Cherokee Nation

About The Cherokee Nation

Facts About the Cherokee Nation:

  • In their homeland, the Cherokee were the southernmost Iroquoian‑speaking people.
  • In 1820, the Cherokee formed a representative form of government and adopted a constitution in 1827.
  • In 1905, the Cherokee along with other tribes proposed the creation of an all‑Indian state to be named Sequoyah.
  • The famous American humorist Will Rogers was a Cherokee citizen.

The Cherokee Nation's Original Lands

Cherokee Nation Geography

Cherokee Nation Geographical Identity:

Southeast

Find Your Cherokee Nation area(s) by Census Data:

Click to Learn More About the Cherokee Nation

Read about the storied heritage of the Cherokee Nation, including its cultural influence and historical journey to Oklahoma, through resources at the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Contact the Cherokee Nation

Physical Address:

17675 South Muskogee Avenue
Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 948
Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74465

Phone:

(800) 256-0671

Website:

Socials:

Cherokee Nation Leadership

Highest Elected Official

Principal Chief

Chuck

Hoskin Jr.

Date Elected:

6/3/2023

Next Election Date:

6/25/2027

Cherokee Nation Politics

Jurisdiction by County:

  • Adair
  • Cherokee
  • Craig
  • Delaware
  • Mayes
  • McIntosh
  • Muskogee
  • Nowata
  • Ottawa
  • Rogers
  • Sequoyah
  • Tulsa
  • Wagoner
  • Washington

Congressional District:

1, 2

Tribal Population:

319,558

Resident Indian Population in Tribal Service Area (HUD 2025):

197,684

Type of Federal Tribal Governance:

Self Governance

Year of Self Governance Entry:

1991

Gaming Compacts by Year:

1/27/2005, 10/5/2010, 8/17/2018

Other Oklahoma Compacts:

Law Enforcement (7/8/1992, 2/9/2021), Professional Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (11/4/2010), Hunting and Fishing (6/1/2015)

Cherokee Nation Resources

Law Enforcement:

Cherokee Nation Security

Justin Coons, Security
539-243-1202
19600 E. Ross Street
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Education and Training:

Cherokee Nation Career Services

Diane Kelley
Diane-kelley@cherokee.org
918-453-5555
17675 South Muskogee Ave.,
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Childcare Center:

Cherokee Nation, Attn: Child Care & Development

Deanna Grossarth, Director
918-453-5300
P.O. Box 948
Tahlequah, OK 74465

Physical address:
16947 Cherokee Street,
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Housing Authority:

Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation

Todd Enlow
services@hacn.org
918-456-5482
1500 Hensley Dr
Tahlequah, OK 74465

Behavioral Health Center:

Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services

Dr. Spring
539-234-3500
19600 East Ross St.,
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Medical Clinics:

Cherokee Nation, Attn: Health Services

Crosby Caughron, Director
918-453-5000
P.O. Box 948
Tahlequah, OK 74465

Physical address:
17675 South Muskogee Ave.,
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Cherokee Nation Federal Funding Overview

Unique Identifying Number (UEI): TBAHL1WANLF3

Number of Federal Grants in Audit: 144

Tribe Provides Law Enforcement in Jurisdiction or Bureau of Indian Affairs Provides: Tribe

Tribe Provides Indian Child Welfare Services: Yes

Type Amount
Latest Single Audit of Federal Grants, Contracts, and Compacts — Federal Expenditures $802,982,650.00
Latest Single Audit of Federal Grants, Contracts, and Compacts — Federal Awards $1,263,847,207.00
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Self Governance Annual Funding Agreement $18,637,797.00
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Aid to Tribal Governments $0.00
Indian Health Service Compact (IHS): Annual Funding Agreement $360,572,571.00
Indian Health Services (IHS): 93-638 Contracts/Self-Determination Annual Allocation $0.00

Long Range Planning

Type Amount
Grant(s) for Tribal Lands, Climate, Natural Resources, Energy, and/or Water $2,548,183.00
National Performance Partnership Grant on Environment $0.00
Broadband Grant $19,187.00
Grant(s) for Language and Cultural Preservation, NAGPRA and/or THPO $1,075,294.00
Rural Economic Development and/or Community Development, CDFI/Enhancement Grant(s) $3,346,392.00
Federal Transportation Annual Allocation for Road and Bridge Construction $16,680,890.71
Annual Transportation Planning Allocation $381,250.81
Tribal Public Transit Funds $0.00

Protection

Type Funding Amount
Disaster Planning and/or Mitigation Grant(s) $550,902.00
Homeland Security Grant $623,391.00
Grant(s) for Justice, Courts, and Community Policing $1,182,871.00
Adam Walsh (SORNA) and/or Missing Persons Grant(s) $90,229.00
Provides Violence Against Women and Family Violence Prevention Services $2,268,231.00
Tribe Offers Child Welfare Social Services (Stephanie Tubbs and/or Child Support Enforcement) $3,433,182.00
Tribe Offers Promoting Safe and Stable Families (Mary Lee Allen) $2,062,966.00
Foster Care (Title IV-E) $3,183,754.00
Tribe Offers General Assistance Program $2,773,965.00
LIHEAP – Tribe Offers Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program $3,069,827.00

Cherokee Nation Health, Wellness, and Social Caring

Number of Clinics: 9

Number of Hospitals: 1

Offers Dental: Yes

Offers Pharmacy: Yes

Offers Residential Treatment: Yes

Type Amount
Medicare Enrollment Assistance Grant $0.00
Special Diabetes Program Grant $7,716,197.00
Alzheimer Disease Program Grant $0.00
Injury and Suicide Prevention Grant(s) $581,459.00
Behavioral Health Grant(s) – Check with Tribe/Health Clinic for Other Counseling Services $207,900.00
Rural/Public Health, Demonstration Projects, and/or Child Insurance Grant(s) $345,271.00
Cancer Prevention and/or Good Health and Wellness Grant(s) and/or Chronic Pain Grant $2,617,401.00
Opioid and Substance Abuse Program and/or Tobacco Control Grant $1,678,543.00
Long-Range Medical Research Grant(s) $2,917,418.00
Offers Title VI – A and B (Elder Nutrition) $231,137.00
Offers Title VI – C (Elder Caregiving) $112,492.00
Offers Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program $9,578,828.00
Offers Food Distribution, Other Nutrition, Farmer’s Market, and/or Commodities Programs $14,384,361.00
Veteran Homeless Grant(s) and/or Veterans Cemetery Establishment or Operation Funding $0.00

Cherokee Nation Employment, Housing, and Education

Public Law 102-477 Tribe: Yes

Number of Casinos: 12

Offers an Employment Assistance Program: Yes

Number of FTE
Tribal Employees:
11,903

Housing Managed by Tribe or TDHE: Tribe Operates

Number of Homes Needed by Tribe for Oklahoma: 21,227

Has a Competitive Indian Community Development Block Grant(s) From US Housing and Urban Development: Yes

Has/Had a Competitive US HUD Indian Housing Block Grant(s) From US Housing and Urban Development: Yes

TypeAmount
Indian Employment, Training, and Education Program(s)$58,424,542.00
Vocational Rehabilitation Program Grant and/or Vocational Funds for Tribal Victims$1,580,781.00
HUD Annual Allocation for Tribal Housing$37,443,704.00
Emergency Home and Rental Assistance Grant$4,924,559.00
DHHS-ACF-CCDF Annual Allocation of Childcare Funds$87,590,067.00
Headstart Program$12,146,875.00
Indian School Facility Assistance and Student Transportation$2,495,436.00
Indian Equalization Program$5,821,338.00
Youth and/or Boys and Girls Clubs and/or AmeriCorps Grant(s)$302,834.00
Special Education Assistance Grant$656,778.00