Chuck Hoskin Jr. Delivers Final Cherokee Nation State of the Nation Address
Chuck Hoskin Jr. Delivers Final Cherokee Nation State of the Nation Address
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. delivered his eighth and final State of the Nation Address Saturday in Tahlequah, using the speech to reflect on major investments in health care, housing and Cherokee language preservation while outlining priorities for his final year in office.
The Chuck Hoskin Jr. final State of the Nation Address was part of the 74th annual Cherokee National Holiday and came less than a year before Hoskin and Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner leave office because of the tribe's two-consecutive-term limit. Hoskin's term ends August 14, 2027.
Hoskin told citizens gathered at the Cherokee National Peace Pavilion that the Nation remains strong and resilient after years that included the COVID-19 pandemic, major changes following the U.S. Supreme Court's McGirt decision and growing concern about the number of remaining fluent Cherokee speakers.
Chuck Hoskin Jr. Final State of the Nation Address Highlights Health and Language Investments
Hoskin pointed to more than $1 billion invested in the Cherokee Nation health care system during his administration, including expanded access to primary care and behavioral health services.
Major health projects highlighted during the address included the new W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah and a new health campus being developed in Claremore.
The administration has also expanded wellness programs through the tribe's Public Health and Wellness Fund Act, which Hoskin said allows Cherokee Nation to support wellness centers and related programs using tribal revenue rather than relying entirely on federal funding.
Language preservation was another major focus.
Under the Durbin Feeling Language Preservation Act, Cherokee Nation has invested $182 million in efforts to preserve and revitalize the Cherokee language.
Hoskin said the initiative has helped create 123 high-level second-language speakers, provided assistance to more than 1,000 fluent first-language speakers and delivered more than 200,000 hours of Cherokee language instruction.
He also announced plans to nominate Howard Paden, executive director of the Cherokee Nation Language Department, to become the tribe's first Secretary of Language and Culture.
The complete State of the Nation report is available through Cherokee Nation's official Anadisgoi news service.
Cherokee Nation Housing Investment Builds Hundreds of Homes
Hoskin also highlighted what his administration described as record housing investments.
Since 2019, Cherokee Nation has built 730 homes and repaired 3,885 others through the Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act.
The law commits $40 million in tribal funding every three years toward housing and community development without relying on federal dollars.
Hoskin said the program has also helped finance 11 new community buildings, with three additional buildings under construction.
Other accomplishments cited during the address included expanded elder nutrition programs, increased higher education scholarships, the creation of the Gadugi Corps, development of a new substance use treatment facility and work toward a new Cherokee Heritage Center.
The Cherokee Nation's executive branch, led by Hoskin and Warner, oversees those programs and other operations across the tribal government. More information about the administration is available through the Cherokee Nation Executive Branch.
Hoskin Proposes Child Care and Job Training Investments for Final Year
Hoskin used his final State of the Nation Address not only to review the past seven years, but also to lay out goals for the remaining months of his administration.
Among the largest proposals is a new child care investment that would include Child Development Centers in Tahlequah and Vinita, grants for Cherokee entrepreneurs seeking to open or expand child care businesses and longer Head Start hours for working families.
Hoskin also called for at least $2 million annually to reimburse Cherokee citizens for eligible job training expenses under a proposed Career Readiness Act.
Another proposal would make the Artist Recovery Act permanent through a new Artist Resiliency Act. The current program, which expires September 30, has invested $4 million in Cherokee artists, funded more than 3,800 hours of community art classes and added 601 pieces of Cherokee art to the tribe's collection.
Hoskin told the audience his final months in office would not be a period of slowing down, describing the remaining year as a continuation of the momentum built during his administration.
Saturday's address was one of the major events of the Cherokee National Holiday, which brought a parade, Cherokee artists, traditional games and an intertribal powwow to Tahlequah. The annual celebration routinely draws visitors from across the country.
Information about the annual celebration and other Cherokee Nation cultural events is available through Cherokee Nation Official News.
Hoskin and Warner will both leave office in August 2027, closing an administration that has spanned two terms and major changes in Cherokee Nation health care, housing, language preservation and tribal government.
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