During his Oct. 3 State of the Nation Address, Chickasaw Nation Governor Chris Anoatubby credited the tribe’s continued progress and self-determination to decades of planning, innovation and a unified vision.
“It is my great honor to report to you today the state of the Chickasaw Nation is strong, and we have a bright future ahead,” Governor Anoatubby said at the Chickasaw Annual Meeting.
“Our economic foundation is solid, our culture flourishes, the heart of our Nation beats strong, and our commitment to one another — unyielding. Together we have accomplished extraordinary things, and together we will continue to build a brighter, stronger and healthier future for every Chickasaw citizen,” Governor Anoatubby said.
Building upon a solid foundation and guided by a mission, “to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people,” the Chickasaw Nation is economically robust and continues to invest in its people and communities, and work to ensure future generations inherit an increasingly prosperous and resilient tribe.
“Together, we stand on a strong foundation built by those who came before — a foundation reinforced by the commitment and resolve of those serving today, a foundation built to last, to endure, that will help fulfill the promise of those who will lead us into the future,” Governor Anoatubby said.
Outreach
Through connection groups, listening conferences, online platforms and more, a sense of community has emerged that extends far beyond the tribe’s geographic boundaries, Governor Anoatubby said.
“For the Chickasaw people, now more than 84,000 citizens living across the country and around the world, our profound sense of family reaches far beyond the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation,” he said. “Regardless of geography, Chickasaws are creating connections and fostering community everywhere they call home.”
Governor Anoatubby said a new online platform Chokwaa (to come in) is designed to make it easier to find and apply for tribal programs and services. It was created as a direct result of citizen feedback from the most recent listening conference.
“We now have more resources, more engagement, more opportunities than ever before, and we want everyone to be able to easily access and benefit from them,” he said.
Serving the Chickasaw people
During the past four decades, the Chickasaw Nation has grown and progressed tremendously, developing a diverse business portfolio which provides funding for nearly 400 programs and services in areas of education, healthcare, housing and many more.
“Revenues generated by these successful businesses allow us to reinvest in resources and opportunities that meet the needs of Chickasaws of all ages,” Governor Anoatubby said.
Today, the Chickasaw Nation operates more than 100 successful businesses in energy, banking, gaming, hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, media and other industries, and directly employs more than 15,000 team members.
Economic Development
Since opening last year, more than half a million guests from all 50 states have enjoyed OKANA Resort and Indoor Water Park in the Horizons District in Oklahoma City.
Chickasaw Nation Industries (CNI), a federally chartered corporation wholly owned by the Chickasaw Nation, engages in several lines of commerce for both the federal government and commercial enterprises. Currently, CNI has 164 contracts across 27 federal agencies with a workforce of more than 1,200 professionals.
Trace Fiber Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation, provides broadband services to thousands of homes as well as schools, hospitals and public safety organizations, serving communities across the Chickasaw Nation, many of which have lacked reliable internet service.
“This is just one example of how investing in our tribe’s progress benefits our communities and our state as a whole,” Governor Anoatubby said.
Healthcare
The Chickasaw Nation Department of Health had another successful year, with more than 1 million patient encounters, more than 1.5 million prescriptions filled, more than 1,000 babies born at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center and more than 50,000 pediatric patient visits.
The tribe broke ground this year for phase one of the Chickasaw Nation Health Newcastle Medical Center.
Upon completion, the Newcastle facility will be one of the largest and most comprehensive First American hospitals in the United States.
Construction also began for a new stand-alone pediatric clinic on the Ada South Campus.
Other health facilities opened this year, including an Active Aging facility dedicated to the holistic wellness of Chickasaw citizens age 55 and older, as well as an Integrative Medicine Clinic and Nan-aiya Aboa (House of Peace), which brings together multiple outpatient-based mental health and substance use programs in one centralized location.
“These new facilities are more than just buildings,” Governor Anoatubby said. “They are investments in our people and our future.”
Education
This year, the higher education and career technology programs awarded more than 6,800 Chickasaw students with scholarships and other educational support. The Student Support Program awarded more than 4,170 college and career technology students with general financial assistance.
“To ensure our tribe’s bright future, we are supporting Chickasaw students at every level of learning and education. Scholarships, educational assistance, tutoring, career development and other programs are benefiting thousands of Chickasaws across the country,” Governor Anoatubby said.
Three new Child Development Centers were opened in Ada, Purcell and Tishomingo.
“These new centers were the result of feedback and requests directly from you,” Governor Anoatubby said. “We hear you. We appreciate listening to your ideas and hearing your concerns, and we will continue to pursue ways to implement strategies that meet the needs of our people.”
Housing
This year, more than 600 Chickasaws were served with the down payment and closing cost assistance grant, totaling more than $3 million, and more than 1,900 Chickasaws received a grant for home improvements. The homeowner preparedness program served more than 2,300 Chickasaws across the U.S.
“We remain committed to offering and expanding the reach of our housing services and our ability to support strong communities,” Governor Anoatubby said.
Cultural Preservation
Governor Anoatubby detailed efforts made to celebrate and promote Chickasaw culture.
“Preserving and promoting our vibrant heritage, history and culture is a responsibility we embrace,” Governor Anoatubby said. “We continue to dedicate significant resources to preserve historic sites and build new avenues for Chickasaws to connect with language, history and culture.”
He said construction of the Chickasaw Heritage Center (CHC) in Tupelo, Mississippi, is progressing, and it is set to open next spring.
Located within the Chickasaw Nation’s historic Homeland, the CHC will share Chickasaw history and culture from a uniquely Chickasaw perspective.
Rosetta Stone Chickasaw Level 4 was released this year. The Chickasaw Press celebrated 20 years of preserving and promoting Chickasaw history and culture through literary publications for all ages. Governor Anoatubby noted the Chickasaw Nation Dynamic Woman of the Year Award celebrated
Thousands of Chickasaws from across the U.S. gathered between Sept. 23 and Oct. 3 for the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival, which has been central to the tribe’s self-determination and unity for more than 65 years.