Governor updates citizens on tribe’s endeavors

CONTRIBUTED BY Gene Lehmann, Media Relations.


This article appeared in the June 2015 edition of the Chickasaw Times

Hundreds of Chickasaws have gathered recently at community dinners in Irving, Texas, Durant, Okla., and Oklahoma City to discuss recent progress, services and benefits available to citizens as well as plans for the Chickasaw Nation’s future.

During his remarks at the gatherings, Gov. Bill Anoatubby noted such meetings were very important.
“We have a great deal of information to share with you, but perhaps even more important is what you have to share with us,” Gov. Anoatubby said. “Feedback at events like these has been the catalyst for many of our programs.”

Gov. Anoatubby emphasized the link between economic development and programs and services. The Chickasaw Nation, he said, is operating more than 280 programs designed to enhance the quality of life of Chickasaw people.

Gov. Anoatubby said that while federal, state and local governments depend on taxes to fund their budgets, the Chickasaw Nation does not.

“We utilize business revenues to fund tribal programs at no additional cost to the citizen,” he said.
In 1987, when Gov. Anoatubby was first elected, the Chickasaw Nation operated 33 programs and was dependent on the federal government for about 99 percent of the funding.

Today, more than 280 valuable programs and services are available to the Chickasaw people. Tribal business revenues provide more than half of the funding for those services.

Two new projects mentioned by Gov. Anoatubby involve honoring Chickasaw military veterans.

He recently announced plans to construct a 13,000 square- foot Chickasaw Veterans Lodge on the campus of the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada. Additionally, the tribe is asking veterans and active duty personnel to join the Chickasaw Warrior Society.

“We are pleased and honored to construct the facility for Chickasaw veterans. Our tribe has a long history of fierce warriors,” Gov. Anoatubby said. “Those ancient warriors formed societies and, in keeping with tradition, we are encouraging all Chickasaws who have served their country to unite in the Warrior Society.”

Plans were also announced to construct a community center and senior center in Oklahoma City.

“In December, we purchased the 50 acres on which we are meeting,” he told the OKC gathering. “By securing this property, we have another place in the metro area to serve the Chickasaw people.”

There was also discussion of the tourism initiative, which includes significant development in Murray County, Oklahoma with the Chickasaw Cultural Center as the hub.

“Tourism has been a very successful venture for us,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “Most of our tourism efforts are dual purposed – we are able to share information about the Chickasaw Nation while at the same time generating an economic return.”

More than 350,000 guests have visited the Cultural Center since it opened in 2010, and more than 75,000 guests have stayed at the Artesian Hotel and Chickasaw retreat and Conference Center in the past year alone.

The Chickasaw Nation emphasis on tourism will continue into the future with Johnston County, Oklahoma and Tishomingo being the focus.