{"id":129176,"date":"2025-03-24T00:01:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T05:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=129176"},"modified":"2025-03-24T09:56:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T14:56:05","slug":"chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-lives-up-to-its-values","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/24\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-lives-up-to-its-values\/","title":{"rendered":"Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation lives up to its values"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_youtu-be\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/LTvvIDvEtz8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/19\/maxresdefault-318.jpg\" alt=\"Gadugi. It&#039;s in our roots. \u2764\ufe0f\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/LTvvIDvEtz8\">\n\t\t\tGadugi. It&#8217;s in our roots. \u2764\ufe0f\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/LTvvIDvEtz8\">\n\t\t\t<p>A year after the Cherokee Nation launched its innovative Gadugi Corps volunteer program, more than 2,000 volunteers stepped forward to help on hundreds of pr&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/s\/desktop\/61baa440\/img\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"YouTube\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tYouTube\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Cherokee Nation: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/LTvvIDvEtz8>Gadugi. It&#8217;s in our roots. \u2764\ufe0f<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Gadugi Corps: Building a Legacy of Service for Cherokees<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, March 24, 2025<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChuckHoskin_Jr\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Cherokee Nation<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source-links\"><A \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/\">cherokee.org<\/A><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<p>The Cherokee word \u201c<u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LTvvIDvEtz8\">gadugi<\/a><\/u>\u201d is so ubiquitous in our culture that everyone, even if they\u2019re not fluent in the Cherokee language, knows what it means: to work together as a community for the good of us all. This is one of our most cherished values.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Since launching in December 2023, the Cherokee Nation\u2019s Gadugi Corps has brought this value to life. The program has rapidly grown into a powerful presence of service, volunteerism and community building for our tribe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>A wide array of volunteer opportunities \u2014 from disaster relief and <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\/posts\/pfbid033sJv7moPxXkfiaFRqhArPTULtrqZe6kAaeK1mPUX6LFehvmjPa4HK9cdFEe8Dj7pl\">storm cleanup<\/a><\/u> to <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\/posts\/pfbid02ogXA4sdMd7fViXnf5nzEqFz93fA6TrAM1GFR13wstCAEPzg2kg4RH1M4m6UmJbxKl\">educational camps <\/a><\/u>and environmental conservation \u2014 have enabled Gadugi Corps participants to give back to our communities and strengthen bonds between Cherokee citizens. We are so proud to see this program create a ripple effect of positive change across our 7,000-square-mile Cherokee Nation Reservation and around the globe, wherever our citizens live. I know when many Cherokees hear about our commitment to one another, they are moved to join in themselves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>One of Gadugi Corps\u2019 greatest successes is its unique ability to bring Cherokees of multiple generations and backgrounds together. We have seen Cherokees from elders to youth, from living on the reservation to at-large citizens, from urban to rural, all joining in the spirit of service. Every one of them gains a deeper connection to the core values that have sustained Cherokee people for centuries.<\/p>\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheCherokeeNation%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0a4cCKcNFCA8dnZFesegqa7xnP865ahcwntqeFBEbAZ2nThFLsGyxxjP5oSUuBXV6l&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"803\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\"><\/iframe>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<p>Under the strategic leadership of Gadugi Corps Director Shawn Crittenden, we have met immediate needs and instilled long-term Cherokee pride. And we are only getting started, as the <u><a href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nations-gadugi-corps-celebrates-milestone-first-year\">potential for growth<\/a><\/u> is tremendous.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Expanding our outreach to college-aged Cherokees through <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=736023158730937\">partnerships with universities<\/a><\/u>, non-profit groups and online platforms will ensure we engage more young leaders who are eager to jump in and lend a hand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>This year, we\u2019ve had several college students, including groups from Kansas State University and the University of Connecticut, on the reservation to volunteer during their Spring Break. They worked on things like building handicap ramps, conducting neighborhood cleanup efforts and cemetery maintenance, while also learning more about Cherokee history and culture.    <\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Opportunities specifically designed for our elders are also coming online \u2013 like the \u201cGadugi Corps Legacy Living Initiative\u201d and a partnership with Grand Gateway Economic Development Authority to support its \u201cSenior Companionship Program.\u201d These efforts will provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for our elders, such as making handwritten notes for school backpack programs and Valentines for Veterans and helping put together emergency preparedness kits and care packages. These are simple but very impactful acts, and allow our elders to make a difference in our communities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheCherokeeNation%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0kGXV852ixT3AverGswvN7VbSSejrgyVdpeAi9oMGN1MbueGSUVP4betUeKWYw4zvl&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"676\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\"><\/iframe>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<p>We\u2019ve also expanded our ability to use digital tools, launching a <u><a href=\"https:\/\/cherokee.org\/gadugi-corps\">Gadugi Corps webpage<\/a><\/u> and improving access on the <u><a href=\"https:\/\/gadugiportal.cherokee.org\/s\/login\/?ec=302&amp;startURL=%2Fs%2F\">Gadugi Portal<\/a><\/u> to provide a streamlined way for citizens to sign up for all volunteer opportunities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The success of Gadugi Corps shows the world what we have always known: the power of Cherokee values endures. Service is not just a program \u2014 it\u2019s a way of life for the Cherokee people, and we can ensure that every Cherokee citizen, no matter where they live, feels that they are part of building a stronger collective future for our Nation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>For more information about volunteer opportunities or to join the Gadugi Corps, please visit <strong><u><a href=\"https:\/\/gadugi-corps.cherokee.org\/\">https:\/\/gadugi-corps.cherokee.org\/<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<HR><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-3\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/23\/chuckhoskinavatar.jpg\" alt=\"Chuck Hoskin Jr\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\" class=\"rounded-circle\" \/><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"col-md-9\"><EM><A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChuckHoskin_Jr\">Chuck Hoskin Jr.<\/A> \r\nis the 18th elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Indian \r\ntribe in the United States. He is only the second elected Principal Chief of the \r\nCherokee Nation from Vinita, the first being Thomas Buffington, who served from \r\n1899-1903. Prior to being elected Principal Chief, Hoskin served as the tribe\u2019s \r\nSecretary of State. He also formerly served as a member of the Council of the \r\nCherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years.<\/EM><\/div><\/div><HR>\r\n<img src=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/24\/cherokeenation-3.jpg width=0 height=0 class=invisible>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Service is not just a program \u2014 it\u2019s a way of life for the Cherokee people.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":129183,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[77,76,128,175,127],"class_list":["post-129176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-cherokee","tag-chuck-hoskin","tag-elders","tag-languages","tag-oklahoma","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/24\/cherokeenation-3.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-xBu","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=129176"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":129186,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129176\/revisions\/129186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/129183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=129176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=129176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=129176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}