Protecting the environment and being forward-thinking stewards of
our land is an inherent Cherokee value and something our people have always
passed down from generation to generation. It’s a responsibility I take
seriously as Chief of the largest tribal government in the United States, with
more than 340,000 enrolled citizens.
It is well known that American Indians, including Cherokees, were
this country’s first conservationists. The environment impacts every single one
of us on a daily basis through the water we drink, air we breathe and ground we
walk upon. In that spirit, I appointed the first-ever Secretary of Natural
Resources. Sara Hill is responsible for shaping our environmental policies.
One of the first initiatives in this renewed focus on natural
resources was guaranteeing our hunting and fishing rights. We began issuing
Cherokee Nation hunting and fishing licenses last year that allow Cherokees to
hunt and fish in all 77 Oklahoma counties. We have issued about 115,000 of
those to date.
Now, I am proud to announce our next brick in the foundation of
our environmental preservation work, the formation of the Cherokee Nation Fish
and Wildlife Association. Members of this association will be among the first
to know when new opportunities arise to continue the work of our ancestors as modern-day
stewards of our lands.
The association is for Cherokees Nation citizens; however,
non-Cherokees can sign up as friends of the association and opt in to receive
notifications that may be of interest to any outdoorsman or environmentalist.
We will maintain a separate list of Cherokee Nation citizen-members and a list
of friends and supporters of the association. Participation is voluntary and
free of charge.
Along with information about the hunting and fishing license,
members and friends will get relevant information about Cherokee Nation
initiatives, tips for hunters and anglers, and useful information for hobbyists
interested in nature and wildlife conservation. Members will receive a
membership card, a vehicle sticker and access to exclusive wildlife and hunting
and fishing information in the “members only” area of the website.
Traditional Cherokee wildlife habitat and management information,
lake levels, calendars, regulations, and maps for hunting and fishing seasons
will be included in the information.
Additionally, public events will be part of the association’s
efforts. We are currently in the planning process, and potential events include
conservation projects, special hunts, fishing tournaments, archery lessons, hunting
and safety classes, and recommendations for gun and bow owners.
You’ll also have an opportunity to provide feedback, so we can
tailor our programs to support the outdoor recreational activities that you
enjoy throughout the Cherokee Nation.
We are proving how we can be a state and national leader in
environmental conservation, as well as a trailblazer in Indian Country, setting
the standard for other tribal governments. No other tribe has started an association
that resembles this effort. Cherokee Nation is again leading the way.
The Cherokee Nation Fish and Wildlife Association will make it a
priority to better protect and preserve wildlife, teach better land
stewardship, safeguard our water and air resources, provide our citizens and
friends, especially our youth, with informative environmental data, and make a
concerted effort to play our part to combat global climate change.
Northeast Oklahoma is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
It is my home. It is in these hills and waterways that I grew up hunting,
fishing and hiking and being connected to nature.
I believe preserving that right forever is our moral obligation.
We can all join together to form an organization, the Cherokee
Nation Fish and Wildlife Association, that makes our natural world a priority.
This work will benefit nature enthusiasts and sportsmen alike.
I know that many of you will want to join us to build a brighter
future for our children and grandchildren, and I applaud you. It is our duty to
make our world livable for future generations. That’s why I hope we can
empower, engage and encourage youth leaders to be active within this new
association.
Through this effort and every decision we make, we strive to keep
our land clean, our water safe and our air pristine. Stewardship, as a guiding
principle, must be embraced at every level, and what we do today at the
Cherokee Nation will impact whether our resources are sustainable for the next seven
generations to come.
I encourage everyone interested in protecting the
environment to join the association as either a member or a friend, because
protecting and conserving shared resources for the future is a responsibility
all Oklahomans share. During Cherokee National Holiday, we will have
opportunities to sign up for the association, and soon a new website will be
coming online for members and friends. For more information, contact Dale Glory
at the Cherokee Nation at (918) 453-5333 or Dale-glory@cherokee.org.
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