JAY, Okla. — Cherokee Nation leaders joined Delaware County community members Thursday, July 24, to celebrate the grand opening of the new ᎦᏃᎯᎵ (Ganohili) subdivision in Jay.
Ganohili is an 8.25-acre subdivision with 20 lots. The first 10 new homes constructed in the housing addition were funded by the Cherokee Nation’s historic Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act created by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner with support from the Council of the Cherokee Nation. Remaining lots are available for future construction of additional homes.
“We’ve got too many of our fellow Cherokee citizens living on the cusp of having to make difficult financial decisions every month. Rent is too high because the housing stock is too low, hope is too low because the prospects of home ownership or decent housing is not where it should be,” Chief Hoskin said during the ceremony. “We have to make a difference wherever we can by investing in housing and easing the burden. We also have to make sure we look out for elders in our community who need a helping hand. Under the Housing, Jobs, and Sustainable Communities Act, we're making great, lasting strides to help reduce housing insecurity.”
Under the Hoskin-Warner administration’s landmark Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act, the tribe commits $40 million in tribal funds to housing and community facility infrastructure every three years into perpetuity, on top of federal housing dollars. HJSCA, first enacted in 2019, reauthorized in 2022 and amended in 2024, has fueled the largest housing investment in Cherokee Nation history.
“Today is a great testament to the work that our administration does,” Speaker of the Council Mike Shambaugh said. “We are able to do all of this because of the strong partnerships that the Cherokee Nation has. We have a strong relationship with the city of Jay. We want our citizens to own a place to live that is safe. At the end of the day, when you walk into your community, your home, and you sit in your recliner and put your feet up, we want you to have peace of mind that you and your kids are safe. That is what we and the City of Jay have accomplished in this housing addition.”
The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation is offering the new homes under a lease-to-own model with the New Construction Home Ownership Program. Several Cherokee families began moving into the units Thursday morning. The 10 new homes are between 1,645- and 1,744 square feet, each with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage.
“We didn’t have running water growing up, and the base of a good life is a good home and good water. There was a time when there were no houses being built for us. Now, today, we see houses coming up all over thanks to the Cherokee Nation where our citizens can have a home and good water to drink,” said District 10 Councilor Melvina Shotpouch. “I’m thankful to this administration and our partnerships for making this possible.”
New Ganohili resident Joshua Blevins said he’s thrilled to have central heat and air in his new unit.
“It’s tremendous the way they have built this neighborhood,” said Blevins. “We are so happy to be here.”
Heather Smith’s new home is allowing her family to remain living in the Cherokee Nation Reservation.
“I work in Gentry, Arkansas, about 33 miles away from here, and I was originally looking to move there, but rent for two-bedroom, one-bath homes there are like $1,700 a month. Then Cherokee Nation calls me and tells me about this opportunity, and now we have a home we can afford,” said Smith. “It’s almost too good to be true, you know, we lived in a mobile home before and the nearest storm shelter, we had to drive to, and now we can just go in our closet and be safe. I’m so grateful.”
Amenities in the subdivision include a storm shelter, sidewalks, fiber optic internet, generator connectivity and playground access for children. There is just under half a mile of sidewalk in the housing division, which is funded through Cherokee Nation’s Public Health and Wellness Fund Act. A playground will be added in the coming weeks that will be aviator themed.
Ganohili, which means “flyer,” is named in honor of the late Cherokee World War II veteran Virgil Fields, a well-decorated war hero who is honored in the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame.
Some of Fields’ family members attended the event to share stories about Fields. Secretary of Veterans Affairs S. Joe Crittenden gifted a plaque to Fields’ family. Within the new neighborhood, Virgil Street is named in his honor.
Ganohili was designed by Blue River Architects and Wallace Engineering. Construction was done by Maska Builders. The playground will be installed by Happy Playgrounds, a TERO vendor. The Cherokee Nation Businesses Construction team also assisted building the subdivision. The Cherokee Nation Building Trades Program also assisted with elements of the subdivision project.