Governor Bill AnoatubbyThe Chickasaw Nation is one of 563 tribes in the United States recognized by the federal government. These tribes were established in this region of North America prior to European contact, and each had a historic and functioning government in place.
The existence of our tribal government prior to the contact with the Europeans defined the Chickasaw Nation as a sovereign entity. As a sovereign nation, the Chickasaw held, and continues to hold, the controlling authority for its government and its people. The subsequent imposition of U.S. federal sovereignty created a unique relationship that remains to this day.
As a sovereign government, we exist to serve the Chickasaw people. As any government should do, the Chickasaw Nation is responsive to its citizenry and seeks to implement programs and services that are of benefit to the people.
The U.S. government is also present to serve its people. The federal government is obviously much larger than the Chickasaw Nation and expends trillions of dollars each year on programs and services.
The U.S. funds its programs and services principally through income taxes levied on its citizens and the sale of debt to the investors of the world.
The income taxes can range from zero to almost 40 percent of annual income, depending on a citizen’s income level. The debt is sold in the form of U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, which are promises by the U.S. to pay back the debt to the investor, plus interest.
The Chickasaw Nation funds its essential programs and services without any taxes levied on its citizens. Chickasaws benefit from education, housing, transportation, health care, general assistance and many other programs without the requirement of contributing a portion of their income to the government.
We, as a government and as a people, are very unique in today’s world as we fund many of our programs and services through the income we derive from our tribal businesses. Prior to our commercial endeavors – and successes – we were highly dependent on the federal funding we received for a few programs. In those days, we spent much time and effort in budgeting, justifications and discussions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the dollars we were able to commit to programs and services.
Today, our total tribal funding has grown many-fold, and the vast majority of our funding is produced by our tribal businesses.
We have been able to initiate and fund a number of new and important programs for Chickasaws strictly with income from our tribal businesses. The results have been astounding.
More Chickasaws than ever are receiving bachelor’s degrees, and advanced degrees. More Chickasaws have good homes, good jobs and great futures. More Chickasaw children benefit from a myriad of programs designed to build good and happy lives on a solid foundation.
It is very unique to have a government with so much to offer, all funded by the success of commercial operations. We are surely blessed to possess the ability to operate our historic tribal government – and its many programs – without taxes or any other citizen monetary contributions.
Our ancestors built their communities with teamwork and planning. They worked together to plan the defense of the community, the feeding and housing of its people, the caring of its children. We carry on those traditions today, in this modern era, with a dedication to innovation and hard work, and a commitment to the Chickasaw people.
