Dynamic government, focus on citizens have driven Chickasaw growth

This article appeared in the October 2020 edition of the Chickasaw Times

The history of the world includes the rise, expansion, decline and fall of numerous empires and dynasties.

The Russian Empire, Yuan Dynasty, Portuguese Empire, Spanish Empire and others all rose to world power and prominence during their specific eras. And each eventually declined, soon to be replaced by a new entrant on the world stage.

We are all familiar with the Roman Empire, which dominated the world, its territories and its cultures for hundreds of years. We know the Romans built a powerful military and conquered numerous countries. They also built an impressive government structure that helped produce prosperity, civic development, art and culture. However, it too would decline and fall under its own weight.

The Roman Empire “turned from a kingdom of gold to one of rust and iron,” the Greek philosopher Dio Cassius observed. The powerful empire had declined and collapsed under the weight of its own misjudgments, errors and hubris.

Conditions change as time moves ahead, and the requirements of the people governments serve change as well. As governments grow more mature, they can also transform into something inflexible and unresponsive.

Governments can become stagnant and forget why they exist and who they serve. The fundamental core of service to the citizens can end up at the back of the proverbial line. At our tribe, we zealously guard against those things.

Our Chickasaw Nation has grown so much over the past 30 years. Whatever metric you apply to the Chickasaw Nation, the outcome always shouts “growth.”

Growth helps give our tribe vibrancy and adaptability. Growth means we are together doing some things very well. It also means we are building a government that creates expanded opportunities for Chickasaws. Growth means we have the wonderful opportunity to serve Chickasaw citizens better.

For the past 30 years, the Chickasaw Nation has followed a conservative growth model that has paid off for all of us. The real keys have been how our growth plan has been structured and executed, plus the wide support we have received from Chickasaws everywhere. Without your support and help, we would have never been able to achieve our goals as a tribe. We have new goals on our radar now and, as always, we want to hit our goals with resounding success. It is impossible to overstate the importance of citizen engagement and interaction. Your support means everything!

Our focus is, and will always be, on the Chickasaw people our tribal government serves. That is our mission: “To enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people.” Those of us who work for you at your tribal government live that mission statement every day.

That tribal mission is what drives our commitment to Chickasaws. Our effective, diverse and well-funded programs and services are dynamic and built for making positive differences in your life. We stand ready to modify and add to programs and services those changes serve Chickasaws well.

We have developed such a wide selection of programs and services because while we are all Chickasaw, each of us has our own personal and family needs. We are dedicated to providing you the very best service regardless of what programs and services you decide to access.

We have learned the one, true foundation to an effective and strong functioning government is serving the people well. We believe once that foundation begins to crumble, decline is inevitable.

We are absolutely committed to nurturing our path of growth, service and success. We are open to change, and we understand being adaptable is critical. Most of all, we are listening to you!

Thank you for your interest and your involvement with the Chickasaw Nation. Your contributions are vital to your effective government.

When we all work together as Chickasaws, we are bound to meet with success!