Copyright © 2005 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2005 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council unanimously passed a resolution establishing the Saline National Park and the adoption of a master plan for the preservation, conservation and restoration of the historic Saline District Courthouse. The original courthouse site is located about 12 miles east of Locust Grove, Okla."Tonight we have a resolution about the Saline Courthouse," said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. "It is a great community who has further developed its sense of community by preserving one of our national treasures, the Saline Courthouse."
"This has been a historic moment for me and the Cherokee Nation," said Cara Cowan, the Tribal Council member representing Rogers County. "The Saline National Park will be our tribe’s first national park. This project is a prime example of one of our self-help projects and how community members can become involved in activities that benefit their communities and the Cherokee people. This was one of the first community projects to come out of our discretionary dollars, such as gaming dividends. I’m very proud of this group of people (Saline Preservation Association) and the Council for leading the way in this ground-breaking effort."
Chief Smith also reported on some recent land purchases the tribe has made with funds from the Arkansas Riverbed settlement.
"On September 30th we officially closed on our purchase of the Markoma property," Chief Smith said. "When this property, 119 acres of land, became available we thought it a good investment. The price for the property was $2 million. It is 119 acres within the city limits of Tahlequah. It has roughly a half mile of highway frontage. It is in a good location, off the Highway 51 bypass, next to Go Ye Village. It has historical value as the former site of the Cherokee Male Seminary. It has several buildings on the site including a gym, two dorms, library, a cafeteria and two houses. It also has a freshwater spring on the property and a well… We have lots of ideas and interest in our plans for the property. We are just starting to look at ways to maximize the use of this great investment… I think it will be a good investment for the Cherokee people."
Chief Smith noted two other land purchases made with the Arkansas Riverbed funds; the Cherokee orphan cemetery land located across from Sequoyah High School and 183 acres in Craig County. For many years the Cherokee Nation leased the Craig County land from Kelley Ranch, and then subleased it to the Shawnee Tribe for use as their ceremonial grounds. Chief Smith explained that rather than let an outside party purchase the land, the Cherokee Nation exercised its legal option to purchase it with the intention of continuing our lease to the Shawnees.
Chief Smith and Deputy Chief Joe Grayson, Jr. honored two veterans during the State of the Nation, Joe Thornton, of Tahlequah, and Jeramiah L. Summerfield, of Salina. Thornton served with the U.S. Army during World War II and Summerfield returned a few months ago from his service with the U.S. Marine Reserves in Iraq.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith and Deputy Principal Chief Joe Grayson, Jr. listen as military honoree Joe Thornton briefly explains some of his activities during WWII. 
The Council passed two confirmations during the meeting, the first unanimously confirmed George Benge as a member of the Cherokee Phoenix Editorial Board and the second confirmed Marty Matlock as a member of the Cherokee Nation Environmental Protection Commission.
The entire October 10 Cherokee Nation Tribal Council meeting can be viewed on the Cherokee Nation’s Web site, www.cherokee.org. The next Cherokee Nation Tribal Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 14, at 6 p.m. in the Tribal Council Chambers at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex on Highway 62 south of Tahlequah.
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |