tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18457721606512563582024-03-12T21:16:22.896-07:00Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John BakerCherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-26959574566971854002019-04-03T08:08:00.004-07:002019-04-03T08:08:37.708-07:00Sister community program connects Cherokees across the country
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Relationships
make the world go round. And that’s exactly why Cherokee Nation’s Community and
Cultural Outreach Department helped foster connections between at-large
Cherokee communities and local nonprofit groups within the tribe’s boundaries.
This “sister community” effort was started to provide community organizations,
both local and at-large, an opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge and
resources.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">At
our annual CCO conference, we hosted a networking session that offered local
and national organization leaders the chance to get to know each other and
share their missions and objectives. At the end of this session, they paired up
to form sister communities, and those connections are still alive and thriving.
CCO facilitated the partnerships, but the communities themselves have done all
the hard work of outreach and maintaining contact. Additionally through CCO, we
are able to offer grants for the local community groups to send out one or two
representatives from their organization to visit their sister community and do
a presentation for them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Having
a sister community keeps Cherokee organizations connected, as they send each
other their newsletters and flyers and simply keep in touch with their mutual
needs. If one of the groups is doing a fundraiser, then the other might
help out in some way with a donation. If an organization is doing a coat drive
or an Angel project, we’ve seen the sister community also do a coat drive and
send the collected coats to the sister community or adopt several Angels. It’s
Cherokees helping Cherokees.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Mt. Hood Cherokees in Portland, Oregon, and the Stilwell Friends of the Library
here in Adair County have established a strong bond of friendship and
communication. These sister communities have come to understand the importance
of connecting through Cherokee partnerships, as they continue to visit in
person and exchange cultural, historical and social information.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When
we had extreme flooding here in 2016, the Neighborhood Association of Chewey
opened their community building to shelter flood victims. Their sister
community in Houston sent gift cards to NAC for them to distribute to Cherokees
in need. It wasn’t long before NAC was able to return the favor. When Houston
sustained damage from </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hurricane Harvey<span style="color: #3e3e3e;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">in 2017, NAC and others here in northeast Oklahoma quickly
collected supplies. Our CCO team hauled two large cargo trailers of donated
supplies to Houston, and the Cherokee Nation at-large group in Houston
organized the distribution on site.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today,
we have 25 organized at-large Cherokee communities through CCO. Not every group
has found a sister just yet, but our goal this year at the upcoming CCO conference
is to make sure that all of our at-large groups have a sister community.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
current CCO sister communities include<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">:
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Central OK Cherokee Alliance (Oklahoma City,
OK) and Webbers Falls Museum</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Central Texas Cherokee Township (Austin, TX)
and Adair Co Historical Society</span></div>
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<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherokee Citizens League of Southeast Texas
(Houston, TX) and Cherokee Elders</span></div>
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<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherokee Community of Central California
(Bakersfield, CA) and Muldrow Cherokee Community</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherokee Community of North Texas (Dallas, TX)
and ORCO</span></div>
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<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherokee Community of Puget Sound (Seattle, WA)
and Jeremiah 29</span></div>
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<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherokee Society of the Greater Bay Area (San
Francisco, CA) and Cherokees for Black Indian History Preservation</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherokee Township of San Antonio (San Antonio,
TX) and Tailholt </span></div>
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<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Colorado Cherokee Circle and Brushy Cherokee
Community</span></div>
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<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherokee of the Greater Central Valley (Fresno)
and Mid County Community Org</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Greater Wichita Area Cherokee Community
(Wichita, KS) and Tahlequah Men’s Shelter</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kansas City Cherokees (Kansas City, MO) and
Vian Peace Center</span></div>
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<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mt. Hood Cherokees (Portland, OR) and Stilwell
Public Library Friends Society</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tsa-La-Gi LA (Los Angeles, CA) and Cherokees
for Black Indian History Preservation</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Valley of the Sun Cherokees (Phoenix, AZ) and
Indian Women’s Pocahontas Club</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Capital City Cherokees (Washington, DC) and
Stilwell Public Library Friends Society</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For
more information about Cherokee Nation’s CCO department, visit their Facebook
page: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CNCCO/"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/CNCCO/</span></span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><u>.</u></span></div>
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Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-60790633913894732662019-03-20T08:16:00.003-07:002019-03-20T08:17:50.744-07:00180th anniversary is time to reflect and look forward <span style="font-size: large;">On March 24 we commemorate the 180th anniversary of the end of the infamous Trail of Tears with a National Day of Remembrance. On this day in 1839, the last detachment of our ancestors’ forced removal from their homelands in the southeast region of the United States occurred as they marched to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. We remember and honor the sacrifices and untold hardships of our ancestors. Those who completed the trek and those who perished on that brutal journey will always remain in our hearts and in our minds.<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Their indomitable spirit to live despite the odds stacked against them enabled them to survive the treacherous journey. It is that same spirit that allowed them to rise above and to create a new home for themselves and their children. It is that the same spirit that enabled them to rebuild our nation. It is that same spirit that lives on in each of us. It is that same spirit that allows us to ensure the great Cherokee Nation we have today is an even better tomorrow for our children and for generations to come.<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">During the Trail of Tears, an estimated 4,000 Cherokees perished along the way, which represented about one quarter of our tribe. The grit and determination of our ancestors allowed them to not only survive adversity, despair and grief, but it empowered them to thrive. That sense of where we come from and who we are is deeply rooted in who we are as Cherokee people.<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is especially poignant to be commemorating the anniversary because this year during the annual Cherokee Days gathering at the Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian in Washington, D.C., the Treaty of New Echota, the legal document that paved the way for the forced removal of our ancestors, will be on public display. For the first time in recent history, selected pages from the actual signed treaty will be available for viewing.<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is the sacrifices of our ancestors that have made Cherokee Nation the strong nation it is today. As a country, we do a poor job of educating our youth on the bright moments of our past and the dark periods of injustice against Native people as the birth of America evolved. I know we can improve on that in Oklahoma – telling our story, teaching our children the history and traditions of tribes.<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After removal, the Cherokee people re-established our government in modern-day Oklahoma. We recreated our school systems and re-established our courts. Our newspaper began to print again and informed citizens of events and the day’s news. We rebuilt one of history’s most sophisticated societies in a new and unfamiliar land. But we will always remember who we are. We will never forget. We, as a nation, will always honor our ancestors and the sacrifices they made. As Cherokee people, we are stronger today than ever before.</span> <br />
<br />Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-74318231354104393892019-03-13T07:07:00.003-07:002019-03-13T07:09:46.001-07:00Sovereign rights at stake in ICWA case<span style="font-size: large;">Native children are removed from their homes at a higher rate than most of their peers. Nonetheless, in the recent Texas v. Bernhardt case, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that the Indian Child Welfare Act is unconstitutional because it is race based. The ruling stated that ICWA was unenforceable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sadly, this is a blatant attempt to once again strike tribes in our most vulnerable but most vital area by misleading the public about the purpose of this important Federal Act. In reality, ICWA has nothing to do with race but rather was enacted to preserve Native families, protect the unique citizenship rights of Native children and defend the sovereignty of tribal governments. I pray we prevail in the appeal of this legal obstacle course because there is so much at stake.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Aside from the statistics in relation to the removal of Native children, there is a fundamental disconnect when it comes to the rights of Native children to maintain their connection to their family, their tribe and all that their tribe has to offer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The violation of ICWA for any reason not only harms the children’s connection with their tribal government but is also detrimental to future generations of Cherokee children. Time and time again, the deep-pocketed entities opposing ICWA cry out discrimination, but in all cases involving the removal of Native children, the bottom line is about human rights. Native children have the inherent right to remain with their family, and all that his or her tribe has to offer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As we have seen through centuries of broken treaties, our sovereignty as a tribal nation is all too often ignored, the rights of our citizens trampled, compromising our very existence as a tribe. The breach of ICWA in the Texas v. Bernhardt decision is no different. It targets the very lifeline of tribes: our children.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Somehow, it’s very ironic that those afforded “white privilege” are the first ones to cry discrimination in this case and others involving ICWA. It’s become an all-too-familiar ploy when a dominant force attempts to control a population.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Even if you cannot take on the responsibility of raising a child, there are always other ways to help. One of the most impactful roles you can take is to be a vocal advocate. Cherokee voices must be heard loud and clear: our children are our hope, our strength and our future. They are not for the taking.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We need all tribal people to stand strong and stand up for our Native children and do it now before the entire ICWA is dismantled. We must be the children’s voices where they have none. Those Cherokees who have gone on before us are counting on you and me to deliver our sacred promise to the next seven generations. Do not let this generation or the next slip through the cracks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I vow, as the Principal Chief of Cherokee Nation, that we will continue to devote the necessary resources to defending this most important law, and we will continue to be a leader in Indian Country, fighting for our children to remain with their families and their tribe. </span>Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-28939977095999188942019-03-05T17:06:00.001-08:002019-03-05T17:20:16.459-08:00Celebrating strong Cherokee women During March we celebrate Women’s History Month, honoring the enormous contributions Cherokee women have made throughout our history. From Isabel Cobb, the first female physician in Indian Territory, to Mary Golda Ross, a NASA aerospace engineer who helped America win the space race, Cherokee women have been at the forefront of defining our success. In 1851, we opened the first institute of higher education for women west of the Mississippi River. The Cherokee National Female Seminary's curriculum was academically challenging, reflecting our tribe’s vision of strong, educated women.<br />
<br />Cherokee Nation is a matrilineal tribe, and reverence for women is deeply rooted in our culture.<br />
<br />That is why during my tenure as Principal Chief, I’ve made every effort to place talented women in leadership roles within Cherokee Nation’s government and business entities. Women lead many of our tribal programs and departments as executive directors. In fact, with women comprising about 70 percent of our nearly 4,000 employees, it’s safe to say women dominate our government workforce.<br />
<br /><br />
In recognition of our changing work demographic, we created a more female-friendly work environment at Cherokee Nation. We established a fully paid, eight-week maternity leave policy for expectant mothers who work for the tribe. We raised the minimum wage for all employees. These initiatives enable our staff to continue working for the Cherokee people while meeting their family obligations.<br />
<br /><br />
Cherokee Nation’s legislative body, the Tribal Council, is shaped in large part by Deputy Speaker Victoria Vazquez, Secretary Janees Taylor and at-large Councilors Wanda Hatfield and Mary Baker Shaw. Their leadership and vision are driving the Cherokee people into a brighter future and carrying on critical work set in motion by those who preceded them.<br />
<br /><br />
Indeed, no discussion of Cherokee Nation’s leaders is complete without mentioning the late Wilma Mankiller, who last year was in the inaugural class of the Native American Hall of Fame. In her decade-long tenure as our Principal Chief, Mankiller was a strong, confident leader. She is now a national icon across Indian Country and America for her commitment to advance equality for all and for her empowerment of women.<br />
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March also marks the anniversary of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. At Cherokee Nation, we remain resolute in our commitment to protect women from the epidemic of domestic violence. Our ONE FIRE Victim Services office stands as a beacon of hope and safety for women and families within our tribal jurisdiction.<br />
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Cherokee women are proud and powerful people, and they propel our tribe forward. This is as true today as ever. Be sure to follow our social media accounts and join us as we share inspiring profiles of historic and modern Cherokee women throughout the month of March. I encourage you to celebrate all of the women in your life – wives, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and daughters.Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-77947295537818670102019-02-26T11:52:00.002-08:002019-02-26T11:52:21.351-08:00More than just a car tag
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Every
time a tribal citizen registers a vehicle with the Cherokee Nation, they make
an investment in public education and our young people. You see, our vehicle
tags are more than just a pretty tag. By Cherokee Nation law, 38 percent of the
revenues from our tag sales are earmarked specifically for public education.
This year, thanks to our flourishing Motor Vehicle Tax program, Cherokee Nation
is awarding a record-breaking $5.7 million to more than a hundred school
districts in northeast Oklahoma.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Since
2002, Cherokee Nation has contributed more than $56 million to public
education. Today, that investment in public education is more important than
ever for the Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">More
tribal car tag revenue means we are able to serve more students. When we
expanded the sale of Cherokee Nation tags statewide to all 77 Oklahoma counties
in 2013, we knew the school systems in northeastern Oklahoma would reap the
benefits. Indeed, it has proven to be an essential component of their annual
budgets for many schools here.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Supporting
local school districts is important to the Cherokee Nation’s long-term success.
These partnerships with schools represent our investment for the future of our
great state and our tribal government. Our tribal funding comes with no strings
attached and is not earmarked for specific budget items, so every pupil
benefits. This means we are helping area students in our local schools,
regardless of whether they are Cherokee.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">For
Cherokee people, embracing education has always been a community value. It
creates hope for a better future for our children and the generations to come.
I come from a long line of teachers and administrators devoted to learning. My
family’s background helped build a foundation and reinforced an ideal that I
have embraced as a public servant: Supporting access to educational programs is
the best investment we can ever make as a sovereign tribal government. Over the
last several years, public education in Oklahoma has taken numerous financial hits
and the proceeds from Cherokee car tags allow us to help fill in the gaps in
school budgets.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
am extremely proud of the many ways our region benefits from these revenues.
The Cherokee Nation Motor Vehicle Tax program not only saves our people money on
their car tags and instills Cherokee pride, it also has a positive and lasting
impact in our communities and schools. With every vehicle registered, we are
investing in our children, in our families, and in our future as Cherokees and
Oklahomans.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-20303581611758173292019-02-11T09:34:00.002-08:002019-02-11T09:37:11.911-08:00New Cherokee Nation Film Office will promote region <span style="font-size: large;">Telling the Cherokee story – our history, our heritage – is a skill that our people have passed down from one generation to the next. Storytelling is a cornerstone of our culture. That’s why I am so proud we have launched the Cherokee Nation Film Office. It will promote northeastern Oklahoma while cultivating Native filmmaking. The office will provide much-needed cultural and historical consultation on film projects, ensuring our stories are told with cultural sensitivity and accuracy. And it will serve as a way to develop a database of Cherokee Nation locations for film shoots, resources and talent. It’s a bold new endeavor to enhance an ancient tradition.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Our home state, especially in our northeast quadrant, has unlimited potential when it comes to American Indian filmmaking, including the authors, actors and technicians to build successful filmmakers, as well as its natural beauty, history and character. Cherokee Nation and other tribes in Oklahoma have already begun producing high-quality videos, television shows and movies. There is great potential to promote Oklahoma as a destination for aspiring and experienced filmmakers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />This is where the Cherokee Nation Film Office, a division of the Cherokee Nation Businesses Communications Department, will come into play, growing the burgeoning state film industry by promoting northeast Oklahoma and a new generation of talented artisans. The Emmy Award-winning TV program “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People” has proven highly successful, laying the groundwork for this new venture’s launch. To kick things off, we will be creating our first feature-length documentary.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <br />Additionally, we have a goal to help other filmmakers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />That means Native people telling Native stories. Cherokees telling Cherokee stories. At Cherokee Nation, we routinely work with individuals who fundamentally misunderstand Native Americans – who we are, our culture, our history and our modern identity. We know from these interactions that Native stories are best told by Native voices. As a result, five years ago we launched the production of “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People,” and we discovered in the process that there are many Cherokees with a natural aptitude for filmmaking and storytelling, either behind the camera or in front it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />This brought home to us that there are many talented filmmakers, producers, directors and actors right here in the Cherokee Nation that are being under-utilized or not utilized at all. Our vision is to create an environment that nurtures these creative Cherokees.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Cherokee Nation Film Office will collaborate with the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture and other local film offices to leverage resources and talent. Areas of cooperation include providing local recommendations for crew and talent, coordinating site visits, and hosting filmmaking workshops and film festivals. We share the same goals and ambitions to enhance the attractiveness of Oklahoma’s budding film industry.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Cherokee Nation is one of the most beautiful areas of our state. It’s a natural fit as a filmmaking destination. Although California is still the entertainment capital of the world, other states have established themselves as film destinations. In recent years, major motion pictures and television series have been filmed in regional states like Texas, Georgia and Louisiana. We firmly believe it is now our time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />According to the Motion Picture Association of America, in 2016, Oklahoma’s film and television industry was responsible for 13,273 direct and indirect jobs and more than $220 million in wages. By contrast, Texas’ film and television industry was responsible 105,525 jobs and $1.81 billion in wages. Georgia’s impacts were 92,494 jobs and $2.15 billion in wages, while Louisiana’s numbers were 22,707 jobs and nearly $400 million in wages.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Numbers like these tell us there are genuine business and economic development opportunities to be pursued, and we are more than ready to meet the challenge. We have a passionate team committed to making this new industry successful for the Cherokee Nation, while furthering our mission of preserving Cherokee culture. We are excited about the new opportunities the Cherokee Nation Film Office will bring.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />For more information about the Cherokee Nation Film Office, visit </span><a href="http://www.cherokee.film/"><span style="font-size: large;">www.cherokee.film</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-28939051723653193732019-02-01T09:33:00.001-08:002019-02-01T09:36:49.606-08:00Cherokee language board will play vital role in revitalization efforts <span style="font-size: large;">Part of my sworn oath as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation is to preserve, promote and advance the language and culture of the Cherokee Nation. We’ve seen some wonderful examples of that recently, including concentrated revitalization efforts for the Cherokee language. This week, we took another important step by creating a new Cherokee Language Advisory Board.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cherokee language experts and speakers Durbin Feeling, Rosa Carter and Wyman Kirk will make up the inaugural board, and as this effort’s first members, they are charged with ensuring all of Cherokee Nation’s language programs and all the efforts to educate our citizens in our communities have a united vision, implementation method and mission. This coordination will enable all our language programs to synchronize, giving us better management, tracking and verification abilities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, Cherokee Nation operates several language programs, including the Cherokee Translation Department, Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program, Cherokee Language Technology Program and the Cherokee Immersion School. The widespread success and recognition of these respected programs are a testament to the efforts and investments we have made into language programs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The formation of the Cherokee Language Advisory Board is part of the tribe’s Native Language Community Coordination ANA Grant, received in 2016.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In addition to the creation of the advisory board, we will also develop a coordinated, standardized Cherokee language curriculum that will be available for each level of language learning. We also plan to establish a Cherokee Nation Cherokee Language Teacher Certification to solidify the standards of proficiency for those teaching Cherokee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Through the execution of these new initiatives, prompted by the national grant, we can keep striving for our cultural preservation goal: Within 20 years, Cherokee communities are living, speaking and thinking in Cherokee and the Cherokee language is the first language of the Cherokee Nation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our Cherokee language is the most fundamental aspect of our culture as Cherokee people. That’s why we are developing more avenues and partnerships that will ensure the Cherokee language endures. </span>Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-47938225497543323802019-01-30T13:23:00.003-08:002019-01-30T13:25:29.948-08:00Investing in education, investing in the future <span style="font-size: large;">In the Cherokee Nation, education is the foundation of our success. That has been true for generations. Even prior to our removal to Indian Territory, education was critical. Renowned statesman Sequoyah invented a written syllabary, which enabled better communication and expanded knowledge opportunities. Increased literacy happened very quickly, making us stronger and more sophisticated as a tribal nation. After removal, education was the first thing our ancestors invested in to build our tribe back up. Decades before Oklahoma statehood, our ancestors established the Cherokee National Female Seminary, the oldest educational institution west of the Mississippi River for women of any race. Upon graduation, many of those young women became public school teachers in our Cherokee communities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">During my tenure as Principal Chief, the tribe has nearly doubled its scholarship funding, from $8.5 million to almost $16 million. Since 2010, more than 27,000 scholarships have been awarded through the Cherokee Nation higher education program. We have increased the number of scholarships awarded by nearly 45 percent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">More Cherokees are benefitting from tribal college scholarships than ever before. Right now, almost 5,000 tribal citizens are fulfilling their dream of earning an undergraduate degree. Every qualified Cherokee student who applied in the last funding cycle was issued a Cherokee Nation scholarship. These recipients embody some of the most important values we hold as a tribe, including personal accountability, community and responsibility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Additionally, the Cherokee Nation Foundation offers multiple scholarship opportunities, including the growing “Leave a Legacy” endowment effort. It is another way that the Cherokee Nation invests in our future. Cherokee Nation’s economic future, along with Oklahoma’s, depends on a well-educated workforce and college graduates. The education staff at Cherokee Nation works diligently to expand opportunities for young people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cherokee Nation recently announced a new partnership with Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine for a Tahlequah branch campus. As part of that effort, $350,000 was donated to scholarships for students to attend the new school. Cherokee Nation Businesses contributed $100,000 of the amount raised. Many Cherokee Nation citizens will be the recipients of these scholarships at the future OSU Medical School.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes an opportunity is all a young person needs to reach their potential. As we continue to strengthen and grow the Cherokee Nation, education and opportunities for our people remain a strategic priority. Education is a vital part of our history, and it is equally important to our bright future. When we invest in education, we invest in our people and their collective ability to lift us all to greater heights.</span><br />
<br />Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-28201435791343508502019-01-22T06:45:00.003-08:002019-01-22T06:45:26.267-08:00Reforming Johnson-O’Malley can change lives
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The Johnson-O’Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program
Modernization Act, recently signed into law, requires the U.S. Department of
the Interior to update the count of Native American students eligible for the
JOM program annually. The bill will establish a new baseline count of
JOM-eligible students, which includes thousands of Cherokee youth. The new
modern, accurate allocation funding formula will better meet the needs of
Native students across the country.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">T<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">his issue is one Cherokee Nation has been advocating to
change for years, since I was a member of the Tribal Council. When federal
funding was frozen at the 1995 level and capped at 278,000 students nationally,
it negatively impacted our families, schools and communities. By law, the U.S.
has a trust responsibility to tribal nations. But the population and funding
formulas to fund that trust never grew, even though Indian Country has grown
rapidly since 1995.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The U.S. Census confirms American Indians are among the
fastest-growing populations in America. According to the National Indian
Education Association, the FY18 federal budget allocated only $15 million of
the estimated $42 million required for fully funding JOM in the United States.
That’s why we have spent more than two decades advocating for JOM reform. It is
an incredibly important program for regional students. In northeast Oklahoma,
JOM’s mission is to ensure every Indian child in the Cherokee Nation’s service
area receives educational opportunities – books, fees, equipment – that their
schools would not otherwise provide. Additionally, successful JOM programs
incorporate tribal culture and heritage as part of a base curriculum.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">T<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">here are more than 130,000 American Indian school-aged
children in our state’s public schools – the highest number in the country.
Oklahoma continues to be one of the worst states for K–12 school funding cuts.
Since 2008, Oklahoma has slashed education funding by almost 25 percent. In the
Cherokee Nation alone, we have more than 26,000 Native students. That’s why
this new act is so very important. The JOM program awards contracts based
on the number of Native students served, making it imperative that updated,
accurate numbers be reflected in those contracts.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The JOM Modernization Act </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">is a major step in the right direction,
and I look forward to seeing the positive ripple effect it will have throughout
Indian Country</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">. With the passage of this bill, I believe we are poised to
build a stronger future for the Cherokee Nation, for Oklahoma and for all of
Indian Country. It is our responsibility to keep pushing for greater successes
and raising the bar for our JOM programs. Every child deserves an education
that meets his or her needs, and we want our youth to become everything God
intended them to be.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">To learn more about Cherokee Nation JOM or other education
services, visit <span><a href="http://icm-tracking.meltwater.com/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=FcQ5do3Mtm%2F2JnP%2FxXFcY%2BL9mOkU%2Fad4G7kfqxVfSdkEEq1vNf2gy9cGoLqrJA35TFyu1eM67iBxV0Q0O%2BslOEa8WqSvOmfu2ye7hq7wbvgxncjN7zA4RYWPvqW9WEqa1M2T%2FnEqgYQ%3D&G=0&R=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cherokee.org%2Fservices%2Feducation&I=20190108192058.0000001cf1de%40mail6-41-usnbn1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVjMzRmNzk5YjcyMWJhZWM1ZjA0OWFjZDs%3D&S=D8utE-RnhhgBVTIHbbYQ8758wxUY0eCUPyk0AnJNm_w"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.cherokee.org/services/education</span></a></span>.
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Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-57545760399978218482019-01-14T07:51:00.001-08:002019-01-14T07:51:42.064-08:00Years in the making: radioactive waste removed from Cherokee Nation
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">It was a historic day in December when we celebrated the
final removal of more than 10,000 tons of nuclear waste that have plagued
Sequoyah County and its citizens for decades. More than 500 semi-tractor loads
removed the dangerous substances from the former Sequoyah Fuels Corporation
site near Gore. Our Cherokee Nation Attorney General’s office and Secretary of
Natural Resources office collaborated with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s
office to undertake this immense task. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The original uranium processing plant was opened by
Kerr-McGee in 1970 and converted yellowcake uranium into fuel for nuclear
reactors. However, over the years, the plant changed several times before
General Atomics began operations as Sequoyah Fuels Corporation. Many of the
residents who live in Gore and who worked at the site over the years are
Cherokee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Our tribal government has been involved in litigation over
the Sequoyah Fuels site since 2004. I’m proud that Cherokee Nation took the
lead in removing a risk that would have threatened our communities forever.
This would not have been possible if the tribe and state had not worked cooperatively,
presenting a united front in court to ensure removal of this material. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The removal process took 18 months and leaves the riverbed
area where the Arkansas River and Illinois River meet free of nuclear waste for
the first time in almost 50 years. Tons of radioactive waste remained at the
facility when it closed in 1993 after multiple lethal accidents. In 2004,
Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma entered into a settlement agreement
that required the highest-risk waste be removed from the site. The owners of
Sequoyah Fuels Corporation announced in 2016 their intention to bury the waste
on site. Thankfully, a judge forced the company to comply with the original
agreement, clearing the way for complete removal instead. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">This material is no longer a ticking time bomb on the banks
of two of our most precious natural resources – waterways along the Arkansas
and Illinois rivers. Our tribe’s natural resources remain protected, and the
41,000 residents of Sequoyah County will no longer be in harm’s way. The
radioactive waste has been transported to a disposal site in Utah, where the
uranium will be recycled and reused. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Sara Hill, Cherokee Nation’s secretary of Natural Resources,
said it best: “Decommissioning this plant was never enough to satisfy our goals
for a clean and safe environment…removal of this highly contaminated waste was
our goal all along.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Mission accomplished. Cherokee Nation will continue to step
up, lead and forge the partnerships that will protect our citizens, families
and communities for generations.</span></div>
</div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-36585053231421078202018-12-17T07:32:00.005-08:002018-12-17T07:32:53.875-08:00New VA center in Sequoyah County expands health care capabilities in northeast Oklahoma America’s veterans, including many Cherokee men and women, committed a portion of their lives to preserving our collective freedoms. They deserve the best possible health care we, as a country, can provide. I am proud the Oklahoma Veterans Commission recently selected the city of Sallisaw, a community in the heart of the Cherokee Nation, for a new state veterans center in Oklahoma. The planned veterans center in Sequoyah County will be located on a 90-acre plot on Sallisaw’s south side for easy accessibility. It will be a great complement to our Redbird Smith Health Center, located nearby.<br />
<br /><br />
In fact, the commission’s selection of Sallisaw for the new center will be an excellent addition to the wide range of health advances and investments Cherokee Nation has already made throughout northeastern Oklahoma. We’ve expanded and built new clinics across our 14 counties. Next year we will dedicate a new, 469,000-square-foot health care facility at the W.W. Hastings campus in Tahlequah, and we’ve secured an agreement with the OSU School of Medicine to launch the first-ever medical school on tribal land.<br />
<br /><br />
The center is a relocation from Talihina to Sallisaw. The commission could have selected many terrific locations from across our great state, but they chose to be right here in Cherokee Nation. That’s not by accident. Our corporate arm, Cherokee Nation Businesses, stepped up to make investments that made relocation to Sequoyah County viable and attractive for such a move. The leadership of Cherokee Nation Tribal Council members E.O. Smith and Bryan Warner was essential to help form the alliances that made this possible. This outcome is a model for how public-private-tribal partnerships should work. Successful partnerships like this one will only make our entire region stronger and healthier.<br />
<br /><br />
The brand-new facility will be constructed and opened within three to five years, and will employ about 275 people, adding a large number of quality jobs that will support economic growth and add to the area’s tax base. Cherokee Nation’s Career Services Department will lend its support to recruit and fulfill the new center’s workforce needs. We know the people of Sallisaw will embrace this new opportunity and be warm and welcoming not just to the veterans and veterans’ families, but to the center’s employees and their families as well.<br />
<br /><br />
It is my honor to say that Cherokee Nation supports veterans through many means. Our Cherokee Nation Veterans Center provides a place for veterans of all eras to gather for fellowship. Employees there assist veterans in accessing necessary Veterans Administration benefits. The Cherokee Nation and VA hospitals have an agreement to provide better care for Native veterans by providing primary care and sharing chart information. We provide veterans across our region access to healthy food via a unique partnership with the Eastern Oklahoma Food Bank. Cherokee veterans are honored monthly during Tribal Council meetings, and our annual Cherokee Warrior Flight takes Cherokee veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials built in their honor.<br />
<br /><br />
It’s exciting to see our vision at Cherokee Nation for healthier citizens and communities, especially for veterans, is shared by others. We welcome the new VA center at Sallisaw with open hearts and open arms.<br />
<br />Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-79937189364441973812018-12-06T11:29:00.004-08:002018-12-06T11:29:41.085-08:00Saving our Cherokee language by identifying fluent speakers Cherokee Nation is embarking on a huge undertaking: surveying our citizens for an accurate number of fluent Cherokee speakers. Knowing our baseline number of speakers is essential as we continue our aggressive work in Cherokee language revitalization. As of today, our Community & Cultural Outreach department has identified nearly 2,000 fluent speakers. Just a few years back, we estimated that number at about 4,000. We are losing our speakers at an incredibly rapid rate.<br />
<br />Our Cherokee language is sacred, and we have an obligation to save it. It’s a battle we must win. Toward that end, we are investing more than $50,000 to conduct this community survey. Once it is finalized and complete, we can use the data to apply for additional national funding for language preservation programs. <br />
<br />This survey and the information collected are critical steps in growing the Cherokee language. The vast majority of our fluent speakers are over the age of 60. As those elders pass away, we lose speakers far more quickly than new speakers emerge. Thus, this effort becomes even more urgent, as we know we must identify as many first-language speakers as possible so that they can share their knowledge with a new generation. As part of the survey, Cherokee Nation will award special medallions to the identified fluent Cherokee speakers.<br />
<br />Recently, we hosted our first Cherokee Language Speaking Employee Appreciation Day. It was exciting to see more than 150 fluent Cherokee-speaking employees gather to discuss ways to continue growing the language. All of the tribal government’s various language programs, including the Cherokee Immersion School, the Cherokee Language Master Apprentice program and the Cherokee Translation Department came together to share ideas and look at ways to coordinate efforts. <br />
<br /><br />
Our investments in language are having a visible impact. I now see young Cherokee children and even teens who are becoming fluent, something we once thought was gone forever. We are experiencing a true language revival. I believe through our hard work the Cherokee language is regularly heard, seen, appreciated and being used more by all generations. <br />
<br />The Cherokee language is a defining aspect of our culture; it is an integral part of our identity as Cherokee people. If our language disappears, we will be without the core of the vibrant and thriving culture we share from generation to generation.<br />
<br />I commend the commitment and determination of our CCO department and look forward to what this survey will yield in our language efforts. For more information on the identification survey of Cherokee speakers, contact the Cherokee Nation’s CCO department at 918-207-4995.<br />
<br />Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-1940929393851389952018-12-05T08:53:00.001-08:002018-12-05T09:07:22.884-08:00Cherokee Nation Angel Project: A brighter holiday for children in need<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">All
children deserve the joy of a bountiful Christmas morning and the experience of
tearing open a gift especially selected and wrapped for them. As a father,
grandfather and now great-grandfather, it is a tradition I never grow tired of
watching. At the Cherokee Nation, we are blessed to have a wonderful program in
place for low-income children that ensures they don’t miss out on that magical
feeling on Christmas morning. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cherokee
Nation’s Angel Project is gearing up to serve thousands of children in need,
allowing them the special feeling of knowing there is a present waiting under
the Christmas tree for them this holiday season. Last Christmas, almost 2,000
Cherokee children were provided for—kids who might not otherwise have had
anything to celebrate on Christmas morning. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our
Angel Project started in the early 1990s and has continued to expand each year.
It serves Cherokees 16 and younger who reside within our 14-county tribal
jurisdiction. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
angel tree stands in the lobby of the main tribal complex in Tahlequah, and the
paper angels hanging on it represent children in our communities. Each ornament
contains a child’s information and his or her Christmas wish list. The
children’s needs range from simple necessities like socks, shoes and coats, to
the fun toys and games little ones enjoy so much. No matter the gift, we know
with your help, we will create a happy holiday memory that will last these
children a lifetime.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
also want to take this opportunity to thank our generous employees for their
participation in the annual program. Every year, I am amazed at how they pull
together and ensure all the angels are provided for. And for the team of
Cherokee Nation employees who run the Angel Project, it is a massive
undertaking. They coordinate this program during one of the busiest times for
families, while still keeping up with their regular job duties. Wado, Angel
Project staff!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Angel Project runs completely on donations with the assistance of the local
community, but it also draws interest far and wide. People throughout the
country often send donations, if they aren’t able to travel here to pick up an
angel in person. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As
Christmas draws closer, please help us make sure that every wish of every angel
is fulfilled. To adopt an angel, visit the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, 17675 S.
Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and select an angel ornament off the tree.
Presents should be returned unwrapped to our Cherokee FIRST desk in the lobby
by Dec. 7. Our staff will wrap and deliver them anonymously to the angel’s
family. Additionally, if you want to make a financial donation to the Cherokee
Nation Angel Project, please visit <a href="http://www.cherokee.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.cherokee.org</span></a>,
scroll to the bottom and click on “Giving to the Cherokee Nation.” You can
designate “Angel Project” as your intended recipient. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
encourage each of you to find it in your heart to adopt a Cherokee angel, even
two or three, if you have the means.</span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-63674684080383083692018-06-01T09:04:00.001-07:002018-06-01T09:07:02.347-07:00Remember the Removal Ride builds personal bonds and raises cultural awareness <ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There is no better education than
first-hand experience and Cherokee Nation’s Remember the Removal Ride program
is one of the most successful educational programs we have.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Each summer a group of young
people from Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in
Cherokee, North Carolina, team up and retrace on bicycle the Trail of Tears,
our ancestors’ removal route from our homelands in the east to modern-day
Oklahoma. This is a significant year, as we commemorate the 180th anniversary
of the Trail of Tears. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This a special group of young
people who will retrace our tribe’s route to Oklahoma. The Remember the Removal
effort enables some of Cherokee Nation’s strongest emerging leaders to
participate in a unique event that is focused on individual growth, teamwork
development and, most importantly, sharing Cherokee history and heritage. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the best classroom I could
ever imagine. Riders make stops at museums, gravesites, national parks,
churches and other historic sites along the way. The experience reshapes how
these young people view life and their heritage. The riders travel about 60
miles per day over a three-week period and pass through seven states: Georgia,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is a grueling journey on a
bike, but the struggles on the ride offer greater understanding of what our
ancestors experienced along the Trail 180 years ago. An estimated 16,000
Cherokees were forced to make the journey on the Trail of Tears to Indian
Territory and more than 4,000 died from exposure, starvation and disease.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember the Removal ensures our
future leaders don’t forget the past and always honor the sacrifices our
ancestors made. Our riders serve as ambassadors along the road in the towns
they ride through. Since this program was started in the mid-1980s, every
participant has dug deep to find untapped reservoirs of strength and
perseverance. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They ride every day and with every
mile, they learn more about the Cherokee experience in America and the true
history of our people. We are here today, as the largest tribal government in
the country, because of that fortitude.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We try to make the ride as public
as possible so that followers back home can follow along on social media.
Photos and blog posts are updated daily to the Remember the Removal Facebook
page at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/removal.ride"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit;">www.facebook.com/removal.ride</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">
and on Cherokee Nation’s website at </span><a href="http://remembertheremoval.cherokee.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit;">http://remembertheremoval.cherokee.org</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, follow along on Twitter and
Instagram by searching for the hashtags #RTR2018 and #WeRemember. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 2018 Remember the Removal
cyclists are:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Emilee Chavez, 18, Tahlequah, Sequoyah High
School</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Daulton Cochran, 21, Bell, Tulsa Community
College</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Courtney Cowan, 24, Kansas, Northeastern State
University graduate </span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lily Drywater, 21, Tahlequah, Northeastern State
University</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dale Eagle, 23, Tahlequah, Tahlequah High School
graduate</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jennifer Johnson, 48, Oklahoma City, mentor
Rider </span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Autumn Lawless, 22, Porum, Northeastern State
University </span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Amari McCoy, 21, Sallisaw, Carl Albert State
College</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Parker Weavel, 21, Tahlequah, Northeastern State
University</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sky Wildcat, 22, Tahlequah, Northeastern State
University</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></span></ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-83508504806632987842018-05-21T11:11:00.001-07:002018-05-21T11:11:29.488-07:00The need for Cherokee foster families continues
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The month of May is annually
Foster Care Awareness Month across the globe, and at Cherokee Nation, we
continue to recognize and celebrate the essential role strong families play in
creating a secure foundation in our communities. A safe family home
provides the love, identity, self-esteem and support our Cherokee children need
to grow into healthy and happy adults.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At Cherokee Nation, we
continue to address the issues that have the biggest impacts on our people,
including educational opportunities, health care coverage, homeownership and
career development. These can affect generations of Cherokees and improve lives.
One area we still are in dire need is foster and adoptive families for our
Indian Child Welfare program. Our children ensure the continued existence of
Cherokee values and heritage. They are our future.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadly, across the country,
more than 1,550 Cherokee youth are in need of a safe, secure and stable home
environment with qualified foster families. Sometimes these beautiful and
innocent children simply need a temporary place until family reunification can
occur. Other times we need higher degrees of permanency, including the lifetime
commitment of adoption.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Right now, we have 108
families certified as Cherokee Nation foster families that are providing care
to Cherokee children. Every foster opportunity is a success story for Cherokee
Nation. Last year we created a specific family leave policy at Cherokee Nation
for employees who foster. I am proud that about 15 staffers have utilized this
program in the past 12 months.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cherokee Nation is lucky to
have such dedicated individuals within our ICW department. They look for
creative ways to collaborate with state- and faith-based partners to the
benefit our tribe. I know they work diligently every day to ensure the
protection of our children within our tribal communities.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Cherokee people, we
believe we share in child-rearing practices in accordance with our Cherokee
cultural values that children are our most precious resource and they ensure
our continued existence as a tribe.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I urge Cherokee Nation
citizens, agencies and organizations to keep collaborating to raise awareness
for the need of foster families for Cherokee children. And I encourage all
those who can to consider becoming a foster parent. Visit </span><a href="http://www.cherokeekids.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.cherokeekids.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> for more
information. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-43093148587442460892018-05-14T07:17:00.000-07:002018-05-14T07:17:04.306-07:00New law incentivizes more home construction within Cherokee Nation’s 14 counties <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Legislative success is an essential tool in maximizing the prosperity of Cherokee Nation. Partnerships with federal, state and local entities enhance our ability to provide essential services to our citizens.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the state level, we were vocal advocates of House Bill 1334, a recently passed law authored by Cherokee Nation citizen and State Rep. Chuck Hoskin. HB1334 gives school districts with surplus, undeveloped land the ability to transfer that land to a tribal housing authority.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">This new law will enable tribal housing authorities, including Cherokee Nation’s New Home Construction Program, to build affordable single- or multi-family homes for tribal citizens, while benefitting the local school district.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Previously, state law required schools to sell land for fair-market value; however, some public schools, particularly rural schools, have surplus land that is difficult to sell on the market. While this property often offers no value to school districts, it will enable tribal housing authorities to build quality homes at a low cost for tribal citizens. Cherokee Nation can develop the property for real growth that benefits local communities, Cherokee families and the school district itself.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Cherokee Nation Housing Authority builds quality three- and four-bedroom, single-family brick homes, each with a monthly payment of about $350, which includes taxes and insurance. Since 2012, we have built more than 660 of these homes. This program has also put Cherokees and our neighbors to work by creating 35,156 job opportunities for local contractors throughout northeast Oklahoma. HB1334 further increases our ability to build more homes.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The real advantage for local school districts will be in the form of additional revenue, as $2,800 per student will annually go to the school via Federal Impact Aid. School districts will be able to take advantage of this new law by collecting this aid for each student living in the homes constructed by the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Additional impact aid revenue could lead to reduced class sizes, more teachers, newer textbooks and improved facilities. This desperately needed funding, through federal education dollars into Cherokee Nation’s 14 counties, will drastically enhance the educational experience our children receive.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our partnership with public education in northeast Oklahoma continues to advance in creative and mutually beneficial ways. HB1334 presents yet another opportunity for tribes and schools to collaborate.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cherokee Nation is a proud partner with the state of Oklahoma. We will continue to champion legislation like HB1334 that creates solutions our state needs to leverage tribal investments and improve the quality of life for all Oklahomans. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-65953774456220856502018-05-07T08:54:00.006-07:002018-05-07T08:54:53.465-07:00Addressing food insecurity for veterans in northeast Oklahoma<span style="font-size: large;">Cherokee Nation is steadfastly committed to our military veterans, those men and women who have sacrificed so much for our tribe, our country and our collective freedoms. Recently, we established a formal partnership with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma to help ensure these real-life heroes do not suffer from hunger and food instability. Nobody in Oklahoma, especially a military veteran, should go hungry.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This collaboration, which is the first time a tribal government has been involved with this local food bank program, means regular access to healthy and nutritious foods, and that will translate to better and fuller lives. It is a blessing that we are able to help, and it is the least we can do for those who have done so much for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This endeavor will launch a mobile food pantry to the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center quarterly. The first distribution of 10 pallets — about 10,000 pounds of food — will be May 29. The tribe will help identify and distribute tickets to veterans in need, as well as provide volunteers to help run the mobile pantry. Fresh produce, bakery items and nonperishable food items will be made available for about 125 veterans or widows of veterans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, the Cherokee Veterans Center offers a wide array of activities for veterans. It serves as a place to sign up for benefits, play bingo or attend other activities, and now we are adding a food pantry. It is just one more way we can meet the needs of our people.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Cherokee Nation continues to look for ways to honor and serve our veteran warriors, and this partnership with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is another avenue to reach those in need. Food insecurity is a very real issue for families in northeast Oklahoma, and almost 20 percent of the households the Food Bank serves has a military veteran who resides there and utilizes the program. Additionally, national studies show veterans are affected more by hunger and food insecurity than the general population. Many struggle to put food on the table because of a myriad of issues, from employability after service to mental health and related trauma or an unwillingness to seek help.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Collaborating with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma means we are increasing and expanding its coverage and furthering its mission. Just like Cherokee Nation, the food bank wants to provide for our veterans so that they have what they need to prosper.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Cherokee Nation also offers a food distribution program, which some veterans may also qualify for. For more information on the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center and food pantry, call 918-772-4166.</span>Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-80637025412616234882018-04-26T12:27:00.003-07:002018-04-26T12:35:45.840-07:00Mental Health First Aid training helps with holistic care of our people <span style="font-size: large;">We all have someone close to us who battles illness or disease in one form or another. It is a challenge to be sure, but one area continues to be neglected by not receiving the attention it truly deserves: mental health. Mental health-related issues are frequently stigmatized, which prevents people from seeking and receiving the professional help they need. Undiagnosed and untreated mental illness can be devastating to those who suffer from it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At Cherokee Nation, we know mental health is equally important as physical health and that treating both is required for good health. We also work to understand and address the impact of historical and generational trauma on our Cherokee citizens.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For years, Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health has used, and is continuing to use, federal grants to train community law enforcement, youth workers and health officials to effectively and compassionately collaborate with individuals with mental illness to address their needs and get them help.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each of the five courses the Cherokee Nation teaches, funded through a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration grant and the Indian Health Service, teaches specific risk factors for and observable signs of potential mental illness. The classes also address the role of mental health in emergency scenarios, how we can best assist and how those situations can result in more positive outcomes for everyone involved.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nationally, there are only about 5,000 instructors who are certified to teach Mental Health First Aid, and the Cherokee Nation employs six of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />During a typical eight-hour course, participants memorize a five-step action plan, learn how to identify mental health risk factors and offer support to be effective communicators.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Having these certified instructors is more than just simply hosting a classroom training; it is helping make a life-or-death difference during a mental health or substance abuse crisis. Detailed preparation for these kinds of scenarios means we can better attend to all parties. We are investing in education and training. Because of those efforts, communities and Cherokee families in northeast Oklahoma are benefiting, and we are able to have more comprehensive and up-to-date crisis services going forward.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cherokee Nation’s Adult Behavioral Health Department has led more than 15 trainings and trained almost 350 people to identify and be better prepared when mental illness, including depression, anxiety or personality disorders, is involved. <br /> <br />Cherokee Nation’s Helping Everyone Reach Out, or HERO project, provides children’s mental health services. It has also completed seven Mental Health First Aid trainings with 131 participants from schools, family service agencies and students at Northeastern State University. This summer, the HERO project plans to do even more outreach to area schools so that we can offer this vital training to administrators and classroom teachers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">According to the American Psychiatric Association, Native Americans experience serious psychological distress at 1.5 times greater than the general population and suffer from PTSD more than twice the rate as other Americans. Sadly, those afflicted with mental health issues often self-medicate, which in many cases can lead to substance abuse. This complicates emergencies, which is why we are actively working to be prepared and competent at addressing the complexity created by the presence of mental health-related issues.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another positive result of Cherokee Nation’s efforts in this arena is assisting our first responders. Law enforcement engagement with persons with mental illness will be more amicable and result in increased frequency of positive outcomes in Oklahoma because of these trainings conducted by the tribe.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our behavioral health programs, just like our other health endeavors, rely on federal funding. Cherokee Nation is doing more every day, even as federal policymakers continue to underfund Indian Health Service and other programs that affect our Native population in America. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Striving for a healthy mind, body and soul is how we can move forward, and Cherokee Nation will keep leading the way. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are taking steps to make our employees and citizens more mindful of these issues and the programs we offer tribal citizens, like individual and group therapy for mental health and substance abuse, relapse prevention, children and family treatment, parenting classes and psychological testing for children and adults.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our hope is to light the way for each other. By addressing mental health on a policy, community and individual level, we plant the seeds of change within our tribe. </span>Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-81055994222934343992018-04-11T09:26:00.004-07:002018-04-11T09:28:34.244-07:00American Indian Center and Cultural Museum will be a boon for Oklahoma<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The forthcoming American Indian Center and Cultural Museum
in Oklahoma City will be a world-class facility and has tremendous potential
for education, economic development and tourism purposes in Oklahoma. The
Cherokee Nation is proud to support AICCM and pleased to see it moving closer
to opening. The heart of Indian Country will be home to one of America’s finest
museums.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Recently, I began serving a three-year term on the American
Indian Cultural Center Foundation to help move this center of collective
history and culture toward completion. It will be a unique destination,
designed to tell the powerful and significant story of Native Americans in
Oklahoma. The AICCM’s mission has always been to enhance what individual
tribes, including the Cherokee Nation, do to share our heritage.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Art, history and contemporary culture will be all in one
place, and if people want to dig deeper they can travel to Tahlequah or Ada or
Anadarko or Lawton.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">I am proud to be a part of this creative endeavor and a
public-private venture with the state of Oklahoma, city of Oklahoma City, AICCM
Land Development LLC and private sector. Absolutely none of this would be
possible without the cooperation of the 38 federally recognized tribes in
Oklahoma today.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Construction will resume this summer and take about two
years to complete, while exhibits and other interior finishes will take another
year to install. The museum will open in the spring of 2021. Construction was
stopped six years ago on the museum, which sits at the junction of Interstates
35 and 40 in Oklahoma City, when state funding ran out.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">As Native people, perseverance is something we know well,
and we would not be moving forward today without Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill
Anoatubby and his leadership in establishing a powerful and productive
partnership with Oklahoma City’s leaders. He has been a champion to achieve
this dream. Once completed it will be an epic indoor/outdoor adventure for the
entire family with unique exhibits, hands-on educational programs, firsthand
accounts and cultural demonstrations.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Tribes have tremendous heritage and history in Oklahoma,
which is why state leaders wanted to build this museum in the first place. It
will substantially increase opportunities to educate Oklahoma’s youth on the
rich history of our state, which was born from Indian Territory. Those critical
aspects of Oklahoma’s history simply are not stressed enough in public
classrooms. Oklahomans need to know more about their history and certainly need
a better grasp of how important tribal governments are not just to our past,
but also to our bright future. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Tribal governments mean so much to the state, not just its
cultural identity, but also in a very real and tangible way economically. The
Cherokee Nation alone has an economic impact on our state of over $2 billion.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">Oklahoma is Indian Country, and AICCM will be a tremendous
asset to all of us.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-67919884003795704692018-04-06T08:56:00.003-07:002018-04-06T09:01:30.072-07:00Cherokee tribes will return to NMAI for 5th annual celebration of heritage and history <br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians are again collaborating for the fifth
annual Cherokee Days in Washington, D.C., at the Smithsonian’s National Museum
of the American Indian. The three-day event is April 13-15. It is free to
attend in person, and many of the educational and cultural offerings will be
streamed live online.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The annual celebration has grown into a special event for
the Cherokee Nation, and it is typically one of NMAI’s most heavily trafficked
weekends. The collaboration between the three federally recognized Cherokee
tribes and the Smithsonian is easily one of the best national showcases of
tribal culture. We are able to share our heritage and history in one of the finest
cultural museums in the world.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Since starting this annual partnership five years ago, we
have enlightened and educated thousands of people about who the Cherokee people
were in our historical homelands in the Southeast, and just as important, who
we are today. Collectively, our historians, educators, entertainers and artists
reflect the best of our Cherokee people.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">C<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">herokee Days showcases live cultural art demonstrations and
cultural performances including songs and traditional dances, as well as storytelling.
There will also be pottery, stickball, basket weaving, carving and textile
demonstrations. Among the activities are make-and-take experiences, which allow
children to create traditionally inspired Cherokee items including cornhusk
dolls, clay beads and medallions. This special festival continues to spark
excitement in people of all walks of life and of all ages.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">I am proud to say the leaders, along with the staffs, of the
three federally recognized tribes continually work together to advance language
preservation, historic preservation and cultural policies. There is so much to
learn and appreciate in our intertwined narratives.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">In addition to NMAI’s current “Americas” exhibit, a new
installation created by Cherokee Nation will debut during Cherokee Days. “Trail
of Tears: A Story of Cherokee Removal” shares the unique Cherokee perspective
of removal policies and focuses on the early history of our tribe in Indian
Territory. It educates viewers about the circumstances surrounding the Trail of
Tears and the devastating cost of greed and oppression our people lived
through. It also shows how our tribal government rebuilt itself by
re-establishing schools and courts in modern-day Oklahoma. The perseverance to
not only survive but to thrive is a story we are eager to share nationally and
in our own voice. The exhibit will remain on display through the remainder of
2018.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Additionally, a new panel exhibit focused on Cherokee women
will be showcased this year. The “Cherokee Women Who Changed the World” display
focuses on our historic matriarchal society and female trailblazers within our
culture.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">To
experience the Cherokee Days event if you cannot travel to Washington, D.C.,
there are live broadcasting capabilities through the interactive website </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cherokeedays.com/">www.cherokeedays.com</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please
visit the site for an agenda of daily activities and performances. Also, follow
Cherokee Nation’s social media accounts for additional photos and videos
throughout the event.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-49514991566734327652018-03-29T09:12:00.000-07:002018-03-29T09:12:06.422-07:00Cherokee Nation fueling economic growth in northeast Oklahoma
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Cherokee Nation’s impact within our 14-county jurisdiction
in northeast Oklahoma is undeniable. Ask any public school superintendent,
county commissioner or small-business owner. From funding public education,
building new roads and bridges and supporting first responders, Cherokee
Nation’s role as a leader is clearly defined and distinct.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">By far, one of the tribe’s largest impacts is on economic
development and job creation. Cherokee Nation remains the engine that drives
northeast Oklahoma economically. The tribe and its businesses currently employ
more than 11,000 people and have a $2.03 billion economic impact on the state
of Oklahoma.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Recently in Tahlequah, we topped out the new facility on the
W.W. Hastings health campus, which will open in 2019. Once it is operating at
full capacity and completely staffed in the coming years it will create 850 new
health care jobs, and it will have a major impact in housing and retail needs.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Also in our capital city, we just broke ground on a new
gaming site that will house a modern convention center. Our workforce at
Cherokee Casino Tahlequah will be about 220 permanent jobs. The W.W. Hastings
campus and Cherokee Casino Tahlequah will help fulfill our jobs mission in our
home community. It will create dozens of good careers that include lucrative
benefits packages with insurance and 401(k) plans. That means Cherokee families
are making a good living here in Cherokee County. The future conference center
is really the feather in the cap of this expansion for northeast
Oklahoma. There is a huge need in our region for a convention hall-type
space that can house multiple meetings where people can stay, meet and eat in
one location.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">These new properties will be a regional attraction for
health care and tourism, not to mention the hundreds and hundreds of
construction jobs and opportunities these projects provide the region.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">However, Cherokee Nation’s impact transcends just our own
developments. We are good partners with regional entities like universities,
career-techs and chambers of commerce. Collaboration with the Tulsa Chamber
enabled Cherokee Nation to assist an Italian corporation, Sofidel America, on
its expansion into Rogers County. The new paper manufacturing facility in Inola
will create 300 permanent jobs and another 500 construction jobs. We are
excited to continue partnering with state and municipal partners to create opportunities
like this, because it supports our entire region.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The tribe’s Career Services Department, a critical team
member in securing Macy’s Fulfillment Center workforce in Owasso, is now
assisting DMI in expanding its employee base in Wagoner. DMI, a HVAC
manufacturing company, has made significant investments in the community in the
past year, and we are helping connect our people to good manufacturing jobs
like these.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our
work in growing the economy within our 14 counties is a blessing, and we are
proudly leading the way through innovation and collaboration. We believe in
making sound investments that have a lasting impact on the Cherokee Nation and
the Cherokee people and all of northeast Oklahoma.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-51665778503084635522018-03-23T12:19:00.002-07:002018-03-23T12:22:49.271-07:00Community and Cultural Outreach Department successful in keeping citizens connected <br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The strength of the Cherokee Nation resides in our people.
We are all Cherokees, whether we live inside or outside of our 14-county
jurisdictional boundaries. Over the course of the past year, we have achieved
many things that will improve the quality of life for our citizens. Those
efforts can be seen today, and they will be felt for generations. We have
created jobs, increased health care opportunities and invested in education
like no other time in our history. One of the most important things we do is engage
with our people locally at the community level. The work of Cherokee Nation’s
Community and Cultural Outreach team connects people to Cherokee culture as
well as continuing education programs. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Today, our CCO staff provides
capacity building and training to Cherokee community organizations. They also
manage a community work/building program, a volunteer program, a cultural
outreach program, a history preservation program and the Cherokee Language
Master/Apprentice Program. This work is done within our 14 counties as
well as our formalized 23 at-large communities across the United States. As the
largest sovereign government in the United States with a citizenry of more than
360,000 people, we strive to keep our people connected to culture by offering our
citizens informative and educational opportunities to learn and volunteer.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Our culture and heritage are who we are, and it is a
blessing to share that bond with other Cherokees at CCO gatherings, which in
the past year have been bigger and better than ever before. CCO’s work has
helped revitalize the spirit of “neighbors helping neighbors,” a core Cherokee
value.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">In the past year, CCO has served 112 different Cherokee
community organizations with technical assistance, a 55 percent increase from
just two years ago. They offer community organizations tips on funding sources,
grant writing, new program development, board of directors development, and
ways to improve technology use and communication.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The volunteer program under the CCO umbrella coordinates
with universities and other education-based programs, like AmeriCorps, to
provide opportunities for students to come into the Cherokee Nation and
volunteer their time and energy to build and repair homes of elders, veterans
and other citizens in need. We have created collaborations that help Cherokees
and completed 64 enhancement projects last year by partnering with schools like
Ohio State, Texas Tech and University of <span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">Connecticut. The completed work has a monetary value
of about $240,000.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Sharing Cherokee culture is one of the most important jobs
at CCO, which coordinates weekly cultural
presentations, oftentimes conducted by Cherokee National Treasures in all areas
of Cherokee life. The presentations are filmed and are popular on YouTube. Our
team recognizes the need for a strong cultural identity, the expansion of our
language and the preservation of our history.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Nationally, attendance is up almost 25 percent at our
at-large meetings in the past year. The spirit of community is alive and well
in these endeavors. It is always a blessing to see so many friends and meet new
ones as well.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">We have laid a strong foundation for success in the past
year within our CCO programs. The staff has a wide range of expertise, and
participating in CCO’s community events are some of my favorite
responsibilities as Principal Chief. Every CCO meeting, educational program,
cultural presentation, language workshop or leadership lesson is made with one
goal in mind: to make the Cherokee Nation and our people strong. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-89550694978744887792018-03-15T12:45:00.006-07:002018-03-15T12:45:52.273-07:00Raising wages for our teachers is the right thing to do
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">As the Chief of the Cherokee Nation and the son of public
schoolteachers, it has troubled me to see the inaction at the state level as
teachers across our great state struggle. The time for action is now, and
Cherokee Nation is taking the lead by granting our certified teachers the pay
raise they deserve.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Recently, I proposed—and the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council
approved—a lump sum payment of $5,000 to all certified teachers, effective
immediately. Additionally, certified teacher pay will increase by $5,000,
effective the beginning of teacher contracts in FY18-19.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Over the past decade, the state of Oklahoma has made drastic
budget cuts to public education. At the same time, teachers continue to meet
additional demands beyond simply fulfilling the daily lesson plans. From
monitoring student safety to test preparation to finding ways to help students
in need of food or school supplies, Oklahoma teachers go above and beyond the
call of duty each day and with fewer resources each year.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We have the best colleges in Oklahoma (several in our
jurisdiction like Northeastern State University and Rogers State University),
which train our brightest minds for the educational workforce. Yet, sadly, when
they graduate, they often leave to teach in other states or are forced to leave
the children they love teaching for higher-paying jobs. The state absolutely
must address teacher pay this legislative session because we are in a crisis.
However, Cherokee Nation will not wait any longer.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">This pay raise is in keeping with Cherokee Nation’s
longstanding commitment and support of public education. We started the first
institution of higher learning for females west of the Mississippi River.
We established a system of free public education well before Oklahoma statehood.
We continue to achieve excellence today at Sequoyah High School, the Cherokee
Nation Immersion School and through our support of public schools and students
across northeastern Oklahoma.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In addition, we recently issued $5.4 million to 108 schools
through our car tag compact. The amount given annually has doubled since 2010,
and since 2003, Cherokee Nation has contributed more than $50 million to public
education through the compact.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Cherokee Nation is unwavering in its commitment to public
schools, students and teachers. Our pay raise reaffirms that commitment and, I
hope, sends a message to state leaders that they should follow Cherokee
Nation’s lead and raise pay for all certified teachers in the state. The
Cherokee Nation understands the role of teachers. It is a profession that we
know is of extreme value and importance. Teachers impact so many lives and
should be rewarded as such. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-81878912309012503042018-03-06T12:35:00.002-08:002018-03-06T12:35:18.211-08:00Cherokee National Youth Choir earns prestigious Governor's Arts Award
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Cherokee National Youth Choir recently won the
Governor’s Arts Award. It is the most prestigious arts award in the state of
Oklahoma. It was my honor to nominate the Cherokee National Youth Choir for the
Community Service Award from the Oklahoma Arts Council, an award annually
issued by the governor.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">This particular
honor recognizes Oklahoma individuals or groups for significant contributions
to the arts in the areas of leadership and volunteerism. </span>Without a
doubt, the youth choir acts as ambassadors for the Cherokee Nation, as their
beautiful voices show the strength of the Cherokee Nation and our culture.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The group is active in the community through volunteer
efforts, and it raises awareness to important causes. Members often lead
fundraisers or donation drives when community members are in need. Their
dedication does not end with music.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Typically, the choir consists of 30-40 young Cherokees from
northeast Oklahoma communities. The members, who perform traditional Cherokee
songs in the Cherokee language, are middle and high school youth, usually in
the sixth through 12th grade. The students compete in rigorous auditions every
year for inclusion in the group, which is funded solely by the Cherokee Nation
and is directed by Mary Kay Henderson and Kathy Sierra.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The goal of the choir is to increase awareness of Cherokee
culture and it is an important tool to keep our young citizens involved in the
Cherokee language and heritage.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A staple at Cherokee Nation events and ceremonies, the
choir’s music has a special way of connecting its audience to Cherokee Nation’s
history, culture and language. That success is not limited to the tribe’s borders.
Over the years, the group has performed around the United States, including two
appearances at the Macy’s Day Parade in New York. Founded in 2000, the choir
has recorded 13 CDs and has performed with legendary artists like Foreigner,
Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Roy Clark, Kenny Rogers and the Oak Ridge Boys.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been a remarkable year for the Cherokee National
Youth Choir. In addition to the recent state award, it also won the award for
Best Pop Recording during the 17th annual Native American Music Awards this
past year. Another impressive honor the youth choir secured in 2014 was its
selection for a GRAMMY Foundation award worth $10,000 for stressing the
importance of music in school. More than 120 other vocal groups were considered
for that effort.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Cherokee National Youth Choir is part of the long
tradition of excellent musical talents in Oklahoma, and they have brought
acclaim and accolades to the Cherokee Nation and the state. The talent
represented each year within the Cherokee National Youth Choir is impressive,
and I could not be more proud of their contributions. These young people
represent the best of the Cherokee Nation and remain the future of our
communities.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The choir’s latest album, “Just Jesus,” is available through
Cherokee Nation’s Gift Shops or online at </span><a href="http://www.cherokeegiftshop.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.cherokeegiftshop.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845772160651256358.post-39666394815428337292018-02-21T11:33:00.000-08:002018-02-21T11:33:52.308-08:00Federal diabetes program for Indians is saving lives in Cherokee Nation
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The recent federal budget extension includes funding for the
reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. This is
significant for the Cherokee Nation and all of Indian Country. The budget for
SDPI has been renewed at the current funding level of $150 million until the
end of FY 2019.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadly, one in four Cherokees over age 50, and one in three
over age 60, has diabetes. But through the federal investment in SDPI, Cherokee
Nation has received the resources needed to address our disproportionate burden
of diabetes. SDPI is a lifesaving program and continues to play a significant
role in improving health care quality and access for Cherokee families.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Established in 1997, SDPI currently supports more than 300
diabetes programs in 35 states that have led to significant advances in
diabetes education, prevention and treatment. Last year, more than 10,000
diabetes patients in the Cherokee Nation Tribal Jurisdictional Service Area
benefited from SDPI.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SDPI funds have been utilized to support nearly 30 schools
and Cherokee community organizations in increasing physical activity levels and
healthy nutrition for schoolchildren and community members. It’s critical
we begin the education process with our youngest citizens to ensure they grow
up eating healthy and getting plenty of physical activity. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cherokee Nation’s program, one of our most successful public
health programs, targets Type 2 diabetes through collaborations with coalitions
that include the state, municipalities and communities to implement programs
such as Farm-to-School efforts to reduce diabetes risk factors. We have served
527 participants with prediabetes education and activities, which resulted in a
loss of 4,478 pounds and an average weight loss of 8.5 pounds per Cherokee
Nation participant.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
published data that shows some diabetes rates are improving for tribal
citizens. Native people have experienced a 54 percent decline in rates of
end-stage renal disease due to diabetes, which represents the steepest
decline of any ethnic group. These kinds of improvements have resulted in
significantly more patients with controlled blood sugar, blood pressure and
cholesterol. These health indicators are associated with the reduction of
diabetic complications, including heart attack, strokes, blindness, amputations
and kidney failure.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Simply
put, SDPI is saving lives in Cherokee Nation, transforming communities and
saving our federal health care system dollars. We are pleased congressional
leaders did the right thing and continued its funding. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09853030509816879654noreply@blogger.com0