Principal Chief Hoskin outlines broadband, language and cleanup grants in State of the Nation
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Summary
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council on Jan. 13 that the nation will invest in language revitalization, broadband infrastructure and environmental assessments after recent federal grant wins and council funding commitments.
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council on Jan. 13 that the nation will expand language revitalization, broadband access and environmental cleanup planning after recent federal grant awards and council support.
Hoskin said Speaker Services — a program supporting fluent Cherokee speakers — has invested about $34,000,000 across roughly 1,700 projects and will begin a three‑year foundation commitment of $3,000,000 per year. "This program can continue to give that measure of assistance if we work together and make sure that it's a program that is sustainable over the long haul," Hoskin said.
The principal chief highlighted a $45,000,000 Cherokee Connect Broadband Initiative, funded with a $35,000,000 federal grant and $11,000,000 from the nation’s ARPA-funded Respond, Recover and Rebuild plan. Hoskin said the project will construct 15 new cell towers to connect 16 communities currently lacking household‑grade connectivity.
He also reported a $10,700,000 grant to install 112 electric vehicle charging ports across 12 community locations and a $1,300,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to support environmental assessments at 25 sites across the reservation, naming Skytook, Bartlesville, Marble City and Stillwell as included locations. "This puts people to work," Hoskin said of the charging-station funding.
Hoskin announced upcoming agreements and meetings, saying the nation will sign a memorandum of agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support disaster response supplemental teams and will meet with the Bureau of Indian Education and local partners at Sequoia Schools on Jan. 16 to expand agricultural education.
The chief framed these items as part of broader efforts on housing and long‑term investments: he said the nation will "build upon" initial housing investments while balancing larger capital needs across the reservation.
The State of the Nation concluded with a reminder of cultural and community priorities and a request that council members keep communities affected by recent California fires in their prayers.
The council did not take a formal vote on the chief’s report; it was delivered as an address to the body.