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November 17, 2009

CHEROKEE CHAT — Cherokee Nation stimulus funds

By Cara Cowan Watts, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor District 7, Will Rogers

November 17, 2009 — Over the past month, a few media outlets in Oklahoma have attempted to sensationalize the idea that Tribal governments have received Federal stimulus monies known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

You may fundamentally disagree with the Act, but the reality is it has happened.

Tribal governments are no stranger to administering Federal dollars via a wide range of programs which Rogers County benefits from each year. The Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget for Cherokee Nation government, alone, is approximately $500 million. The stimulus grants have brought an additional $43 million to northeastern Oklahoma via the Cherokee Nation government. Other Tribes have been awarded their own grants to be accountable for as their government does business.

The Cherokee Nation is using the Federal stimulus monies to build new homes, replace or add new rural water infrastructure, repair and improve existing roads, providing safe child care for families needing to work and implementing energy conservation projects.

To determine the facts around Cherokee Nation stimulus monies, Cherokee Nation citizens can request details from Cherokee First by Tribal law under the Freedom of Information Act. In addition, anyone can go to recovery.gov, recovery.org, recovery.com and the individual Federal agency websites to track stimulus money to Tribes.

The media bias centered around the spin that Tribes should not receive stimulus monies if they were gaming Tribes. If this was true on face value, Nevada nor any other State government who benefits from gaming should receive Federal stimulus monies. If this decision-making criteria holds true, the State of Oklahoma should not accept stimulus monies either. The State of Oklahoma accepted a compact with Tribes including the Cherokee Nation where they accept a portion of Tribal revenues from certain gaming machines and to support the Oklahoma horse racing industry.

If we are going to examine certain groups with respect for use of tax monies, we should look closer at businesses and entire industries who accept one-time and on-going tax incentives in the forms of tax breaks, start-up dollars or investment in supporting infrastructure such as roads and stop lights. Tribes are here to stay and employ people. Tribes, typically, do not outsource to other countries and use layoffs as a last resort.

Tribes have one nest and are an integral part of Oklahoma for many reasons. When Tribes succeed, Oklahoma and Oklahomans succeed. There are not many private businesses who can demonstrate the incredible, positive impact which Tribal governments such as the Cherokee Nation have had on the State of Oklahoma.

To contact the Tribe, call 453-5000. The operator will connect you with the appropriate department. Tribal programs and services are administered by the Chiefs staff at the Tribal Complex. Tribal hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Save a trip to Tahlequah by using the Tribes Internet tools at www.cherokee.org. Almost all applications are available online to print from home.

If you have questions, issues or concerns about the Cherokee Nation government, please email me at cara@caracowan.com or write me at P.O. Box 2922, Claremore, OK 74018.

n Cara Cowan Watts is a member of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council.

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