"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Council Approves Funding for Services

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council overwhelmingly approved legislation to provide for the funding of services for citizens as well as expansion of business operations during their monthly meeting.

The Council passed a budget module of nearly $6 million to fund Sequoyah Schools’ Tsu-Na-Ne-Lo-Di (Place Where They Play) center and the tribe’s Nowata, Muskogee and Sallisaw health centers. The module also included $120,000 to fund the Cherokee language bachelor’s degree program at Northeastern State University. In addition, the Council passed a resolution authorizing the financing of expansions at Cherokee Nation Enterprises.

“This budget mod will enable us to complete the construction on the Redbird Smith Health Center Annex and Nowata Health Center in a timely manner,” said Cherokee Nation Health Services group leader Melissa Gower. “It shows the commitment of the Tribal Council to our health care system.”

Child support was also a topic of discussion for the Council, as they passed three separate items of legislation including tribal court jurisdiction, court procedures and a garnishment code. The legislation was part of the newly developed Cherokee Nation Child Support program, which becomes effective the beginning of April. Parents who have been ordered to pay child support in a Cherokee Nation district court and who willfully refuse to pay can be held in contempt of court and their wages garnished under the program.

Students and active members of the military will also now be able to obtain and retain Cherokee Nation car tags under legislation passed by the Council. The legislation targets students who are attending colleges and universities outside of the Cherokee Nation jurisdiction, and members of the active military who have been stationed outside of the Cherokee Nation, but who retain their active residential address within the Cherokee Nation boundaries can register for a Cherokee Nation car tag.

During the meeting the Council also developed staggered terms of office for Council members. During with the upcoming general election in June, some district seats will have a six-year term to stagger the Tribal Council terms. After this year’s election, future elections will be held every two years. Councilors will serve four-year staggered terms.

The Council also confirmed several nominations to the board of Cherokee Nation entities, including approving William Grass as a board member to Cherokee Nation Industries and to Cherokee Nation Businesses, Jim Carson as a board member to Cherokee Nation Industries, and Dennis Dowell and B. J. Dumond as board members to Cherokee Nation Enterprises.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Council will be held on Monday, March 12, in the Council Chambers of the Cherokee Nation complex south of Tahlequah.