Council of the Cherokee Nation - File #: 16-018

• File #: 16-018
• Version: 2
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 2/3/2016
• In control: TRIBAL COUNCIL
• On agenda: 2/16/2016
• Final action: 2/18/2016
• Enactment date: 2/16/2016
• Enactment #: R-015-16
• Title: A RESOLUTION DECLARING SUPPORT FOR THE DEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED WITHIN THE CHEROKEE NATION'S JURISDICTIONAL AREA
• Sponsors: David Walkingstick, Buel Anglen, Keith Austin, Jack D. Baker, Harley Buzzard, Joe Byrd, Shawn Crittenden, Don Garvin, Frankie Hargis , Wanda Hatfield, Rex Jordan, Dick Lay, Curtis Snell, Janees Taylor, David Thornton, Sr. , Victoria Vazquez, Bryan Warner

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
2/18/2016	2	OFFICE OF THE CHIEF	Signed
2/16/2016	2	TRIBAL COUNCIL	Approved	Pass
2/16/2016	2	EDUCATION COMMITTEE	Approved and Forwarded to Council	Pass

Title
A RESOLUTION DECLARING SUPPORT FOR THE DEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED WITHIN THE CHEROKEE NATION'S JURISDICTIONAL AREA
Body
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government on behalf of the Cherokee people;

WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic continual government-to-government relationship with the United State of America;

WHEREAS, dependent public schools are the heartbeat of rural communities throughout the Cherokee Nation;

WHEREAS, there are 26 dependent public schools located within the Nation’s jurisdictional area;

WHEREAS, of the 6,965 students enrolled at the dependent public schools, 3,294 or 47% are citizens of the Cherokee Nation;

WHEREAS, the percentage of Cherokee students enrolled at dependent public schools is proportionately higher than the overall number of Cherokee students enrolled at independent public schools located within Nation’s jurisdictional area; and

WHEREAS, the closure of the dependent public schools will have a devastating effect on the Cherokee citizens attending those schools as well as the Cherokee families living in the surrounding communities;

WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation recently contributed $4.7 million in automobile car tag monies to dependent and independent school districts in accordance with a compact with the State of Oklahoma, demonstrating our on-going support and commitment to all aspects of public education at a time when these monies are greatly needed by public schools in Oklahoma in light of the State of Oklahoma’s severe budget crisis.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that the Council of the Cherokee Nation hereby declares its support for the dependent public schools located within the Cherokee Nation’s jurisdictional area.



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cherokee Nation values public education in every aspect, that the Cherokee Nation has a long-standing commitment to see that t...