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Tahlequah, OK - Two of the city’s major entities have decided to work together to strengthen the entire Tahlequah community. Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) and Northeastern University held the first meeting of their joint commission earlier this week at the Keeler Tribal Complex.

"This is good for both Northeastern and the Nation," said NSU President Larry Williams. "For too long, we’ve had the University on the north, the city of Tahlequah in the middle and the Nation in the south, and never the twain shall meet. We’re trying to change that."

"I think this commission will deal with more than the education system," said Principal Chief Chad Smith. Both entities share a common interest in the economic growth of the area and pledged to share information and work together on economic development. "If we prosper, then Tahlequah prospers, northeastern Oklahoma prospers, the entire state prospers," said Williams.

Among the many topics of discussion for future cooperation, the Nation and the school expect to work together on recruitment and retention of Cherokee students at NSU, share expertise in the computer field, and look into job placement at the Nation for NSU graduates.

NSU students and faculty already work with Cherokee Nation through the school’s optometry and social work departments. The school enrolls more American Indian students than any other university in the United States. Roughly 80 percent of those Indian students are Cherokee. "NSU is the school that will educate our next generation of Cherokee leaders," said commission member Julian Fite.