Osiyo! Asking for justice: The Cherokee Tribal Nation in Oklahoma is the only Native American tribe that does not provide quarterly per capita income payments from Indian Gaming to it's registered tribal members.

• What's the result?: Poverty rates on Cherokee Lands are soaring. In several Cherokee counties 20%-30% are homeless.
• Cherokee Nation uses citizens as pawns telling them that Hospitals, Drug Treatment Centers, Work Experience Programs, Cherokee Public Education, and Costly New Upgrades to Tribal Facilities is better for them than sharing Indian Gaming profits.
• I received this reply from Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr's office: "Thanks for the email. We'll take this under advisement." 

Here's the email I sent July, 2021:

Dear Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.,

I'm writing to request consideration for per capita income from Indian Gaming for Cherokee Citizens. Tribal Member Gaming Payments are periodic (usually quarterly) payments of gaming profits, distributed to every registered member of a tribe that derives income from gaming operations. As per the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C.

• A lot has changed in our world post-pandemic... Oklahoma has the most tribal casinos in America at 140 gaming locations!
• Those 140 Cherokee Nation Casinos (largest number of any Native American Tribe) did $3 Billion dollars in 2022.

• That's $3,000,000,000.

• Yet not one dime of that $3 Billion goes to it's Cherokee Citizens, even though we are the members and foundation of the very tribe that bears our name!

The Cherokee Tribal Nation in Oklahoma is the only tribe in America that does not provide quarterly per capita income payments to its Citizens ===>The only tribe. Let this sink in for a moment: 100% of Native American tribes have gaming income payments to citizens except Cherokee Nation.

Homeless. In addition, the data shows Cherokee Citizens experience worse housing conditions and a higher incidence of homelessness than the US population overall: 

• Because homelessness primarily takes the form of doubling up rather than sleeping on the street, homelessness in Cherokee Country is less conspicuous than in other areas. 
• People go from one family member’s home to another. Many Cherokee are homeless, but they just stay with family members and extended families until they get kicked out. It’s not good.
• What makes the Shakopee, Apache, Navajo, Cheyenne, Shoshone, more qualified for gaming payments than the Cherokee?

Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., you can change this - it's not the Cherokee way and shows that Cherokee Citizens are worth less than their tribal brothers and sisters: 

• Hardship. Based on population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau over the past five years, Adair County is the poorest in the state with an estimated 6,400 of its residents, or 29.3%, below the poverty line, the report shows:
• Sequoyah County, ranked fifth, was shown to have 23.1% of its residents -- 9,482 -- below the state poverty level. Why not take action against this 23.1% poverty rate in Sequoyah County?

What's the Answer?...

1. Provide quarterly per capita income payments from Indian Gaming to registered Cherokee tribal members, just like every other Native American tribe has done for decades, and let's halt the 20-30% poverty rate in our nation. No more poverty! Tiah!
2. This puts income into the hands of the tribal members who need it most to feed their families and put a decent roof over their heads: The Cherokee Citizens! 

The Shakopee, formerly the wealthiest Native American tribe, had annual revenue of $1 Billion in 2021. There are 480 members, and each Shakopee gets around $84,000 quarterly vs. $0 quarterly to each Cherokee. Surely we can do better!
 
It's time for a change for the Cherokee.

Anything less is discrimination with prejudice. Let us reflect again:

• The 140 Cherokee Nation Casinos just hit a new record high of $3,000,000,000 Billion Dollars for 2022. 
• Not one dime of that $3 Billion goes to it's Cherokee Citizens.

Thank you very much for your consideration to do what every Native American tribe 100% have already done:

Provide quarterly per capita payments from Indian Gaming to Cherokee Citizens.

Wado!,

Donald R. Alexander

Citizen of the Cherokee Nation

PS: If you are a citizen of the Cherokee Nation or have a family member or friend please leave a comment after signing to get Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.'s attention!

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==> Just look at our sources below to see Multi-Millions being spent on everything else BUT the Cherokee Citizens:

Sources:

The Cherokee Nation recently passed the largest budget in history, at $3 billion. OETA-TV Interviews Chief, Chuck Hoskin Junior: https://youtu.be/beA7WA3TPIk

Adair: Oklahoma's Poorest County: https://youtu.be/OY6p0yJT8IA

Sorrow and Poverty in the Cherokee Nation: https://youtu.be/CCbeq9UIxq0

Cherokee Nation unveils $40M plan to replace Head Start facilities: https://youtu.be/ExXh7E3m8S0

Cherokee Nation making record investment in early childhood development: https://youtu.be/UenQvkh-Stk

How the Cherokee Nation is Investing in Renewable Energy | MotorWeek Auto World: https://youtu.be/VoSHnTz_0jo

Cherokee Nation dedicates Health Center expansion in Stilwell: https://youtu.be/tm2shDSlFKU

$120M Act to Expand Cherokee Nation Housing: https://youtu.be/cNNFa6Agcao

Landmark legislation to assist hundreds of Cherokee families with affordable housing, home repairs: https://youtu.be/fPwfeADemPo

Cherokee Nation breaks ground on estimated $10M state-of-the-art community center in Kenwood: https://youtu.be/2J9xYtlDTuY

What Life On A Native American Reservation Is Really Like: https://youtu.be/q7sLpPXKNr4

Poverty and unemployment associated with Native American reservations in the USA: https://youtu.be/SM8WZ0ztMuc

Chuck Hoskin, Jr., principal chief of Cherokee Nation, says Jeep should stop using the name "Cherokee" on company's SUVs: https://youtu.be/D6ZrRbS-yxs

==> 2022: A Historic Year in the Cherokee Nation: https://youtu.be/qNyr4l2t1Dg

Osiyo! Asking for justice: We're the only Native American tribe that does not receive quarterly per capita income from Indian Gaming.