TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — During the 2026 Veterans Summits, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner announced and signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a new work group to study and recommend more housing options for Cherokee veterans.
The Northern Region Veterans Summit was held Nov. 10 at the Craig County Fairgrounds in Vinita, followed by the Southern Region summit on Nov. 12 at the Cherokee Casino in Roland. More than 200 veterans and family members attended the events, where they were served lunch, won door prizes donated by various departments and listened in as Cherokee leaders spoke to the crowd. Several departments also hosted booths with information about veterans’ services.
“It is important to give real meaning to the phrase ‘Thank you for your service.’ Saying it alone is inadequate,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “Our home and freedom have been protected by men and women who risked their lives or made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. This should yield from every American unending admiration, unending gratitude and a dedication to finding ways of honoring them.”
The work group proposed in the memorandum will examine Cherokee Nation’s access to the federal Native American Direct Loan program and help eligible Native veterans buy or build a home on trust or restricted tribal land. The group will also oversee the administration of the HUD Vash program that helps pay rent for qualifying veterans experiencing housing insecurity.
“These support services are essential to the quality of life of our veterans and their family members. They help put minds at ease. I want to thank our work group for taking a strategic approach to assessing what we are doing for veterans, what more we can do and how we can ensure these services are sustainable for the future,” said Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Bryan Warner.
Native peoples, including Cherokees, serve in the military at higher per capita rates than any other group. The Cherokee Nation has a long history of investing directly in housing for veterans. The new work group and its efforts to expand veteran housing build on that legacy.
“We all know a veteran that is in need in one way or another, whether it’s a small need or something more substantial. This task force is going to look at how we can continue to positively impact Cherokee veterans and address those needs,” said Speaker of the Council Johnny Jack Kidwell. “The council is always proud to support our veterans, and we support the work of this task force.”
The group will meet with Cherokee veterans in their communities to better understand their needs. The team consists of team leader S. Joe Crittenden, secretary of Veteran Affairs; Kim Teehee, Delegate to Congress and Executive Director of Government Relations; Jerri Killer, Executive Director of Housing Programs; Brittany Denny-Davis, Executive Director of Human Services; and Ginger Reeves, Executive Director of Real Estate Services.
“This work group will benefit many veterans and their housing needs. I’m honored to work alongside these talented individuals who care for Cherokee veterans and bring forward recommendations and solutions to our executive branch and council leadership,” said Cherokee Nation Secretary of Veteran Affairs S. Joe Crittenden.
The work group builds on a history of collaboration to support Cherokee veterans. One example is the Mige Glory Addition in Tahlequah, where the tribe, federal partners, and local institutions worked together to build 21 homes for Cherokee veterans through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training Program. The Cherokee Nation provided 30 acres of land for the housing addition, while the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation supplied materials and essential services throughout construction by the Army National Guard and other military units.
The Cherokee Nation also recently launched a project to preserve stories of Cherokee men and women who have served in the military. The new Cherokee Nation Circle of Honor, launched in partnership with the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project, will give citizens who received the Cherokee Nation Medal of Patriotism a platform to share their stories. These powerful accounts will be on display on Cherokee.gov and will be available for future generations to read and learn more about the heroic acts of Cherokee warriors.