Across the country and here in Oklahoma, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented demand for data centers — facilities that power everything from health care systems and financial services to the everyday digital tools our citizens rely on. Their expansion brings real economic opportunity. It also raises serious questions about energy use, water consumption, land stewardship and long-term sustainability.

For Cherokee Nation, the responsible path forward begins with understanding.

That is why I recently signed an executive order establishing the Principal Chief’s Task Force on Data Centers. This nine-member group, led by our Secretary of Natural Resources Christina Justice, is charged with examining how data center development could affect the Cherokee Nation Reservation and our citizens — evaluating both the opportunities and the environmental considerations this rapidly expanding industry presents. Other members include key Cherokee Nation staff from information technology, government relations, communications, the attorney general’s office, and Cherokee Nation Businesses. The team will study the issue and produce a comprehensive report this summer.

Northeast Oklahoma is increasingly part of the national conversation on data center growth. This naturally raises questions about industry practices, the impact of operations on our natural world and what sort of pressure will be placed on our energy grid and our local economy. Hard questions should be asked, and answers and transparency are key. It is critical that Cherokee Nation examine potential impacts before large-scale development arrives. Intentional, thoughtful planning ensures a productive landscape for all parties, developers and community members alike.

What we cannot do is either become reactionary or complacent. If Cherokee Nation is reactionary on any issue, if we fail to do our homework and seek credible and balanced sources of information on the subject of data centers, we may end up as ineffective as we are loud. If we bury our heads as the industry continues to build, we will be silent and powerless. Both extremes will leave us sidelined. Cherokee Nation will not be sidelined.

This newly established task force builds on work my administration has already undertaken. In 2025, Cherokee Nation adopted its first comprehensive artificial intelligence policy, establishing clear standards for the responsible use of AI across our tribal government while protecting Cherokee language, culture and data sovereignty. That effort affirmed a principle we hold dear: Innovation must never come at the expense of who we are as a people.

The same principle now guides our approach to the physical infrastructure powering these technologies. We welcome economic development and business growth but not at the expense of more resources than we and our land can afford. That would represent an imbalance that goes against who we are as a tribe.

The task force will assess current and projected data center development across the 7,000-square-mile Cherokee Nation Reservation, study potential environmental impacts, and identify possible economic benefits and drawbacks. Equally important, it will seek input from Cherokee Nation citizens and outside experts — ensuring that our analysis reflects the voices of those most affected.

As Cherokees, we have always understood that progress must be balanced with stewardship. Our cultural teachings call us to seek harmony between opportunity and responsibility. Technology may evolve quickly, but the values that guide our decisions remain constant.

Data centers can present opportunities for our region, but progress in technology often brings negative or unintended impacts. The march of progress, particularly the breakneck speed with which AI is developing, can place our world out of balance, particularly our natural world and local economies.

If timeless Cherokee values — which center on balance — are to be applied to the present challenges and uncertainties brought about by the growth of data centers, we need to know the facts. By studying these issues with care, Cherokee Nation can meet the digital future with true intention and an unwavering commitment to our people.

---

---