Governor Bill AnoatubbyThe United States is coming around to the issues that are of vital importance to all Americans.
The U. S. budget recently submitted to the U. S. Congress by the President puts emphasis on health care and education.
For Chickasaws, it is good to know we have been working hard to improve our education and health care services for many years. In response to citizen requests, we have vastly expanded and improved our programs in these areas so important to our citizens.
In education, we have devoted millions of dollars and a tremendous amount of human resources to drive wide access, excellence and positive results. For our traditional college students, there exist voluminous opportunities for monetary and other assistance. Our tribe offers scholarships and grants to not only high-achieving students, but also those who are newly embarking on their college careers. We desire that all our students succeed, and the programs are in place to help our college students receive their bachelor’s and advanced degrees.
The Chickasaw Nation offers tutoring, GED instruction, vocational-technical school assistance, clothing grants, curriculum, entrepreneurship training, internships and much, much more. We are completely committed to education for our people because we know it leads to good jobs, fulfilling lives and happy Chickasaw families.
It is truly amazing to meet the scores and scores of Chickasaws who have utilized the tribe’s programs to earn college degrees, and other educational degrees and certifications. The number of Chickasaws with advanced education and training is growing exponentially. This is providing excellent job choice, fulfilling careers and happy Chickasaw families.
We are building a very solid foundation for our tribal future through our students’ academic success.
In 1994, when we compacted to provide Indian health care in our local IHS service unit, we were responding to calls from citizens who consistently ranked health care the number one priority. We knew Chickasaws wanted and needed not just more health care, but health care that was more wide-ranging and responsive to their needs.
This effort has required a substantial dedication of resources, and it is an investment that is paying huge dividends to the people.
We have, over the past 14 years, built a tribal health system that cares for almost 1,000 people each and every day. We have built programs that are in response to the needs of the people. From the Diabetes Care Center to our state-of-the-art pharmacy services to our specialty clinics, we have worked to put in place the highest quality programs and professionals to serve you.
Our tribe is a leader in Indian health care. The commitment to build the new Chickasaw Nation Health System health care facility in Ada is remarkable, not for its size, but for the services and access it will offer Chickasaws and other Indian patients. We are building the facility because it is the right thing to do for the people’s health care needs.
Our new facility will be filled with equipment, professionals and processes dedicated to health care excellence.
We are fortunate at the Chickasaw Nation to be far along the road to success in quality education and health care programs.
