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A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF COMPACTING PROGRAMS, SERVICES FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES AND OWNERSHIP OF FACILITIES OF THE CLAREMORE SERVICE UNIT
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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, 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 has a long-standing and indispensable relationship with the United States as to the delivery of health services to Cherokee citizens, principally through the federal Indian Health Service (IHS);
WHEREAS, IHS operates an in-patient and outpatient facility for Cherokee Nation citizens and other IHS beneficiaries, in Claremore, Oklahoma, in continuous operations since 1930, presently located at 101 S. Moore Avenue, Claremore OK 74017, referred to herein as "Claremore Service Unit" and commonly and historically referred to as "Claremore Indian Hospital";
WHEREAS Cherokee Nation and IHS have worked collaboratively to improve services administered through Claremore Service Unit, including but not limited to Cherokee Nation's compacting of purchased and referred care, formerly known as "contract health care";
WHEREAS the Council of the Cherokee Nation, by Resolution 40-22, of September 19, 2022, expressed support of a study of Claremore Service Unit to examine improvements across "a range of opportunities, from recommendations to Indian Health Service, to the delivery of certain service under compact, to complete assumption of operations Cherokee Nation," and whereas said report issued to the Council on September 11, 2023;
WHEREAS the Principal Chief, in his State of the Nation address delivered on Augu...
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