A Record of Leadership

Chuck Hoskin Jr. was elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 2019.

Chief Hoskin has led an administration that is focused on strengthening our communities and families, creating job and homeownership opportunities, perpetuating Cherokee language and culture, and protecting Cherokee Nation’s tribal sovereignty. At the Supreme Court, in the Halls of Congress, and in our state capitol, he has fought tirelessly for the Cherokee people.

From the health and economic challenges that have threatened the Cherokee Nation, Chief Hoskin has made Cherokee families, communities, and culture his priority. The preservation of our language, traditional life ways, arts and culture will always be a vital part of what ties us together as a people. Together in the spirit of Gadugi, we are doing more than ever before for our people, including creating new jobs and investing in health care and housing.

He believes all Cherokees deserve an equal shot at economic opportunity, and to achieve a brighter future for all Cherokees, we need strong leadership in the administration, as well as the Council of the Cherokee Nation. He has testified at the United Nations and Congress on behalf of the Cherokee Nation and serves on multiple boards and commissions, including the United States Health and Human Services Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee.

Safeguarding Cherokee Sovereignty

• Chief Hoskin appointed a Cherokee Nation Delegate to Congress as negotiated in the Treaty of New Echota for the first time in history and has testified before Congress in his battle to have our Delegate seated
• Chief Hoskin made historic investments in the tribe’s judicial system and Marshals to protect and serve the Cherokee Nation Reservation after the U.S Supreme Court McGirt decision.
• Under Chief Hoskin’s Guidance, the Cherokee Nation defended the Indian Child Welfare Act in landmark Brackeen case.
• Chief Hosking has relentlessly fought back against the encroachment of the State of Oklahoma on Cherokee Nation’s gaming compact.

Strengthening Cherokee Families

• One of Chief Hoskin’s first acts as Principal Chief was to increase the minimum wage at Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses to a livable wage to ensure that employees have the money they need to combat rising costs for their families.
• Chief Hoskin announced plans for a new Cherokee Nation Hospital so the healthcare options available to Cherokees would be second to none.
• Chief Hoskin oversaw the opening of the OSU medical school campus, the first medical school in Indian Country where we are training our own doctors to service our people.
• Chief Hoskin’s administration has prioritized additional investments in expanding Head Start opportunities for Cherokee youth so the next generation of Cherokees will be able to compete and excel in an increasingly competitive world.
• The past four years under Chief Hoskin has seen the Cherokee Nation make major strides in home repairs for elders and expanded community gathering places under the historic Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act.
• Chief Hoskin advocated for and signed legislation that created the Public Health and Wellness Act and focused on behavioral health access and addiction.
• Under Chief Hoskin’s guidance, Cherokee Nation has emphasized mental wellness for employees and instituted expanded family leave.
• Chief Hoskin has overseen the expansion of broadband and WIFI access to reach more of our traditionally underserved communities and provide them the tools to excel in the 21^st century.
• Chief Hoskin has made historic investments in CareerTech training opportunities for Cherokees.
• Chief Hoskin launched the 1839 Meat Co. to fight food insecurity and process bison from the Cherokee Nation herd.
• Chief Hoskin’s administration has ensured safe water and roadways for rural Oklahoma.

Preserving Cherokee Culture

• Chief Hoskin created a cabinet level Secretary of Veteran Affairs office to provide more services to Cherokee veterans.
• Chief Hoskin opened the Durbin Feeling Language Center; oversaw historic investment to perpetuate Cherokee language.
• Under Chief Hoskin, Cherokee Nation initiated a Speaker Services program to assist elder first language speakers.
• Chief Hoskin established Cherokee historic sites registry.
• Chief Hoskin opened multiple Cherokee sites dedicated to land conservation and plant protection.
• Chief Hoskin created the Cherokee National Research Center and Archives.
• Chief Hoskin directed Cherokee Nation to Increased communication and outreach to at-large Cherokees through “Cherokee Wherever We Are” broadcast monthly to strengthen the Cherokee community and identity across the globe.

Steady Leadership in a Time of Crisis

• Distributed food to hungry families to fight food insecurity.
• Ensured Cherokees – and especially first language speakers – were first in line for vaccines.
• Made certain that not a single employee of Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses missed a paycheck.
• Launched Cherokee Film Studio to record health care and language messages.
• Established Gadugi Portal to better communicate with citizens.
• Issued $2,000 COVID relief to every Cherokee regardless of age or location.
• Opened new PPE manufacturing facilities.
• Helped small business owners stay open and homeowners defer payments so that we would not lose our businesses nor our homes when the pandemic was the most brutal.
• Authored the Cherokee Artist Recovery Act to assist Cherokee artisans impacted by the pandemic.

Leading as a Family

Working together, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin and First Lady January Hoskin have:

• Championed Foster Family recruitment and created a foster care stipend program within the Cherokee Nation.
• Established the Domestic Violence Task Force.
• Dedicated the Cultural Pathway in downtown Tahlequah.
• Opened the new art center and welcome center in Vinita.
• Expanded habitats for pollinators within Cherokee Nation Reservation.

Chief Hoskin is a graduate of Vinita High School, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Chief Hoskin and his wife, First Lady January, have two children, Triston and Jasmine and five grandchildren. He formerly served as a member of the Council of Cherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years and served his final two years as Deputy Speaker.  He comes from a family of servant leaders and his father, Chuck Hoskin, is the current mayor of Tahlequah OK.