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- By Chuck Hoskin Jr
Guest Opinion. Two years ago, the Cherokee Nation took a deliberate step to strengthen something that has always defined our people: Gadugi — working together for the common good.
When we formally established the Gadugi Corps, it was not simply to create another program within our government. It was to elevate a Cherokee value that has carried us through removal and rebuilding. Gadugi is who we are. And two years later, the results speak for themselves.
Today, nearly 6,000 volunteers have stepped forward under the Gadugi Corps banner. That number represents more than participation, it represents commitment. It represents Cherokees who are willing to give their time, energy, and heart to serve elders, mentor youth, respond to disasters, and strengthen neighborhoods across our Reservation and beyond. Cherokee volunteers have logged tens of thousands of service hours, supporting reading camps, preparing communities for emergencies, and assisting elders through initiatives like the Legacy Living program.
This anniversary is also marked by the release of the Gadugi Corps 2025 Annual Report, required by the Cherokee Nation Gadugi Corps Volunteer and National Service Act of 2023. The report summarizes last years the incredible success and growth of the program. The report is one of many reasons I feel confident that 2026 will be the best year yet for Gadugi Corps, as it helps build our nation from the grass roots up.
The report gives us a roadmap — one grounded in the data we’ve collected and driven by Cherokee values — to ensure life-affirming volunteerism continues to grow in a way that is strategic and sustainable.
Because of that growth and that promise, we have elevated the Gadugi Corps to a standalone department within Cherokee Nation’s government. It will be led by Shawn Crittenden, who served on the Council of the Cherokee Nation for District 8 from 2015 to 2023. As the executive director of Gadugi Corps, Shawn brings his years of experience and his personal mission to serve others to the role. This step sends a clear message: service and connection amongst Cherokees is central to our goal.
And we are not slowing down. This summer, we are launching Gadugi Summer, a six-week program that will bring Cherokee college students — especially those who live at-large — home to serve their Nation. These young leaders will work on meaningful community projects while getting heightened exposure to their culture and history and getting to fellowship with other Cherokees. By providing travel support, housing, stipends, and scholarship assistance, we are making sure service is accessible for every Cherokee no matter where they live.
For generations, our ancestors practiced Gadugi not because it was required, but because it was necessary. Today, the Cherokee Nation is stronger than ever, but the principle remains the same. Gadugi Corps is really more than just another program. It is our solemn promise to one another to continue the legacy of our ancestors. We move forward together, and we are just getting started.
Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is prnicipal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
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