The true strength of the Cherokee Nation does not reside solely within the seat of our tribal government in Tahlequah. It lives in the heart of our communities across northeast Oklahoma and throughout the country.

That strength thrives where Cherokee elders share stories and knowledge with the next generation. It shines when neighbors help neighbors rebuild after a severe storm and when volunteers serve others with empathy and courage.

This is the spirit of Gadugi — the Cherokee word for working together for a greater good. This principle is the bedrock upon which we have built our resilient communities and preserved Cherokee culture. It is why we call our community volunteer group Gadugi Corps, because the value of uplifting others in a collaborative way is so engrained within our culture and values.

To strengthen the local advocacy foundation, we recently released the report from our Cherokee Nation Task Force on Community Organizing and immediately began implementing its recommendations. Led by our community-focused Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan, this task force conducted a deep and thoughtful examination of community grassroots organizing efforts, both within the 7,000-square-mile Cherokee Nation Reservation and among our established at-large Cherokee organizations and emerging groups.

Throughout this process, we did what a responsible government should always do: We listened. We heard from the citizens and grassroots leaders who have devoted years to service.

The consensus was clear — our community organizations are indispensable. They help keep our Cherokee language alive, organize service projects, and they provide fellowship that no government program can replicate. Sadly, for too long, they have operated with limited human and fiscal resources.

That changes now. The Hoskin-Warner administration, in unison with the Council of the Cherokee Nation, is expanding assistance directly at the grassroots level. We are adding new field technical assistant positions to serve as on-the-ground resources, helping Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach-participating organizations strengthen their operations. We plan to increase technical trainings that are offered and skills development for local leaders.

We have hit the ground running on these new staff positions. Job openings will post soon for the on-reservation field staff. We are excited to announce that Channce Condit, an experienced Cherokee Nation community leader and county official in California, will lead our efforts to better serve at-large organizations.

Additionally, we are increasing grant funding to increase capacity and the operating needs of community buildings. These investments respond directly to what organizers told us they need to succeed.

This is more than a financial investment. It is an affirmation that Cherokee citizens are the architects of their own communities. The government can provide the tools, but it is you — the volunteers, the leaders and the culture keepers — who shape our future.

As Principal Chief, I am proud to empower this work. Our tribe’s future depends on honoring the wisdom of the past, while better equipping every Cherokee community — whether in Tahlequah, Tulsa, or far beyond our reservation — with the support to grow and thrive.

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