Osiyo,
The Cherokee Nation government belongs to the Cherokee people. That principle is simple, but living up to it requires consistent work.
When a citizen reaches out to their government, it almost always corresponds to an important need in their life. They may need housing assistance, an academic scholarship, health care information, career resources or even just the right phone number to call. No matter the need, we have a duty to connect them to service as directly as possible.
Meeting that expectation is the primary rationale behind the newly redesigned Cherokee.gov, the official website of the Cherokee Nation.
Moving from Cherokee.org to Cherokee.gov is more than a new web address. It reflects a larger commitment to make our government more accessible, more effective and more responsive to the nearly half a million Cherokees we serve daily.
Cherokee people interact with their Nation in more ways today than at any point in our history. Our services have grown in health care, housing, education, language perpetuation, and community development. At the same time, our citizens are spread across the 7,000-square-mile Cherokee Nation reservation, throughout Oklahoma and around the world. Our digital presence must keep up with that growth, and with the people who depend on it.
The redesigned Cherokee.gov was built with citizens at center of mind. Instead of requiring people to know which department handles what, the site is now organized around life events, so a new parent, a student or a business owner can access the programs, applications and assistance they need without guessing the right department name. Improved search tools can help citizens locate information faster than they could on the former site, and a modern design that is mobile-friendly means the site works well whether someone visits from a computer, a tablet or a cell phone.
The new site also brings our government functions, executive updates and cultural resources together in one place. We are now able to offer a single, citizen-focused front door to the Cherokee Nation.
Behind the scenes, our Information Technology team worked across departments to review and update the information visitors rely on most. The new site also gives us a stronger foundation to keep data current as programs expand and needs evolve.
The .gov address matters, too. It tells citizens exactly what they are looking at: the official online home of the Cherokee Nation government. Only verified government entities can obtain and operate a .gov domain, which significantly increases security. This reduces the risk of spoofing, phishing and unauthorized impersonation, and it gives our citizens a trusted place to turn. In a time when people encounter information from countless sources online, Cherokees deserve to know, without question, where to find official information from their tribe.
Launching a new website is not the finish line. Cherokee.gov should keep improving based on how our people use it. We will continue to refine the content, strengthen the navigation tools and find new ways for technology to work for the Cherokee people.
Technology will never replace the personal relationships that matter so much in how we interact with one another. But it can remove barriers and save time, helping our employees meet the duty of helping Cherokee families get what they need.
A good government meets people where they are and opens the door to opportunity. I encourage every Cherokee citizen to visit Cherokee.gov, explore the new site and make it your starting point for connecting with the government that belongs to you.
Wado,
Chuck Hoskin Jr.
Principal Chief
