Title
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE VINITA HOUSING, COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESERVE
Body
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, the Nation has exclusive tribal jurisdiction over the Cherokee Nation Reservation, the geographic scope of which is defined in federal and Cherokee Nation law.
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation owns certain real property located at 27371 S 4410 Road, Vinita OK, 74301, known as the Vinita Health Clinic property and more specifically described as follows:
N2 NE SE and Beginning at the SW corner of the S2 SE NE; thence North 500 feet; thence East 475 feet; thence S54°09’44”E 222.04 feet; thence South 370 feet; thence West 880 feet to the point of beginning in Section 27, T25N, R20E, Craig County, Oklahoma.
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation has made funds available to support community wellness infrastructure that can include public recreation, community centers, housing and adjacent assets to support health and safety under the Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act (HJSCA) and the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act (PHWFA);
WHEREAS, HJSCA and PHWFA authorized the Principal Chief to administer funds authorized and appropriated under those Acts for the purposes and policies of those Acts;
WHEREAS, the Council finds it to be the highest and best use of the Vinita Health Clinic property described above for public health and wellness infrastructure, community facility and / or housing;
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation reserves the Vinita Health Clinic property described herein as a “Housing, Community and Public Health and Wellness Reserve” consistent with this resolution, HJSCA and PHWFA for a period of seven (7) years following approval of this resolution, encouraging development of the property to those purposes;
WHEREAS, the Principal Chief shall provide the Council with periodic updates as to the development plans for the Vinita Health Clinic property, no less than once per fiscal year;
WHEREAS, nothing herein reduces the authority of the Council, including its authority to appropriate funds, provide oversight of executive branch functions and to name property and facilities;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Cherokee Nation declares property described herein in Vinita as the “Vinita Housing, Community and Public Health and Wellness Reserve,” with the Council retaining relevant authority and the Principal Chief providing updates on the development of the properly no less than annually.