that help tribes save and perpetuate their sacred languages.

Cherokee Nation will launch a comprehensive study of its government workforce pay and target a gradual minimum wage increase to $15 per hour by 2025, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner announced today.

Cherokee Nation received high honors for its innovative ONE FIRE Victim Services office that helps support and protect victims of domestic violence.

We recognize those who have fought battles, those who have served, and those who sacrificed for our collective freedoms.

Native students preparing for the national ACT exam in December can now register for a free virtual workshop hosted by Cherokee Nation Foundation.

The Cherokee Nation Wildlife Conservation Program hosted its first controlled deer hunts beginning in October on the tribe’s preserve land in Sequoyah County. 

The Cherokee Nation is now offering the Pfizer Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5-11 at all its tribal health center locations. 

 The Cherokee Nation on Oct. 29 finalized its acquisition of the Greasy School campus in southern Adair County. Cherokee Nation will repurpose the site into the tribe’s second Cherokee language immersion school starting with the 2022-2023 school year.

Today, the Cherokee Nation filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on the state of Oklahoma’s efforts to reverse last year’s McGirt v. Oklahoma decision. 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it is an excellent time to reinforce our tribe’s commitment to combatting domestic violence and helping survivors in ways that are sensitive, timely and, most of all, effective.

Cherokee Nation Chief of Staff Todd Enlow will leave his cabinet position for an opportunity in the private sector, but will remain as a part-time special advisor to Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., the tribe announced on Thursday.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. implemented a new policy this week that strengthens the tribe’s response and support of domestic violence, including launching a new task force.

Dr. Douglas Nolan has been named Associate Dean of Tribal Health Affairs for the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation medical school campus in Tahlequah.

Members of the 2021-22 Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council were sworn into office during a virtual inauguration ceremony on Monday, October 25.

The Cherokee Nation Angel Project is now accepting applications online and in-person at scheduled drive-thru locations throughout the reservation until Nov. 5. 

My administration is committed to helping all Cherokees reach their full potential, including my making the largest investment in career training programs in Cherokee history.

The Cherokee Nation is investing an additional $29 million in the next three years to help Cherokee citizens negatively impacted by the COVID-19 receive vocational training in skilled trades such as health care, construction, child care, information technology and more.

The Cherokee Nation on Tuesday unveiled plans to invest more than $10 million in an Adair County health and wellness facility near the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center in Stilwell, marking the first major project to begin construction under the tribe’s Public Health and Wellness Fund Act signed by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. earlier this year.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. on Tuesday signed into law the Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act during a visit to the tribe’s Head Start facility in Jay. 

Members of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes unanimously passed a resolution commending “the diligent work of our law enforcement and criminal justice professionals.”

Cherokee Nation is now offering several flu vaccinations to prepare for the upcoming flu season and is open to all citizens of federally recognized tribes, as well as the public.

Our mission as tribal government leaders is always to protect our sovereignty and advance issues critical to our people.

The Cherokee Nation is providing an eco-friendly boost to the Washington County Cherokee Association through the installation of rooftop solar panels on the community organization’s building, which is expected to lower their yearly utility bill costs by nearly half. 

The honor was presented at a recognition dinner, Monday, October 4, during the IEDC Annual Conference, which was held October 3-6, in Nashville.

With the case against the distributors resolved, we can begin the healing process for our tribe and our citizens. This settlement will enable Cherokee Nation to increase investments in substance use disorder, mental health treatment and other programs to help our people recover.

The Cherokee Nation on Tuesday enrolled its 400,000th tribal citizen and continues to process a historic record number of citizenship applications.

The Cherokee Nation announced today a settlement of its ongoing opioid diversion claims case against McKesson, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, and Cardinal Health.

The Cherokee Nation Registration Office is extending its closure of in-person services through October and will reopen to the public on November 1 to allow staff to continue to focus on clearing a backlog of thousands of pending citizenship applications.

The cornerstone of our democracy is the right to vote. However, for most of our country’s history, Native Americans were denied that right.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation continues to offer the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with eligibility extending for the first time to Cherokee citizens living in certain areas outside Oklahoma, including in parts of Arkansas and Kansas.

The Cherokee Nation is providing an eco-friendly boost to the Spavinaw Youth & Neighborhood Center through the installation of rooftop solar panels on the neighborhood center’s building, which are expected to lower utility costs by as much as 80 percent.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation is ramping up a $22.5 million total investment to repair or build replacement homes that will improve the lives of Cherokee elders and support a wave of job growth throughout the Cherokee Nation Reservation.

Our collective future is being written today by the investments we make in our youngest children. That’s why I am excited about Cherokee Nation’s aggressive new plan to help our youngest learners and their caregivers.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced the “Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act”

The Cherokee Nation on Monday passed a nearly $3 billion budget—the largest operating budget in the tribe’s history.

To grow the economy across the Cherokee Nation Reservation, we must be forward thinking, collaborative and willing to work across borders.

Cherokee Nation officials joined leaders from the city of Tahlequah to cut the ribbon on the Bliss Avenue road improvement project on Friday, August 30.

Cherokee Nation Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Executive Director Michael Lynn has been reappointed to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Tribal Advisory Board by Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker Charles A. McCall.

Chief Hoskin gave his annual State of the Nation Address Saturday as part of the 69th Cherokee National Holiday.

The Cherokee Nation recently installed rooftop solar panels on the Rogers County Cherokee Association community building to save on its utility costs by 90 percent.

One of the most important principles of federal Indian law is the trust responsibility that the U.S. government has toward tribal nations. 

Cherokee Nation observed Tuesday as International Overdose Awareness Day and continues to focus on medication assisted treatment and overdose prevention.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation recently elected its new officers including Councilor Mike Shambaugh of District 9 as the new Council Speaker.

The Cherokee Nation’s Registration Office is extending its closed in-person services another month and will reopen to the public on October 4.

Deputy Chief Warner will be recognized during NSU’s 2021 homecoming celebrations this fall along with Dr. James Williams, a 1977 NSU graduate who was selected by the board as this year’s Distinguished Alumnus.

Aerospace and aviation continue to help propel the Oklahoma economy, and Cherokee Nation plays a key role in this business sector.

Taylor will transition into her new role as Treasurer with the new 2022 fiscal year.

In recognition of National Aviation Day on Aug. 19, Cherokee Nation and Spartan College hosted an official signing of the agreement in Tahlequah. 

The Cherokee Nation is supporting public school districts in the tribe’s Reservation by donating thousands of Cherokee-made masks to districts that implement schoolwide mask mandates to help reduce the spread of the deadly COVID-19 Delta variant.

The Cherokee Nation is following recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to administer an additional dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to fully vaccinated patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.

As Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, I am strongly encouraging all school systems on our reservation and across the state to follow the best practices to protect students, teachers, staff, visitors and members of their households.

Nine Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilors were sworn into office Saturday as they pledged to preserve, protect and defend the Cherokee Nation Constitution during their four-year terms.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. named former Council Speaker Joe Byrd as the tribe’s first Special Envoy for International Affairs and Language Preservation at a ceremony in Tahlequah.

Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Bryan Warner has been elected Chair of the Centers for Disease Control Tribal Advisory Committee, a national advisory committee giving tribes input on health issues to the CDC as well as the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council was established in 1989 as a youth leadership development program that focuses on educating our young leaders about the Cherokee Nation government structure, history, language and culture. 

I'm excited about a joint project between the Cherokee Nation and the U.S. Department of Defense to build 21 new single-family homes specifically for veterans in our capital city of Tahlequah.

Cherokee Nation cancelations include the Holiday weekend’s annual inter-tribal powwow, softball tournament, golf tournament, stickball exhibition, traditional games, car show, and downtown artisan markets.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. spoke Wednesday during a White House virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, governors, mayors, and other state leaders for a discussion on the importance of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

The inaugural controlled deer hunts will be designed for a limited number of Cherokee Nation elders, veterans, youth, and at-large Cherokee citizens who reside outside the state of Oklahoma.

Chief Hoskin announced the appointment of Taylor to the Council of the Cherokee Nation in his state of the Nation address on Monday evening.

The Cherokee Nation’s Registration Office is closing its in-person assistance as of Monday, August 9, through the month of August and will reopen on September 1.

Across the world and in our own backyard, we are witnessing a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Wednesday passed the Durbin Feeling Native American Language Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill named in honor of the late Cherokee linguist Durbin Feeling.

Cherokee Nation Health Services is seeing a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, with 90 percent of new COVID cases occurring among unvaccinated patients. 

Native students preparing for the ACT and SAT national exams can now register for a free virtual workshop offered by Cherokee Nation Foundation.

Cherokee Nation Treasurer Tralynna Scott will leave her cabinet position to become Cherokee Nation Businesses’ chief economist, the tribe announced on Tuesday.

The second class of 53 student doctors to be accepted into the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation received their white coats during a small ceremony in Tahlequah on July 30.

Cherokee Nation, state, federal and military leaders gathered this week to tour the construction site where 21 new homes are being built for Cherokee veterans through the U.S. Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program.

One of my first actions as Principal Chief was to sign the Career Readiness Act, doubling our investment in workforce development and training.

Cherokee Nation leaders joined city administrators from Fort Gibson and Muskogee County to cut the ribbon on the nearly $40,000 Wiley Street renovation project on July 28.

Cherokee Nation recently provided $250,000 to the Vian Community Foundation in Sequoyah County to help the organization install electricity, an HVAC system and plumbing to the community building.

Four newcomers were elected to the Council of the Cherokee Nation during a run-off election Saturday, according to unofficial totals from the Cherokee Nation Election Commission. 

In August the Cherokee Nation bids farewell to five members of our legislative branch and welcomes new elected members. 

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner welcomed Secretary Becerra, CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure and IHS Director Fowler at the tribe’s new Outpatient Health Center in Tahlequah.

The Cherokee Nation is providing $150 in clothing assistance for every qualifying Cherokee student regardless of residency or income, with applications accepted beginning Tuesday, July 20.

The Cherokee Nation is providing an eco-friendly boost to the Neighborhood Association of Chewey in Adair County through the installation of rooftop solar panels on the community building, which are expected to lower utility costs by as much as 90 percent.

Cherokee Nation Health Services began administering the vaccine in December 2020 and has given more than 65,200 vaccines through the Cherokee Nation health care system.

Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I joined these federal leaders, as well as other tribal, health care and nonprofit leaders, for an engaging discussion of Oklahoma’s recent expansion of Medicaid and our shared efforts to improve the health of Cherokees and all Oklahomans.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation approved a resolution Monday adopting the Kansas Intersection Safety Improvement Project for work at the intersection of U.S. Highway 412A, Highway 59 and State Highway 10 in the town of Kansas, Delaware County. 

On the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation celebrates this historic victory and is announcing its path forward to protect sovereignty and enforce its justice system in the wake of the decision.

We are extremely proud that she is to be forever honored by the American Women Quarters Program, alongside dignitaries like poet Maya Angelou, astronaut Sally Ride, suffrage leader Adelina Otero-Warren and actress Anna May Wong. 

We are extremely proud that she is to be forever honored by the American Women Quarters Program, alongside dignitaries like poet Maya Angelou, astronaut Sally Ride, suffrage leader Adelina Otero-Warren and actress Anna May Wong. 

Under the agreement, Vian will be able to retain fees and fines associated with Cherokee Nation traffic and misdemeanor offenses in the form of a donation, in recognition and exchange for the policing and administrative functions provided by the municipality.

The Cherokee Nation is the first tribe in the country to participate in the U.S. Department of Transportation Self Governance Program, meaning the tribe has autonomy to plan and finance road improvement and transit projects within the reservation.

Cherokee Nation announced today the acquisition of Dwight Mission in Sequoyah County.

The three federally recognized Cherokee tribes passed resolutions Friday to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of the Cherokee Syllabary, oppose non-Indian groups posing as Cherokee tribes, and address the crisis of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women.

The new law helps to protect those who have become victims of credible threats of violence regardless of whether they have been involved in a relationship with or had a family connection to the person responsible for making the threats.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation has created the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and renter households in need of assistance may submit their application online.

The Cherokee Nation Attorney General’s office added five new charges of false personation against a Tahlequah woman initially charged last month in tribal court with one count of election fraud and one count of false personation.

The Cherokee Nation will host a series of community drive-through events focused on helping Cherokee elders register on the Gadugi Portal and apply for the tribe’s $2,000 COVID-19 assistance payment.

Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill announced today that the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians dismissed its appeal in a case it filed, UKB v Barteaux, putting the legal challenge to rest.

The Cherokee Nation has filed its 1000th case in Cherokee Nation District Court since the Supreme Court McGirt ruling and subsequent Hogner decision found that its reservation had never been disestablished, and that the state of Oklahoma had been improperly prosecuting cases outside of its jurisdiction for over a century.

Four Tribal Council incumbents were re-elected, with one newcomer elected, while four other Tribal Council district races are heading to run offs next month, according to unofficial results from Saturday’s Cherokee Nation General Election.

This past week marked 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre. On May 31, 1921, an armed mob attacked the Greenwood District of Tulsa, which was known as “Black Wall Street” because it was a renowned center of black entrepreneurs and business professionals.

The act allocates funding directly to Indian Country. Cherokee Nation has so far received more than $1.8 billion in recovery funding.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed legislation Thursday that will provide a $2,000 lump sum COVID relief individual assistance payment to all 392,832 Cherokee Nation citizens.

The Cherokee Nation’s Motor Vehicle tags year-to-date sales has increased by 14 percent compared to March 2020, according to the tax commission administrator.

The Cherokee Nation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the tribe’s Vinita Health Center recently to celebrate the renovation and reallocation of 2,400 square feet of space that is providing additional exam rooms for the health center’s growth.

Chief Hoskin also announced future plans to build walking trails at tribal facilities for employees and citizens to improve their physical and mental health.

The Cherokee Nation is receiving $1.8 billion in COVID-19 recovery funds as part of an historic investment in Indian Country through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act.

The Cherokee Nation is now offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 12-15 at all health center locations.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. hopes to increase the number of vaccinated tribal government employees by rewarding those vaccinated with a $300 incentive.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation unanimously approved Monday a resolution authorizing the tribe to sign agreements with city municipalities within the Cherokee Nation Reservation to donate revenue from traffic and misdemeanor citations of ticketed Natives back to those municipalities.

As Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, I feel strongly the duty to our Cherokee ancestors who sacrificed so much for the rights we have today.

Sequoyah High School’s commencement ceremony for the class of 2021 seniors will take place at Gable Field at Northeastern State University on May 14, at 6:30 p.m., using social-distancing recommendations and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The tribe’s annual contribution helps support volunteer fire departments, which otherwise rely on fundraisers, membership dues and the help of their community’s residents to maintain their vital operations.

The donations were made to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Stilwell Police Department, the Watts Police Department, and the Westville Police Department.

Making sure young Cherokees grow up safe, healthy and connected to their family, history and culture is a job for our whole tribe. 

Cherokee Nation Foundation announced today it is moving its highly sought-after Cherokee College Prep Institute to a virtual format for 2021.

We are committing the resources to make the repairs and improvements necessary to have water systems serving our people for generations to come.

Members of the 2020-2021 Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council were sworn into office by Cherokee Nation Chief Justice Lee W. Paden during a virtual inauguration ceremony earlier this month.

Cherokee Nation leaders joined county commissioners from Muskogee and Cherokee Counties to cut the ribbon on a $6.3 million road and bridge project near Fort Gibson on Friday, April 23.

Cherokee Nation officials celebrated Earth Week with a visit to the Mid County Community Organization in Adair County on April 22, where new rooftop solar panels were installed as part of Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.’s $30 million Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act passed by the Council of the Cherokee Nation in 2019.

The Cherokee Nation received two native bee houses from The Bee Conservancy organization this week through the organization’s Sponsor-A-Hive program. 

The Cherokee Nation is offering a follow-up COVID-19 vaccine drive-through distribution Saturday, April 24 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa from noon to 4 p.m. 

The Cherokee Nation Foundation announced today scholarship recipients for the 2020-21 academic school year. The nonprofit organization is awarding nearly $228,000 to 20 high school graduates and 69 current university students.

The Cherokee Nation on Monday unveiled its first public, rural eco-friendly electric buses to transport employees and tribal citizens to work and tribal health centers, and its first electric school bus, which is the first of its kind in the state of Oklahoma.

Members of the Council of the Cherokee Nation were presented with the first Cherokee-made personal protective equipment from a test run at the Stilwell PPE manufacturing facility during the Council’s monthly meeting Monday, April 12.

This week we commemorate Earth Day. Cherokee Nation has always led by example in protecting the land, water and air that define our natural environment.

Cherokee Nation leaders gathered with community members in Bell on Wednesday to celebrate the official signing of the Wilma P. Mankiller and Charlie Soap Water Act, new legislation proposed by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and unanimously approved by the Council of the Cherokee Nation earlier this week.

Cherokee Nation is hosting a drive-through COVID-19 vaccination event open to the public at the Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 17.

Cherokee Nation Foundation is offering a free virtual ACT Boot Camp on Saturday, May 22, for Native American students preparing for the national exam. 

Cherokee Nation has now administered more than 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines as the tribe continues to find new ways to reach the public, including with mass vaccination events.

The Cherokee Nation has received a clean audit opinion from an independent Certified Public Accounting firm for the tribe’s fiscal year 2020 financial statements, including the annual comprehensive budget and Cherokee Nation’s Respond, Recover and Rebuild COVID-19 relief initiatives through Sept. 30, 2020, which marked the end of FY2020.

 The Cherokee Nation presented more than $6.3 million to 107 school districts during the tribe’s annual Public School Appreciation Day held in a virtual format Wednesday. This year’s disbursement is the largest since the tribe began its annual contributions in 2002.

The Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma Air National Guard broke ground Monday at the future site of 21 new homes for eligible Cherokee veterans and their families.

Protecting women and children has always been a core value for the Cherokee people. With the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), we will be able to do even more to ensure families are safe.

Cherokee Nation will host a public drive-through COVID-19 vaccine event at the Cherokee Casino & Hotel West Siloam Springs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 10.

Cherokee Nation leaders joined Sequoyah County Water Association representatives on March 26 to celebrate the completion of the Sequoyah County Water Treatment Plant, which will provide fresh, cleaner and safer drinking water to about 5,300 residents and businesses.

ven before COVID-19, far too many Cherokees and others in our communities struggled with addiction. The increased stress and anxiety of the past year tragically has made that struggle harder for many. 

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. is proposing new legislation that would inject at least $2 million in additional funding each year into the Cherokee Nation’s efforts at eliminating barriers to clean water access in the reservation for Cherokee citizens.

Cherokee Nation is hosting a public drive-through COVID-19 vaccine event at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 27. 

The Cherokee Nation held a candlelight memorial at the tribe's W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex in Tahlequah on Thursday, March 18, in memory of Cherokee citizens lost to COVID-19. 

Cherokee Connect, the tribe’s universal connectivity initiative, is focused on serving as a broadband resource and deploying connectivity that fills the gap for Cherokee households currently lacking internet access.

March 18, 2020, was the day COVID-19 forever changed the Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma. It was the day we lost the first Oklahoman – a Cherokee Nation citizen, Merle Dry – to this deadly pandemic. 

 The Cherokee Nation is making it even easier for the public to access the COVID-19 vaccine at tribal health centers throughout the 14-county reservation by improving the registration process, reducing paperwork requirements and broadening vaccine distribution to all those in and outside the reservation.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed into law significant new legislation today that will earmark an estimated $9 million to $12 million per year to provide Cherokee citizens with access to substance abuse treatment centers and wellness centers.

Councilors on Monday appointed Nathan Barnard as a District Judge of the Cherokee Nation.

The Rogers State University Language Concurrent Scholarship is designed to give high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to learn the Cherokee language online while obtaining college credit with no out-of-pocket costs.

Cherokee Nation’s most iconic and historic documents and artifacts are moving to a new, temporary home. The Cherokee National Research Center is scheduled to open later this summer at the Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah.

The Cherokee Nation continues working to ensure criminal justice is served following today’s Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (OCCA) ruling, which dismissed criminal charges in the Hogner case and will likely lead to the dismissal of hundreds of other state criminal cases in the Cherokee Nation Reservation. 

The Cherokee Nation is now accepting applications for its Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children program, which is designed to ensure students have access to nutritious meals during the summer months.

The Cherokee Nation has gone through its three-phase vaccine distribution plan and is now helping the surrounding community by opening the distribution of vaccines to the public living within the Cherokee Nation reservation.

Upgrades to water and sewer infrastructure in Cherokee communities are a critical part of keeping our most vulnerable citizens healthy in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. 

Cherokee Nation officials joined Rural Communities Initiative Foundation leaders to cut the ribbon on the new Sallie Byrd Sevenstar Community Building in Sequoyah County on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed into law the “Cherokee Nation Park, Wildlands, Fishing and Hunting Preserve Act of 2021” on Monday, March 1, during a visit to the tribe’s beautiful new 4,000-plus-acre preserve in Sequoyah County.

The Cherokee Nation is now including all household members of Cherokee Nation citizens and households of any federally recognized tribal citizen into their COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.

The Cherokee Nation has now moved into phase three of their COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.

Upgrades to water and sewer infrastructure in Cherokee communities are a critical part of keeping our most vulnerable citizens healthy in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. 

The Cherokee Nation invested $1.3 million to make essential upgrades and repairs to water and sewer lines serving more than 18,000 people in 10 counties throughout the tribe’s reservation.

The Cherokee Nation is launching an online assessment program and investing $4 million to help Cherokee homeowners living in the reservation repair plumbing problems caused by the February 2021 winter storm event.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner are proposing new legislation that would provide Cherokee citizens with access to substance abuse treatment centers, wellness centers and fitness centers by setting aside a portion of third-party revenues collected by Cherokee Nation Health Services each year.

The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled today in a unanimous decision that the language “by blood” is void, and should be removed from Cherokee Nation’s tribal laws, including provisions within the Cherokee Nation Constitution, according to the opinion.

Cherokee Nation Health Services will be rescheduling all COVID-19 vaccinations and other health center appointments previously scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 17.

For Cherokee citizens of Freedmen descent, the fight continues beyond their legal victories in 2017.

Cherokee Nation Health Services will be rescheduling all COVID-19 vaccinations and other health center appointments previously scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Cherokee Nation Health Services will be rescheduling all COVID-19 vaccinations and other health center appointments previously scheduled for Monday, Feb. 15.

The Cherokee Nation is launching its “We Heart our Cherokee Health Heroes” Appreciation week after Valentine’s Day to applaud the brave efforts of the nearly 2,600 tribal health employees and their work this past year to combat COVID-19.

The dream of moving into a new home is now a reality for several Cherokee elders who recently received their keys to new efficiency homes newly constructed in Hulbert.

To recognize the tremendous service and dedication of our health care workers, Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses are collaborating for a “We Heart Our Cherokee Health Heroes” celebration from Feb. 15 to 19.

Phase 2B priority includes people in congregate settings, all teachers who are Cherokee Nation citizens, all first responders who are Cherokee Nation citizens, and patients with underlying health conditions, and who are eligible to receive care within Cherokee Nation Health Services. 

The Cherokee Nation had to move quickly to get these investments to our communities, but we also want to ensure maximum transparency and accountability to the Cherokee people. That’s why the Cherokee Nation Treasurer recently released the COVID-19 Respond, Recover, Rebuild Spending Report. 

The Gadugi Portal, a centralized database aimed to better connect Cherokee Nation citizens with tribal services, is now live for citizens to manage or update essential information, such as a name change or new mailing address.

Cherokee Nation Foundation is offering a free virtual ACT Boot Camp on Saturday, March 27, for Native American students preparing for the national exam.

The Cherokee Nation this week administered its 10,000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to Cherokee citizens falling within the tribe’s Phase 1 and Phase 2A priority distribution plan, including frontline health care workers, first-language Cherokee speakers, and Cherokee elders.

The Cherokee Nation Treasurer released the tribe’s COVID-19 Respond, Recover, Rebuild Spending Report on Thursday, showing the number of ways the tribe has served citizens through job and food security, economic relief, health care, housing and connectivity during the pandemic.

Cherokee Nation honors longtime champion of education Amon Baker, of Tahlequah, with the title of board member emeritus for his nearly 40 years of service to Sequoyah High School.

Cherokee Nation and the other Native Nations in Oklahoma have been crucial partners during these hard times, whether by adopting strong public health policies, distributing PPE and vaccines, or sharing emergency economic relief.

The Cherokee Nation reopens its COVID-19 Emergency Assistance program on Monday, January 25 to help qualified Cherokee citizens economically affected by COVID-19.

President Joe Biden nominates Congresswoman Deb Haaland to serve as Secretary of the Interior.

Tribal leaders discussed their response and recovery efforts amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and provided updates on other tribal activities. Leaders also passed a series of resolutions, including one supporting the confirmation of U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) as Secretary of the Interior.

The Cherokee Nation is now scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations for Cherokee Nation teachers and child care workers, food distribution program employees and other critical infrastructure staff, as well as tribal citizens 55 and older.

The historic partnership between Oklahoma State University and the Cherokee Nation celebrated another milestone with the official ribbon cutting ceremony at the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation on Friday, Jan. 15.

The final steel beam of the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center expansion project was hoisted into place Friday, Jan. 15, completing the facility’s two-story steel frame in Stilwell.

Love of the great outdoors is deeply engrained in Cherokee culture. As in many Cherokee families, I have lifelong memories of camping, hiking in the woods and enjoying time on the lake. These experiences help shape our ideals of preserving public lands.

The Cherokee Nation announced today the tribe’s first hunting and fishing reserve areas dedicated to Cherokee citizens for controlled hunts to open later this year.

Two hundred years ago, the brilliant statesman and inventor Sequoyah presented the Cherokee syllabary to the Cherokee Nation. This year we are honoring the bicentennial of Sequoyah’s historic achievement that brought widespread literacy to our tribe.

The Cherokee Nation is now scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations for elders ages 65 and older who are eligible to receive care within Cherokee Nation Health Services.

This week Cherokee Nation Health Services activated its COVID-19 surge plan for W.W. Hastings Hospital.

In Cherokee Nation and across the world, we have struggled with the deadly COVID-19 virus for most of 2020. We have made sacrifices and suffered terrible losses, but we see a ray of hope. New vaccines arriving in Cherokee Nation offer freedom from the threat of this terrible virus.

The Cherokee Nation is updating its criminal code and proposing to immediately repurpose $10 million from its general budget to make necessary upgrades in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court McGirt ruling.

Cherokee Nation citizens in Oklahoma will receive their 2021 hunting and fishing licenses after the tribe’s Hunting and Fishing Compact with the State of Oklahoma has been extended.

The Cherokee Nation is set to receive its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine directly from the Indian Health Service (IHS) starting next week.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner today announced the tribe is securing a multi-use site in Rogers County, which will house both a virtual production soundstage and warehouse for food and PPE storage and distribution.

To streamline personal information management for Cherokee Nation citizens, we recently launched the new “Gadugi Portal,” where Cherokees can manage or update their essential information with the tribe, including things like a new mailing address, name change, date of birth or veteran status.

The Cherokee Warriors Database, a centralized portal to identify thousands of Cherokee veterans across the globe, is now live for tribal citizens who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces to register.

Cherokee citizen and Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation Executive Director Gary Cooper is embracing a new role with the Office of Native American Programs at the U.S. Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, get an education, get health care, buy groceries, apply for assistance, search for jobs and more. 

Cherokee Nation recently launched a new connectivity survey and a $3 million program to provide connectivity to Cherokee households lacking Internet access to assist in overcoming some of the virtual challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It is long overdue for the state of Oklahoma to enact a statewide mask mandate. The Centers for Disease Control recommends it, the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommends it, and the Oklahoma State Medical Association recommends it. 

Cherokee Nation Health Services has been awarded a $4.1 million Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations grant through the Native American Research Centers for Health and the National Institutes of Health to assist with COVID-19 testing and contact tracing efforts.

Cherokee Nation recently contributed funds to the Oologah Senior Citizens Center to cook and deliver a Thanksgiving meal for up to 80 senior citizens so they can stay in this holiday and protect against the spread of COVID-19.

I live on reservation land, where I am governed by the Cherokee Nation and federal laws. I also live in the state of Oklahoma, where I am proud of our tribe’s successful partnership with the state government over decades.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced on Saturday a new plan that will explore the history of Cherokee Freedmen. 

The Cherokee Nation’s rapid testing efforts at Sequoyah High School are protecting students and staff from person-to-person exposure of COVID-19 by quickly pinpointing cases and limiting the spread of the virus as intended.

The Cherokee Nation is hosting events in the month November that are socially-distanced, including drive-through flu clinics and drive-through COVID-19 testing.

The Cherokee Nation Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2021-22 academic year. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2021.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. on Friday announced support for the Durbin Feeling Native American Language Act of 2020, a bipartisan bill proposed by Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on the 30th anniversary of the Native American Language Act, which was signed by President George H.W. Bush on Oct. 30, 1990.

As part of the $9 million program, Cherokee Nation will provide a $300 stipend to tribal citizens with disabilities living on the Cherokee Nation reservation in northeast Oklahoma. 

Cherokee Nation received 6,000 rapid test kits from the Indian Health Service to enhance how the tribe tests for COVID-19 within its school system and among its most vulnerable citizens.

The Cherokee Nation recently announced a $9 million Disability Assistance Program to help disabled Cherokees with food, supplies or other expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline to apply is Friday, Nov. 6.

Cherokee Nation officials recently joined community leaders of Native American Fellowship Inc. in South Coffeyville and Tri-Community Association in Briggs to celebrate the installation of rooftop solar panels to their community buildings to help lower utility costs as well as provide an eco-friendly energy source.

The coronavirus pandemic has put many people — Native women especially — in peril from domestic violence, as more and more people are forced to stay home, escalating this unprecedented problem across the United States. 

Cherokee Nation Health Services has been selected as a host site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Association Program to assist with the COVID-19 response. 

Registration is now open for Cherokee Nation Foundation’s fall ACT Prep Course. The 12-week course will be presented virtually to Native American students in their junior or senior year of high school, with preference given to Cherokee Nation citizens.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation approved this week renaming the current Belfonte-Nicut Community Center after Cherokee Nation citizen and fluent Cherokee speaker Sallie Byrd Sevenstar, who passed away on August 24.

Cherokee Nation recently announced plans for a new One Fire Victim Services office in Tahlequah and a new transitional housing center in Stilwell to better help victims of domestic violence with larger, new facility space and added resources to begin rebuilding their lives.

The coronavirus pandemic has put many people — Native women especially — in peril from domestic violence, as more and more people are forced to stay home, escalating this unprecedented problem across the United States. 

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner announced Friday the tribe will build a meat processing facility in Tahlequah.

The Commission for the Protection of Cherokee Nation Sovereignty established by the Principal Chief after the U.S. Supreme Court McGirt ruling, has issued its first recommendations on expanding the tribe’s courts, attorneys and marshal service.

A fundamental principle of our Cherokee culture is that we should consider the impact of what we do today on the next seven generations of future Cherokees. We are answering this sacred responsibility by investing in strong communities and a clean and healthy environment.

Cherokee Nation is offering free flu vaccinations through the month of December to prepare for the upcoming flu season.

Cherokee Nation officials broke ground Wednesday, Sept. 30, on a new, larger tag office in Catoosa that will better accommodate Cherokee citizens purchasing license plates.

Passed unanimously by the Council of the Cherokee Nation, the Cherokee Heritage Center Act of 2020 transfers ownership of the site’s 44 acres, buildings, equipment, assets, collections and historical documents from the nonprofit Cherokee National Historical Society to the Cherokee Nation. It is an exciting new chapter for the tribe to assume ownership and stewardship.

Cherokee Nation will break ground Wednesday on a new tag office in Catoosa.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and members of the Council of the Cherokee Nation met Sept. 24 to officially sign the Cherokee Heritage Center Act of 2020.

Cherokee Nation is committed to ensuring that all voting age Cherokees are registered to vote. 

Cherokee Nation and City of Stilwell officials dedicated a new three-lane access road in Stilwell on Monday during a ribbon cutting ceremony for Wingfield Crossing.

The Cherokee Nation’s reservation boundaries are now mapped on Google Maps.

Cherokee Nation Foundation is offering a free virtual ACT Boot Camp on Friday, Oct. 16, for Native American students preparing for the national exam in December.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner announced Thursday that Cherokee Nation government employees will receive up to a 3 percent increase to their base salary in October and will also receive a holiday bonus.

Cherokee Nation recently donated nearly $9,000 to mental health and substance abuse support programs as well as food pantry services in Rogers County.

The Cherokee Nation has distributed more than 13,000 ready-made meals to keep Cherokee elders fed after many senior nutrition sites temporarily closed to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens Cherokee Nation like it does the rest of the world, but we are responding in ways that make our Nation stronger.

Cherokee Nation leaders broke ground Tuesday on $25 million worth of Respond, Recover and Rebuild projects that range from PPE manufacturing and space for social distancing, to food outreach sites and a new employee health care facility.

The Cherokee Nation is constructing eight new, 4,000-square-feet buildings and conducting four remodels as part of the tribe’s COVID-19 Respond, Recover and Rebuild plan. Cherokee Nation leaders will break ground on nine of the sites Tuesday.

The Cherokee Nation was met with both “difficulties and triumphs” over the past year, with huge investments being made in language preservation, career readiness and elder housing, holding governments accountable for their promises, and emerging with a response plan to COVID-19 that is among the best in the country, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. says in his upcoming State of the Nation Address.

Cherokee Nation citizen Shawna Baker, of Tulsa, was sworn into office as the Cherokee Nation’s newest Supreme Court Justice at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex in Tahlequah Thursday, Aug. 27.

Today, the Council of the Cherokee Nation approved a historic $1.52 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2021 and passed legislation designed to address the opportunities and challenges created by the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma. 

We’re committing over $45 million to not only avoid budget cuts in Cherokee Nation’s elder programs, but to greatly expand what we can do for our elders for the rest of the calendar year to ensure our most vulnerable citizens’ needs are met.

The Cherokee Nation recently received a nearly $300,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration for five new transit vehicles that will replace older vans and expand services in Tahlequah and Stilwell.

The Cherokee Nation is working to improve access to quality, affordable broadband for its citizens throughout the reservation boundaries with a new grant and with leadership advocating for Indian Country on a number of federal broadband advisory boards.

Our Nation is strong because, for generations, we have looked towards the horizon and prepared as one people to meet the challenges ahead.

August 14, 2020 marked one year of service for Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and his administration. Under the leadership of Principal Chief Hoskin Jr. and Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, the largest tribal nation in the United States continues to prevail and prosper even through unprecedented times.

Cherokee Nation recently contributed $195,000 to eight Boys & Girls Club programs throughout Northeast Oklahoma.

In its recent ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, the United States Supreme Court affirmed what Native Americans in Oklahoma have always known and maintained: Our land is, and always has been, ours.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. has established a new commission to make funding and resource recommendations and examine other related areas in the wake of the historic United States Supreme Court McGirt decision.

Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Health Services have created a voucher program to help more Cherokee citizens purchase new eyeglasses regardless of their age, income or health diagnosis.

Cherokee Nation Foundation is partnering with Duke University to offer a free college admissions workshop on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Recently the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma affirmed what Oklahoma tribal nations have known from the beginning – on January 1, 2020, our gaming compacts with the state of Oklahoma automatically renewed for another 15 years.

The Cherokee Nation has launched an online portal for qualifying Cherokee elders age 62 and older to apply for COVID-19 relief assistance.

The Cherokee Nation is encouraging Cherokee citizens and the community to use an abundance of caution and continue to take safety practices as the number of positive COVID-19 cases recorded in the tribe’s health care system has increased by more than 200 percent from June 27 to July 27.

The first class of 54 student doctors to be accepted into the new Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation received their “white coats” on Friday during a small virtual ceremony in Tahlequah that was live streamed.

Students at Sequoyah High School will return to school this fall under a plan that will include an all-virtual option as well as limit in-person instruction to no more than 25 percent of students in the building at any one time to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. issued the following statement today on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma ruling in favor of the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations and intervening tribes, that the gaming compacts with the state renewed on Jan. 1 for another 15-year term.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation will accept College Housing Assistance Program applications for the fall 2020 semester July 27 through August 7.

At Cherokee Nation, we are putting the federal CARES Act dollars to work for our citizens and our communities. To that end, we have committed more than $7 million to our Career Services Department.

The leaders of the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations have been, and continue to be, committed to discussing the parameters of the historic Supreme Court decision in the McGirt case. 

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced today the Cherokee Nation is dedicating more than $7 million in funding to increase career training and employment opportunities for Cherokees seeking relief through COVID-19.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Attorney General Sara Hill address the recent agreement in principle following the U.S. Supreme Court's McGirt decision.

Leaders of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes met for their quarterly meeting July 10, for the first time via videoconference as a precaution due to COVID-19.

The Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole Nations announced today an agreement-in-principle to formalize the positions they share with the State of Oklahoma regarding future legislation following the Supreme Court ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma.

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has put strains on Cherokee families, the economy in northeast Oklahoma and our local public schools. 

The Cherokee Nation is rolling out a $40 million education initiative, part of which will help Cherokee students with clothing and technology needs.

I agree with Justice Gorsuch’s opinion today that the United States government should be held to its treaty obligations, and its word. 

We are committed to providing the housing, health care, education and other essential services that our people expect from a responsible, caring government. 

Cherokee Nation officials joined leaders from the city of Tahlequah and Cherokee County to cut the ribbon on a road improvement project on Tuesday, June 30.

The global pandemic has heightened uncertainty and anxiety across the world. That is certainly the case here in northeast Oklahoma.

 The Cherokee Nation is contributing nearly half a million dollars total to 136 rural Oklahoma fire departments. The contributions help to support volunteer fire departments, which otherwise rely on fundraisers, membership dues and the help of good Samaritans to maintain their vital operations.

The Cherokee Nation is adding surface testing to its list of safety protocols across its tribal government office locations. This new testing capability can detect the presence of COVID-19 in both the air and on surfaces to better protect employees and visitors inside.

On June 30, the state will hold elections to decide many state and federal primaries, as well as voting on State Question 802 to make sure that Oklahomans are able to get health care.

The Cherokee Nation is providing firefighters throughout the tribe’s 14-county area with care packages containing face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to help keep them safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, I oversaw the removal of two monuments from the historic Cherokee Nation Capitol Square in Tahlequah. The monuments failed to reflect the Cherokee Nation’s values of freedom and inclusion, and they run contrary to the idea that Cherokees Nation should have control of telling its own story.

More than anything, the events of the last two weeks have reminded us that the United States still has much work to do on the issue of justice for minorities in this country.

The Cherokee Nation recently welcomed new leadership to its Education Services department and Sequoyah High School. 

At Cherokee Nation, we remain deeply invested in ensuring good education for Cherokees and all children living in our 14-county jurisdiction. 

The Cherokee Nation announced a $332 million spending plan Thursday to use the tribe’s first portion of an $8 billion set aside in CARES Act funding from the US Treasury earmarked to help tribal governments recover from the impact of COVID-19.

On June 30, voters will make a big decision about the future of health care in Oklahoma. State Question 802 would have a $27 million economic impact on Cherokee Nation Health Services.

Construction on the Cherokee Nation’s eight new efficiency homes in Hulbert was recently completed, and the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation continues to take applications for future tenants.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, an opportunity to thank all Cherokee foster parents for the selfless time and love they give for our Cherokee children. 

Beginning June 1, Cherokee Nation will begin a phased reopening of government offices, as well as Cherokee Nation Businesses.

The Cherokee Nation will reopen its government offices in a phased plan that incorporates social distancing and has employees returning on staggered shifts starting June 1.

After much debate, media scrutiny and a national lawsuit, the U.S. Treasury Department is finally distributing CARES Act coronavirus relief funds to tribal governments, but it is far from payment in full, as promised.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation on Monday passed a resolution that allows Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. to expedite emergency contracts that will secure more protective equipment and supplies for tribal health care workers and food security for Cherokee elders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are proud to be supplying personal protection equipment to emergency personnel, medical professionals and first responders across northeast Oklahoma.

The Cherokee Nation Foundation announced it is awarding nearly $245,000 to 33 high school graduates and 71 current university students.

The Cherokee Nation is receiving additional food supplies to help feed 5,000 more Cherokee elders thanks to a program provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Cherokees Nation is providing first responders and emergency personnel in northeast Oklahoma with a supply of personal protection masks to keep them safe as they continue the fight against COVID-19 in their communities.

COVID-19 precautions have temporarily closed down our museums and postponed cultural events, but Cherokees across the world are using social media and other digital means to stay connected.

The Cherokee Nation received a limited supply of rapid test kits for COVID-19, which will be used to provide results in just minutes for patients who are most critical.

State-chartered, for-profit Alaska Native Corporations are poised to receive billions in governmental relief funds—funds that Congress clearly intended to go to the tribal governments that are working day in and day out to care for their citizens and help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Cherokee Nation Health Services is increasing its use of telemedicine and teledentistry by remotely connecting patients with medical care through videoconferencing, helping to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy in many of our communities in northeast Oklahoma. But right now, many of our Cherokee-owned businesses are struggling to stay afloat amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The COVID-19, or coronavirus, outbreak has forced us to set aside normal life for a while. We Cherokees, Oklahomans, Americans and people all over the world are doing our part to take on this dangerous threat.

The Cherokee Nation has distributed more than 1,500 food packages to help more than 4,000 elderly and disabled Cherokees have plenty of food as they stay indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Cherokee Nation responds to COVID-19, our number one priority is the health and safety of our citizens and the communities in which they live.

The COVID-19, or coronavirus, outbreak has forced us to set aside normal life for a while. We Cherokees, Oklahomans, Americans and people all over the world are doing our part to take on this dangerous threat.

The COVID-19, or coronavirus, outbreak has forced us to set aside normal life for a while. We Cherokees, Oklahomans, Americans and people all over the world are doing our part to take on this dangerous threat.

Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Health Services have reported the tribe’s first positive case of novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

The COVID-19, or coronavirus, outbreak has forced us to set aside normal life for a while. We Cherokees, Oklahomans, Americans and people all over the world are doing our part to take on this dangerous threat.

The Cherokee Nation is taking steps to keep its community safe. The Cherokee word for respect is ᎤᏬᎯᏳᎯ, and the Cherokee Nation is upholding these values in helping prevent the spread of COVID-19.

At Cherokee Nation, we recently renewed a commitment to a great cause and a great tradition: public education in Oklahoma. 

The Cherokee Nation continues efforts to help its tribal citizens, employees, health centers and schools educate and prepare for the coronavirus within the Cherokee Nation.

The Cherokee Nation contributed more than $6 million to 108 school districts during the tribe’s annual Public School Appreciation Day Thursday. This year’s disbursement is the largest since the tribe began its annual contributions in 2002.

It’s hard to believe 10 years have already passed, but this month, U.S. Census postcards will show up in mailboxes across Cherokee Nation and the United States. Once you receive one of these cards, you will be able to fill out the 2020 census. It’s important for all Cherokees to do so, and I’m asking for our citizens to participate.

Cherokee Nation broke ground Tuesday at the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center for an 80,000-square-foot expansion to modernize the facility originally built in 1994.

Cherokee Nation will distribute more than $6 million to 108 northeast Oklahoma school districts Thursday during the tribe’s annual Public School Appreciation Day.

Cherokee Nation will host several events in March including the tribe’s annual Public School Appreciation Day and various other cultural activities.

Cherokee Nation Foundation is offering a free ACT Boot Camp for Native American students on Saturday, March 28. The one-day course will be held at Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and First Lady January Hoskin announced Friday the formation of a ‘rare disease’ committee in recognition of National Rare Disease Awareness Day.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and other tribal leaders will visit Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, for a community gathering of enrolled Cherokee Nation citizens on March 7 and 8.

The Cherokee Nation will break ground Tuesday, March 3 on an expansion project that will add 80,000 square feet of new space to the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center in Stilwell.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. has named Dr. R. Stephen Jones, of Tahlequah, as Executive Director of Health Services. The promotion of Dr. Jones follows changes to Cherokee Nation Health Services’ employee organization structure, implemented to better focus on customer service and patient advocacy within the tribe’s health facilities.

The Cherokee Nation honored two veterans with the Medal of Patriotism at the February Tribal Council meeting on Feb. 10.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation unanimously authorized the donation of surplus equipment to several entities during the legislative body’s February meeting.

The Cherokee Nation and U.S. Navy gathered in Louisiana Wednesday to see early construction of the USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7) and celebrate the vessel’s first milestone.

The Cherokee Nation’s landmark opioid lawsuit has been remanded to federal court in Oklahoma, putting the case on a path to resolution and trial.

Cherokee Nation leaders will hand deliver hundreds of homemade Valentine’s Day cards to veterans at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee.

The Cherokee Nation’s economic impact in our state – almost $2.2 billion – is rooted in our commitment to investing in Oklahoma communities, big and small. The Cherokee Nation will never outsource jobs or threaten to pull up stakes when the going gets tough. We remain the best friend that the state of Oklahoma has ever had.

The way that our society views hemp and cannabis is evolving, with many questions yet to be answered in the public’s mind. Some Cherokee Nation citizens have called on the Cherokee Nation to immediately hop on board, while others feel that we should steer clear of this new industry. 

Cherokee Nation hosts several events in the month of February, including food demonstrations, a story corner, and craft demonstrations.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., First Lady January Hoskin and a small delegation from the Cherokee Nation joined tribal leaders from the Oneida, Quinault and Morongo Band of Mission Indians in New Orleans recently to defend the Indian Child Welfare Act.

On the last day of 2019, Cherokee Nation was able to secure an extension of our hunting and fishing compact with the state of Oklahoma. The compact reinforces the rights of Cherokee citizens to hunt and fish within our reservation boundaries and provides additional access for Cherokees to enjoy outdoor recreation across all 77 counties in Oklahoma.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. has appointed a Cherokee Nation workgroup to study issues relating to hemp and cannabis in fields such as commerce, health care and agriculture.

The Cherokee Nation is kicking off its #CherokeeNationCounts 2020 Census campaign, urging tribal citizens to complete the Census completely and accurately to help ensure the tribe receives key funding for key programs.

The Cherokee Nation honored four veterans, three of them brothers, with the Medal of Patriotism at the January Tribal Council meeting on Monday.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Cherokee Nation is mailing hunting and fishing licenses to Cherokee citizens residing in Oklahoma. 

Across Cherokee Nation are places rich in Cherokee history. That is why we have launched a concerted effort to preserve these important historical sites and help Cherokees learn about their significance.

Beginning Feb. 3, the Cherokee Nation will offer its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to help eligible families prepare and file their 2019 state and federal income tax forms for free. 

Cherokee Nation hosts several events in the month of January, including health classes, registration outreach and food demonstrations.

Cherokee Nation recently donated nearly $30,000 to domestic violence and child abuse advocacy programs serving communities in the Rogers, Nowata, Mayes and Craig County areas of Northeast Oklahoma.

The Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations filed a Federal lawsuit today to bring an end to the uncertainty Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt has attempted to cast over Tribal gaming operations. 

Cherokee Nation citizens residing in Oklahoma will soon be receiving their 2020 hunting and fishing licenses after the tribe’s Hunting and Fishing Compact with the state was extended.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation will be accepting College Housing Assistance Program applications for the Spring 2020 semester from January 2-17, 2020.

The Cherokee Nation honored three veterans with the Medal of Patriotism at the December Tribal Council meeting on Dec. 16.

It’s important to give back to our people and our communities. I am proud that 100 percent of our business profits are reinvested locally, where they have the most impact on our Cherokee families. That is important year round, but it is especially tangible this time of year, during the holiday season when spending time with family is so important.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation on Monday approved legislation proposed by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. to protect and preserve historical tribal sites.

Cherokee Nation leaders joined local, state and federal representatives Wednesday to celebrate completion of the new Delaware County Water Treatment Plant, which will provide fresh, cleaner and safer drinking water to nearly 2,500 homes in southern Delaware County and northern Adair County. 

Oklahoma is arguably the most distinctive state in the Union. It is the home of 4 million people, a place of great beauty and abundant natural resources. However, what most sets Oklahoma apart are the 38 sovereign Indian nations that share this land.

Cherokee Nation and its businesses presented a $50,000 check to the Tulsa Area United Way to help kick off the agency’s 2020 campaign. 

Cherokee Nation EMS is collecting donations for this year’s Cherokee Nation Angel Project, which provides gifts for Cherokee children who live within the 14-county tribal area and meet income guidelines.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced Tuesday the Cherokee Nation Historic Registry Act, proposed legislation that will provide a comprehensive framework for identifying, protecting and preserving properties of historical significance to the tribe.

The Cherokee Nation recently donated a total of $47,000 to two area Court Appointed Special Advocates organizations.

The Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma State University celebrated a construction milestone during Monday’s topping out ceremony for the new OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation on the campus of W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah.

January Hoskin, First Lady of the Cherokee Nation, has assumed a leadership role on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA).

Cherokee Nation injected nearly $2.2 billion into the Oklahoma economy last year. New research shows the tribe and its businesses continue to expand their economic footprint through employment, labor income, production of goods and services, and more. 

The Cherokee Nation’s new outpatient health center, located on the W.W. Hastings campus, has a new telephone area code. All departments in the new facility now have a 539 area code, while departments remaining within the Hastings Hospital campus will continue to use the 918 area code.

The Cherokee Nation honored four veterans with the Medal of Patriotism at the Nov. 12 meeting of the Council of the Cherokee Nation.

Leaders from the Cherokee Nation and Indian Health Service joined hundreds of guests to celebrate the grand opening of the tribe’s new 469,000-square-foot outpatient health center on Thursday.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation on Tuesday approved legislation that will provide additional funding opportunities for educators in northeast Oklahoma who want to teach Cherokee history and culture in their classrooms.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has cleared the first phase of a Cherokee Nation Veterans Cemetery.

Tribes across the country support the U.S. Government honoring treaty obligations by sending a Cherokee Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation will soon be taking applications for rental properties located in the Shade Addition in Hulbert and the Sequoyah Heights Addition in Tahlequah.

Cherokee Nation hosts several events in the month of November, including a resource fair, a tribal festival, marathon walks and more! 

Cherokee Nation and Tahlequah city officials cut the ribbon for a newly improved section of East Ross Street on Oct. 16. The street provides access to the tribe’s new outpatient health center on the W.W. Hastings campus.

Cherokee Nation Foundation is offering a free ACT Boot Camp to Native American students on Saturday, Dec. 7. The one-day course will be held in the library at Fort Gibson High School from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cherokee Heritage Center and the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 recently hosted a monument dedication honoring Cherokee veterans who fought in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend during the War of 1812.

The Cherokee Nation honored four veterans with the Medal of Patriotism at the October Tribal Council meeting on Tuesday.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced and signed legislation Wednesday that will double the funding to $2 million per year to train Cherokees in the areas of construction, health, information technology and lineman trade jobs.

The 2019 Cherokee Nation Angel Project applications are now available at sites throughout the tribe’s 14 counties. Applications can also be submitted online through Oct. 25.

The Cherokee Nation Registration department is beginning a new outreach program aimed at making tribal registration easier throughout the tribe’s 14 counties.

More than 150 Washington County Cherokees were on hand Oct. 3 to celebrate the opening of the Washington County Cherokee Association’s new community building.

Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital is offering free flu vaccinations at its Community Health Clinic.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced Monday he’s implementing patient advocacy positions to focus on customer service and reduce patient wait times at Cherokee Nation Health facilities.

The Cherokee Heritage Center is hosting its annual SevenStar Gala on Nov. 2 at the Chota Conference Center inside the new Cherokee Casino Tahlequah.

Cherokee Nation and Muskogee County officials cut the ribbon on a one-mile section of newly paved road in Braggs on Sept. 30.

The Cherokee Nation is looking for volunteers willing to act as guides for patients and visitors at the new Cherokee Nation outpatient health center in Tahlequah.

The Cherokee Nation College Resource Center is hosting two College & Career Night events, including one in Vinita and a second in Tahlequah.

Cherokee Nation hosts several events in the month of October including College and Career Night, a 5K run, finger weaving classes and more. See all Cherokee Nation calendar items below.

Cherokee Nation Foundation is now accepting applications for a professional development workshop for teachers interested in implementing ACT Prep in their classrooms.

The National Indian Health Board presented Cherokee Nation Health Services Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Jorge Mera the Outstanding Service Award at the annual Heroes in Health Awards Gala in Temecula, California on Sept. 18.

The Cherokee Nation donated $200,000 to the town of Webbers Falls on Monday to aid in placement of a new waterline after historic flooding in June damaged much of the community’s infrastructure.

The largest tribal outpatient health facility in the country is set to open in phases this October after two years of construction.

The Cherokee Nation honored four veterans with the Medal of Patriotism at the September Tribal Council meeting on Monday. 

The Council of the Cherokee Nation unanimously approved a $1.16 billion comprehensive tribal budget for fiscal year 2020 Monday night, the largest in tribal history. 

The Talking Leaves Job Corps Center has immediate openings for individuals seeking free career training in the nation’s leading industries, construction, finance and business, health care and hospitality.

The Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma Department of Transportation cut the ribbon on a highway safety improvement project along US Highway 75 near Ochelata, officially completing the seven-month long project.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation is temporarily opening Mutual Help/Rural Rental Homeownership waiting list for qualified Native American families in Nowata, Rogers and Washington counties. Families may submit applications to live in re-inventoried homes located in these three counties.

The Cherokee Nation’s Sixth Annual Cherokee Warrior Flight departs Monday for Washington, D.C., with 10 veterans who served during the Korean War or Vietnam war.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. proposed the largest investment in language programs in the tribe’s history and detailed even more historic initiatives during his first State of the Nation Address Saturday.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed an executive order Tuesday establishing an At-Large Cherokee Advisory Committee to better engage the policy perspectives of at-large citizens in Oklahoma and across the United States. 

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.’s cabinet and Congressional delegate nominations were unanimously confirmed by the Council of the Cherokee Nation during a special meeting Thursday.

Northeastern State University’s College of Liberal Arts has announced Kim Teehee as its sixth Sequoyah Fellow.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation will be accepting applications for rental properties located at the Keener Addition in Salina. 

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced Thursday that the tribe is taking an historic initial step to enact the Cherokee Nation’s treaty right to send a delegate to the U.S. Congress.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a waiver request by Cherokee Nation that allows the tribe to serve citizens living in Bartlesville through its food distribution program.

The Cherokee Nation honored three veterans with the Medal of Patriotism at the August Tribal Council meeting on Monday.

 Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner are proposing the establishment of a new cabinet-level Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner and eight councilors of the Council of the Cherokee Nation pledged Wednesday to preserve, protect and defend the Cherokee Nation Constitution as part of their official oaths of office.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation recognized a young Cherokee from Claremore Monday night for his accomplishments at the National Braille Challenge in Los Angeles and on the regional level in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Hospital Association recently recognized W.W. Hastings Hospital for vaccinating more than 96 percent of their staff with flu shots and preventing the spread of the common illness.

The Cherokee Nation is now accepting 2019-20 Tribal Youth Council applications. October 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Tribal Youth Council.

Cherokee Nation is now accepting grant applications for its fall education tours. The sponsored tours provide an exclusive look at Cherokee Nation’s rich history and culture. Applications are accepted through Sept. 30.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief-elect Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced Wednesday that he will sign an executive order raising Cherokee Nation’s minimum wage to $11 an hour. The tribe’s current minimum wage is $9.50 per hour, already well above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief-elect Chuck Hoskin Jr. today announced the selection of Martha Ketcher as the tribe’s health senior advisor and Michael Lynn as executive director of Community Services.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief-Elect Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced Thursday a $30 million plan that will repair hundreds of Cherokee homes, remodel community buildings and create construction jobs all across northeastern Oklahoma.

Cherokee Nation Chief-Elect Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief-Elect Bryan Warner are pleased to announce their executive cabinet, six pioneering leaders who will propel the tribe forward over the next four years.