TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Leaders from the Cherokee Nation and Illinois River Area Community Organization gathered to cut the ribbon on a new community building in Tahlequah, near the Illinois River.
The building was an investment of $2.5 million from the tribe.
“IRACO serves the Cherokee Nation communities well and exemplifies Gadugi, the spirit of working together. I believe this building will be a great space to help them with their outreach programs, like disaster relief and food distribution for many years to come as well as a place for fellowship,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.
The 8,000-square-foot building comes with a 3,900 square-foot-community room, a large commercial kitchen, a conference room, bathrooms with showers and much more.
“It’s a wonderful day in the Cherokee Nation to celebrate this new community space. It can be utilized in serious preparations for disaster relief, and this beautiful community room and kitchen will be utilized for community gatherings, celebrations, language classes, history and cultural classes. It will truly be a blessing to this community,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner.
This building marks the eleventh newly constructed community building by the tribe since 2019.
"Strong communities are made when people have places they can come together and build relationships. This building is one of those places. I hope that people who don’t know each other before walking through these doors, leave feeling a little more connected to the community,” said Cherokee Nation District 8 Councilor Codey Poindexter.
Since 2019, under the Hoskin/Warner administration’s Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act, Cherokee Nation has constructed 11 new community buildings, expanded or remodeled more than 20 others and has ongoing plans for more community center construction across the reservation.
Last year, the Cherokee Nation empaneled a task force on community organizing with Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan at its head. The work of the task force resulted in more support for community organization program and community infrastructure projects.
“IRACO has been very active with CCO. The organization started in 2017, and they have always exhibited the spirit of Gadugi, partnering with other CCO organizations to support their community in many ways. I cannot wait to see all the activities that IRACO has going on in here,” said Savannah Smith, executive director of Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach.
The Hoskin administration has begun implementing some of the task force recommendations, including increasing grants, creating new grants and adding new field technical assistant staff members to assist at-large and on-reservation CCO organizations.
"Our area is right next to the Illinois river, so we’ve had issues with flooding, people being misplaced, and now we have a place they can stay during these emergencies, and its thanks to the Cherokee Nation and everyone else involved,” Illinois River Area Community Organization President Kaye Callaway said.