For generations, Cherokee people have understood that wellness is about far more than treating illness. Wellness starts before getting sick and needing medical attention and continues well past recovery. It is about creating opportunities to live healthier lives, remain active, stay connected to one another, and build stronger communities. That belief has always shaped who we are, and it continues to shape how Cherokee Nation approaches public health today.

We’re approaching the first anniversary of the opening of the Mary L. (Holland) Carson Wellness Center in Stilwell, which brought 49,000 square feet of exercise and recreation space for all ages. In the year since we celebrated its opening, it has exceeded every expectation. More than 6,600 members have joined, and the facility has welcomed over 7,000 childcare visits. It now averages more than 400 visits each day.

Those numbers tell a powerful story.

They tell us that Cherokee families embrace healthier lifestyles when given access to modern, welcoming spaces close to home. They tell us that childcare removes a real barrier for parents who want to prioritize their health. They tell us that our Cherokee elders, youth and families are using these spaces to exercise and to improve their overall well-being as they spend meaningful time together.

The success of the Carson Wellness Center builds on the successful wellness spaces we have established in the communities of Kenwood, Marble City, Salina, and the soon-to-open comprehensive wellness center in Tahlequah. We have also included a wellness center in plans for our $400 million Claremore health campus, which will begin construction soon. Together, these projects represent a fundamental shift in how Cherokee Nation invests in healthcare.

Hospitals and clinics will always be essential. Cherokee Nation has built the largest and best healthcare system in Indian Country because our citizens deserve access to exceptional care. But we also know that some of the greatest improvements in health happen long before someone walks into a clinic or hospital. They start with opportunities to be active, eat well, reduce stress, and build personal habits that last a lifetime.

That is why I recently signed an executive order creating the Cherokee Nation Wellness Center Task Force.

The purpose of this task force is to develop a strategic roadmap for expanding wellness infrastructure across our reservation in the next decade. Our goal may be ambitious, but it is achievable. We can bring wellness opportunities within reach of every Cherokee citizen living on the reservation.

This effort will not be driven by guesswork. Data, public health expertise, and the real needs of our communities guide the task force and will inform its findings. Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan will lead the task force, joined by our experts in public health, healthcare, construction, cultural preservation, and community planning. Their recommendations will help Cherokee Nation identify where comprehensive wellness centers, smaller wellness spaces, and other targeted investments can have the greatest impact.

This work builds directly on years of research and planning by our Public Health department. Long before these facilities opened, our public health professionals were studying how access to wellness shapes long-term health outcomes, especially in rural communities where safe places to exercise are too often absent. Deputy Chief Bryan Warner has been a steadfast champion of preventive health throughout his time in office, and he recognizes that investing in wellness today means healthier families for generations to come.

The task force will also explore opportunities to further integrate healthcare and wellness and will have a finalized report by mid-August. Future facilities may include services such as physical therapy, aqua therapy and other rehabilitative or preventive health programs that complement our existing healthcare system and make care even more accessible to Cherokee citizens wherever they live.

Cherokee Nation can make these investments thanks to the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act (PHWA). By dedicating a portion of our third-party healthcare revenue to public health initiatives, we have created a sustainable and reliable source of funding for projects that improve quality of life. PHWA already supports wellness centers, hiking trails, nutrition programs and community grants, alongside partnerships with public schools, local governments, non-profit agencies and participating Community and Cultural Outreach organizations. This task force will help ensure those resources continue to be invested wisely and strategically.

Every Cherokee family should have the opportunity to live a healthier life, regardless of where they live and raise their family. We will achieve this vision through thoughtful planning, sound public health research, and a continued commitment to our people. In Stilwell, the Carson Wellness Center has shown us what is possible. Now it is time to build on that success and create a future where wellness is within reach for every Cherokee.

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