"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN Receives Emergency Management Award

Curtis Snell, Cherokee Nation tribal council member representing Delaware and Ottawa Counties (far left), and Major Sharon Wright of the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service (center), accept the 2009 Nania Award presented recently by Tulsa Partners, Inc. for Cherokee Nation’s community service and leadership related to emergency management services. In the background are John Smaligo, Jr., Tulsa County Commissioner for District 1 (left) and Mike McCool, director, Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (far right).

TULSA, Oklahoma - The Cherokee Nation recently received a special award from Tulsa Partners, Inc. at the Sixth Annual Nania Awards Banquet held recently in Tulsa at the historic Travis Mansion.

Cherokee Nation and two other area tribes were presented with the 2009 Nania Award in recognition of their dedication to emergency management services, and for the essential role they played in the 2008 Tulsa City-County Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC), which was held during the Emergency Management Institute in Emmetsburg, MD, last fall.

“It was quite an honor to be recognized by the Tulsa Partners association and we are proud to share the honor with the Muscogee Creek and Osage Nations of being the first tribal nations to participate in an IEMC,” said Tamara Copeland, Cherokee Nation Risk/Emergency Management director. “This work will result in more opportunities for us to work together with the local governments for the betterment of all our citizens.”

The Nania Award is given annually to local corporate and non-profit entities that have done outstanding work through public and private partnerships to build a disaster-resistant and sustainable community.

According to Tim Lovell, Tulsa Partners, Inc. executive director, the 2008 IEMC would not have occurred without the leadership of the tribal emergency managers. The tribal participation led to invaluable insights on emergency management coordination between the tribal, state, county and municipal entities.

“Because of the essential role that the tribes played in the 2008 IEMC, you have been chosen to receive this award,” said Lovell in an announcement to the tribe.

Tulsa Partners, Inc. is a non-profit organization made up of citizen, business, and agency partners working to reduce risk and assist the community in being prepared for all hazards. The organization works to create a disaster-resistant community through the use of public/private partnerships, citizen education and demonstration projects.

Cherokee Nation’s Emergency Management Department was formally created in 2005 and has a jurisdiction that spans 14 counties in northeastern Oklahoma. The department oversees and coordinates a multi-disciplinary team from throughout Cherokee Nation’s tribal government, and regularly assists with disaster relief to communities for flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and ice storms.