Title
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CHEROKEE NATION DRIVING OUT OF POVERTY PILOT PROGRAM
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WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation (“Nation”) since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government on behalf of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, the Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America;
WHEREAS, Through the Poverty Reduction Task Force, empaneled by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., the tribe identified barriers for families to become financially self-sufficient;
WHEREAS, among the barriers investigated by the task force, transportation was identified as an immediate potential barrier for citizens to move out of poverty.
WHEREAS, the Council agrees that it should be the Nation’s priority to assist the Cherokee Nation labor force and help eliminate barriers to upward mobility for CN government employees which will result in sustained employment, increasing workforce numbers and access to services for all Cherokee citizens;
WHEREAS, the Council agrees that the Cherokee Nation’s first ever Building Bridges program, launched in 2023, has proven success by graduating the inaugural class of fifteen (15) people, providing them with resources and information to support their efforts to increase their upward mobility. These participants still experience barriers, including transportation;
WHEREAS, the Council agrees that in coordination with Cherokee Nation’s Economic Development Trust Authority and Cherokee Nation Businesses’, under the direction of the Office of the Principal Chief, a pilot program focused on removing the transportation barriers for Cherokee Nation employees is warranted, additionally the Building Bridges Program participants should be also be considered;
WHEREAS, as a function of Cherokee Nation Commerce Department, the Cherokee Nation’s “Driving Out of Poverty” pilot program should exist for the sole purpose to act as a responsible lender and program facilitator to Cherokee Nation employees and Cherokee Nation Building Bridges participants who meet the eligibility of the pilot program;
WHEREAS, The Council recognizes that as a partner in this pilot program, Cherokee Nation Businesses will donate fleet vehicles to the Cherokee Nation to be held by the tribe as fleet assets until a loan is made on the vehicles. The vehicles considered under the pilot program are found on Attachment A;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION that the Council of the Cherokee Nation supports the Principal Chief, in partnership with Cherokee Nation Economic Development Trust Authority and Cherokee Nation Businesses, in facilitating the first of its-kind vehicle loan program to eliminate transportation barriers for Cherokee Nation employees and/or participants in the tribe’s Building Bridges program.