Governor Bill AnoatubbyAs Americans, we are confronted each day with a torrent of messages.
In this modern era, information travels very quickly, and there is plenty of it. At the apex of topics are stories, articles and discussions about the direction of our country. It is important to keep national issues in perspective as our country experiences changes and we develop new ways of doing things.
It is certainly a time of change – and sometimes of upheaval – in the United States. It’s important, at this moment in our history, to have faith in our U.S. Constitution and our shared history of overcoming national challenges. If we abide by the rule of law, and if we enter into debate with a sincere desire to do what is best for the country, history tells us the country will survive and become stronger.
As Chickasaws, we are blessed to be citizens of the U.S., and of the Chickasaw Nation. We understand that our country and our tribe share many similar virtues.
As proud Chickasaw citizens, we are committed to helping our tribe succeed. We have a strong history we draw upon when we face issues together.
Just like the U.S., when this country was a fledgling nation, the Chickasaw Nation has survived many challenges. For both the country and tribe, there have been many years when money was scarce and people had to be innovative and resourceful. In order to provide for their families, their communities and their tribe, Chickasaws have worked together, produced ideas, and come up with solutions that have made for positive results.
Today, our tribe has matured and things have become much better for our people.
Over the past two decades we have together built a core of commercial enterprises. These endeavors have met with substantial successes, and the result has been an inflow of funding that has exponentially expanded the programs and services now available to Chickasaws. We have achieved a high level of self-sufficiency, and that has paid off for Chickasaws in so many ways.
We continue to be financially conservative, and committed to those elements so important to the Chickasaw people – health care, education, housing, culture, elder and youth services, nutrition and more.
We have met with commercial success, and we continually review future projects to maintain and enhance our results. We are judicious with the income we receive, and we strive to maintain healthy and robust financial performance.
We never forget the real test is the result we produce for the people we serve. All the funding in the world is useless without a product at the end that helps people.
A home for a Chickasaw family, a college education for a Chickasaw student, a healthy and dignified life for a Chickasaw elder, nutritious food for a Chickasaw mother and child, a place to honor our heritage – these are the results that truly count.
We will always face challenges, both in our country and in our tribe. If we remember the foundations of the U.S., and of the Chickasaw Nation, and what each stands for, we can move forward with confidence, knowing we are doing the right thing for our people.
