{"id":646991,"date":"2026-06-22T00:01:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T05:01:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=646991"},"modified":"2026-06-22T11:35:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T16:35:16","slug":"chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-maximizes-opportunities-in-healthcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/06\/22\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-maximizes-opportunities-in-healthcare\/","title":{"rendered":"Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation maximizes opportunities in healthcare"},"content":{"rendered":" <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/06\/22\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-maximizes-opportunities-in-healthcare\/cherokeenation-123\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-647037\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" data-attachment-id=\"647037\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/06\/22\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-maximizes-opportunities-in-healthcare\/cherokeenation-123\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/22\/CherokeeNation-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Cherokee Nation\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Cherokee Nation&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner launch millions of dollars in new health career scholarships and grants at a signing ceremony in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on June 4, 2026. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\/posts\/pfbid0BDANxjequBGU9RLYqtgokyhdpXTf7kXY4g2atnxTJ1e9sjdGzsKVK1YFyFzuM3yzl&gt;Cherokee Nation&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/22\/CherokeeNation-1.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/22\/CherokeeNation-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cherokee Nation\" class=\"size-full wp-image-647037\" \/><\/a> <figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner launch millions of dollars in new health career scholarships and grants at a signing ceremony in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on June 4, 2026. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\/posts\/pfbid0BDANxjequBGU9RLYqtgokyhdpXTf7kXY4g2atnxTJ1e9sjdGzsKVK1YFyFzuM3yzl>Cherokee Nation<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Maximizing opportunities for Cherokees to help Cherokees<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, June 22, 2026<\/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\nModern Cherokee history celebrates several key moments, including adoption of Sequoyah\u2019s syllabary in 1821, ratification of the Cherokee Nation\u2019s Constitution in 1839, and construction of the Cheroke Nation Supreme Court in 1844.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nA historical deep dive into these singular moments often reveals a confluence of smaller efforts, decisions or events that each contributed to making the achievement even possible. In fact, the syllabary itself made our written Constitution possible, which then was the foundation for our Supreme Court.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nToday, Cherokees are working toward a singular moment in health and wellness. We currently operate the <a href=\"https:\/\/health.cherokee.org\/\">largest health system in Indian Country<\/a> with 11 health facilities across our reservation. We administer more than 3 million patient services annually, and our Cherokee Nation Health Services represents the largest single portion of the tribe\u2019s operating budget, as well as the Cherokee Nation\u2019s largest department by employees.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_anadisgoi-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-launches-health-scholarship-programs-extends-scholarship-deadline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/18\/healthcarescholarships.jpg\" alt=\"Cherokee Nation launches health scholarship programs, extends scholarship deadline\">\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:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-launches-health-scholarship-programs-extends-scholarship-deadline\">\n\t\t\tCherokee Nation launches health scholarship programs, extends scholarship deadline\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-launches-health-scholarship-programs-extends-scholarship-deadline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Anadisgoi\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tAnadisgoi\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nIt is already a historic undertaking with decades of progress and recent major milestones, including the Cherokee Nation Public Health and Wellness Fund Act of 2021 that earmarks 10% of third-party revenue toward health and wellness initiatives.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\n\r\nBut the peak has not yet been reached. The summit, our ultimate objective, is the best possible healthcare for each patient and a generationally healthy Cherokee Nation.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nTo that end, we are in an all-government approach to best invest in the healthcare workforce.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nDeputy Chief Bryan Warner and I have a good team that is proud to collaborate with the Council of the Cherokee Nation, Cherokee Nation Businesses and the Cherokee Nation Foundation to invest in the health of Cherokee families and future healthcare workers. <P><\/P>\r\n\r\nWe recently gathered at the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center in Tahlequah, next to the soon-to-open W.W. Hastings Hospital, to dedicate <a href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-launches-health-scholarship-programs-extends-scholarship-deadline\">additional funding for new healthcare training and scholarships<\/a>.<P><\/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%2Fpfbid0aL9pz4QPWdM6aGYYinGWp5FUg7fK48NfTeQzVMWPPqKKs9oepHdjgqwMwGg2fVszl&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"771\" 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\nWith this new $1 million <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/all-services\/education-services\/college-resources\/public-health-and-wellness-phw-merit-scholarship\/\">Cherokee Nation Public Health and Wellness Merit Scholarship<\/a>, students pursuing college degrees in health fields \u2014 including health services, public health and behavioral health \u2014 and who want to come and work for the tribe after graduating, have a chance to earn scholarships to help with tuition, books and fees.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nAnd one of the best parts: There is no residency restriction for the scholarship. We want to lift up and support Cherokee Nation citizens who are our future healthcare workers regardless of their location and where they\u2019re going to school.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nAnother $1 million in scholarships will also help students enrolled in short-term career training programs focused in healthcare. We will announce more about this scholarship program soon.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nWe also extended the deadline for all Cherokee Nation scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year to June 30. Cherokee Nation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/all-services\/education-services\/\">Education Services<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/all-services\/career-services\/\">Career Services<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cherokeenationfoundation.org\/\">Cherokee Nation Foundation<\/a> all have healthcare opportunities and more to explore. Each also has dedicated staff to help Cherokees navigate their programs.<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_anadisgoi-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-university-of-oklahoma-officially-launch-30m-nursing-school-partnership\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/18\/oucollegeofnursing.jpg\" alt=\"Cherokee Nation, University of Oklahoma officially launch $30M nursing school partnership\">\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:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-university-of-oklahoma-officially-launch-30m-nursing-school-partnership\">\n\t\t\tCherokee Nation, University of Oklahoma officially launch $30M nursing school partnership\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-university-of-oklahoma-officially-launch-30m-nursing-school-partnership\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Anadisgoi\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tAnadisgoi\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nCherokee Nation is building a stronger health care workforce through strategic partnerships. Earlier this year, we authorized over <a href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-university-of-oklahoma-officially-launch-30m-nursing-school-partnership\">$30 million to transform the former W.W. Hastings Hospital into the Cherokee Nation Nursing and Allied Health Education Center<\/a>, which will serve as home to a satellite campus of the <a href=\"https:\/\/nursing.ouhsc.edu\/\">University of Oklahoma College of Nursing<\/a>. It\u2019s a strategic partnership designed to expand nursing education opportunities in Cherokee Nation. The tribe established a $5.15 million scholarship endowment and committed $2 million annually for health profession scholarships, youth career exploration, and non-degree workforce training.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nOur growing health system also includes the new W.W. Hastings Hospital replacement and the future Claremore Outpatient and Emergency Health Center. Both are massive capital investments that increase the demand for quality healthcare workers on our reservation. Now is the time for young Cherokees or adults willing to upskill and pursue a lucrative career path to choose health.<P><\/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%2Fpfbid0BDANxjequBGU9RLYqtgokyhdpXTf7kXY4g2atnxTJ1e9sjdGzsKVK1YFyFzuM3yzl&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"847\" 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\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHealthcare is an opportunity \u2014 not only to improve the lives of Cherokee families, but also to train and employ citizens. We want to maximize opportunities for Cherokee people to help Cherokee people.<P><\/P>\r\n\r\nWe, as a people, know there is no higher goal than a nation where Cherokees invest in each other and live healthy, culturally rich lives. Healthcare investments into access, workforce and education all contribute to that highest achievement.<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>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Healthcare is an opportunity \u2014 not only to improve the lives of Cherokee families, but also to train and employ citizens.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":647037,"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":[18,19,9],"tags":[77,76,71,121,127,810,102],"class_list":["post-646991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-health","category-opinion","tag-cherokee","tag-chuck-hoskin","tag-economic-development","tag-employment","tag-oklahoma","tag-scholarships","tag-youth","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-2Ijl","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/22\/CherokeeNation-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646991","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=646991"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646991\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":647038,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646991\/revisions\/647038"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/647037"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=646991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=646991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=646991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}