TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council authorized the lease of trust land adjacent to the Redbird Smith Health Center in Sequoyah County to the Tahlequah Hospital Foundation for a dialysis facility. The proposed tract would be leased for a nominal amount, for 25 years with an option to renew for an additional 25 years.
“This center will help improve the lives of Cherokees and other Native Americans for decades to come,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. “In the true spirit of gadugi, we are partnering to help our citizens live longer lives.”
Tribal Councilors Janell Lattimore Fullbright and David Thornton Sr., who represent Sequoyah County, were co-sponsors of the resolution. Both said they have wanted a dialysis center in their district a long time and were pleased to see Cherokee Nation become a step closer in achieving that goal.
“Many of our citizens and others will benefit from this service,” Fullbright said. “We have patients going as far away as Fort Smith in hazardous weather. Getting this center is one of the reasons I ran for council. I wanted to get this very badly.”
In addition, the council voted to authorize the submission of a community development block grant for a Cherokee cultural arts center and a food distribution site in Collinsville. The grant would total $800,000, which will be used to implement a microenterprise program targeting Cherokee artists as entrepreneurs, the Cherokee Cultural Arts Center and a new Food Distribution Center in Collinsville. The Cherokee Nation will be required to provide a 25 percent match for these funds, totaling $200,000.
“The food distribution site is much needed throughout our areas,” said Harley Buzzard, tribal council member for Delaware and Ottawa counties. “Our goal is to rid of the tailgate sites and have the citizens not have to drive more than 25 miles to a distribution center. This will help us in the northern counties.”
The council also passed a resolution requesting the approval of the location of each precinct for the 2011 Cherokee Nation election and passed an act establishing unoccupied seats in voting districts in preparation of the upcoming election.
In other business, the council passed resolutions to renew membership in the National Congress of American Indians and to appoint a tribal delegate, to donate electronic equipment to the Claremore Veterans Center, and to authorize a boxing and martial arts compact with the State of Oklahoma.
The next regular meeting of the council will be held Monday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. in the Tribal Council Chambers of the Cherokee Nation W.W. Keeler Complex in Tahlequah.
