"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - 7TH National Award Received

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Recognized for their outstanding achievement in financial reporting, the Cherokee Nation’s Financial Resource Group recently received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (CAFR) for the seventh year in a row.

“This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “The attainment of this award is a significant accomplishment for the Financial Resources Group and is a testament to its work ethic and management. I congratulate all of the staff and commend them on a job well done.”

The award was presented to Cherokee Nation’s Financial Resources Group for their comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2007, by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United Stated and Canada.

“The Cherokee Nation Financial Resources group should be commended for the dedication and hard work that has led to the Nation being the recipient of this prestigious award 7 years in a row,” said Callie Catcher, Cherokee Nation Treasurer. “I am very proud of the Financial Resources Group.”

The tribe’s government employs approximately 2,800 employees with a 2009 payroll budget of $150 million.

The report submitted by the Financial Resources Group was judged by an impartial panel and met the high standards of the GFOA. This is the seventh consecutive year that the Financial Resources Group has received this award. Tamsye Dreadfulwater-Leake, the tribe’s Senior Director of Finance, pledges to continue to provide financial resources that are of the highest standards.

“We are extremely pleased that through the combined efforts of the Financial Resources staff and financial staff throughout the Cherokee Nation that we are recipients of this prestigious award,” said Dreadfulwater-Leake. “The leadership provided and encouragement received from Chief Smith and the Tribal Council was invaluable to this accomplishment. We also appreciate the support and guidance given by our audit firm, BKD, LLP.”

The GFOA established the CAFR Program in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.