Giving thanks for our blessings

This time of year is always a time to reflect on the good things in our lives. I hope we all honor the true meaning and spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday and celebrate the multitude of blessings we have, including the achievements we’ve accomplished and the future we hope to build for ourselves, our families and the Cherokee Nation.

I am so thankful and blessed to be the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation during such a monumental chapter in our tribe’s history. I am thankful we have been able to make the lives of Cherokees better, and we are doing that every day through expanded access to quality health care, newly constructed homes for Cherokee families and a renewed focus and funding for job creation and education.

I am thankful the success at Cherokee Nation Businesses is at a record high in 2014, and proud to report we employ more Cherokees citizens than ever before in our history.

Those record profits allow us to do more good for our people. We recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of State Question 712, which allowed the state and tribes to expand gaming in Oklahoma. Our successes and profits in the past decade are vital to our abilities to diversify our business interests and, more importantly, expand the kind of quality service programs we offer our citizens.

I’m thankful we have the ability to offer world-class health care to Cherokee citizens. Last year we had more than one million patient visits at our health centers and hospital. New and expanded centers in Jay, Ochelata, Stilwell and Sallisaw will soon be coming online, and a brand-new hospital with a surgical center in Tahlequah is being planned.

I am thankful more than 100 Cherokee families have the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season in their new homes built by the Cherokee Nation. A safe, secure home is the foundation for any family to succeed. Our people deserve that opportunity.

We are truly blessed as a Nation, but we will remain steadfastly focused in the coming year on the things that matter most for Cherokee people: homes, health and hope.

On behalf of Deputy Chief Joe Crittenden and the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, I’d like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. God bless you all, and God bless the Cherokee Nation.