fbpx
facebook app symbol  twitter  linkedin  instagram 1
 

Guest Opinion. The beating heart of Cherokee culture is when we can interact face to face with other Cherokees, appreciating and learning from each other across generations. Cherokee Nation is devoted to keeping this culture alive, in part by making significant investments in rural community centers. The recent grand openings of new community centers in Marble City in Sequoyah County and Kenwood in Delaware County are cornerstones in our renewed effort to support Cherokee families where they live and work.

This week, we celebrated Kenwood’s grand opening of the Woody Hair Community Center. The sprawling 33,000-square-foot facility is designed to serve a variety of needs for the nearly 26,000 Cherokee citizens living nearby, from Cherokee elders to our youngest citizens. The $21 million building will be a gathering point and source of unity and pride for the community going forward, housing an elder nutrition program, a Head Start child care facility, areas for traditional games and more.

Never miss Indian Country’s biggest stories and breaking news. Sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. 

In Kenwood, we’ve also worked to expand Wi-Fi and internet access, so that Cherokees can stay close to their family and community while still participating in the wider world.  Our successful collaboration with AT&T is empowering young students to study from home, elders to see a doctor remotely, and small business owners to take orders online. Kenwood is only the start, as we have identified 15 more areas across the 7,000-square-mile Cherokee Nation Reservation to enhance connectivity.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

Similarly, the Marble City Community Center, which opened its doors in late May, stands as a testament to our infrastructure improvement strategy throughout the 14 counties we call home. The $10 million, 22,800-square-foot facility now includes a clothing resource center, a food pantry, wellness spaces, teaching areas, new playground equipment and a basketball court. These amenities will support both the physical and cultural health of Sequoyah County and provide valuable space for Cherokee fellowship.

The new centers are beacons of hope. They offer safe, beautiful and permanent spaces where the community can come together. By investing in these rural areas, the Cherokee Nation is not only improving the quality of life for Cherokees for the next several generations, but also protecting the continuity of Cherokee culture and values found in these close-knit communities. These are communities that many people have forgotten, but the Cherokee Nation never will.

Working together with Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, along with the Council of the Cherokee Nation, we have shown the state and the country a powerful example of how Cherokee Nation can uplift our citizens, live out our values and build a prosperous future. These centers are more than just buildings. They will be the heart and soul of traditional Cherokee communities.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the pincipal chief of the Cherokee Nation.

More Stories Like This

The 25th Navajo Nation Council Embraces Kinship and Harmony during the Késhmish Season
Reflecting on the Losses of Native Students at Boarding Schools
It's Midnight in Washington, DC
President Joe Biden is Right on the Indian Boarding School Monument: “We don’t erase history.”
Cherokee Language Preservation Moving Forward

Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?

Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.

Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.

Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today. 

Right now, your support goes twice as far. Thanks to a generous $35,000 matching fund, every dollar you give during December 2024 will be doubled to protect sovereignty and amplify Native voices.

No paywalls. No corporate owners. Just independent, Indigenous journalism.

About The Author
Author: Chuck Hoskin JrEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.