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"The BIA today assured continued funding for the Cherokee Nation." Washington, DC - The Bureau of Indian Affairs has notified the Cherokee Nation that they have no intention of cutting off federal funding to the nation’s second largest Indian tribe. In a June 22 letter from the BIA’s Jerry Gidner, Deputy Bureau Director-Indian Services, the BIA clearly stated that “the Department intends to continue providing Federal funding to the Cherokee Nation.” Gidner added that the letter merely confirms the BIA’s stance against cutting federal funding to the Cherokee Nation that they have presented in a federal court case earlier this month. The court ruled in favor of continued funding of the Cherokee Nation as well. “This letter should reassure Cherokee citizens and our employees that the Cherokee Nation continues to head in the right direction,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Despite all rumors to the contrary by people who want to paint a negative picture of the Cherokee Nation, the sky is not falling and our government-to-government relationship with the United States continues just as it has for more than 200 years.” Read the letter from the BIA, PDF file.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

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 Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

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 Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org