Tribal Council District 9
Charles “Chuck” Hoskin
339 N. Adair
Vinita, OK 74301
Home: (918) 256-3229
Email: Charles-Hoskin@cherokee.org
Residence and family information: Vinita, Oklahoma. Married, two children.
Education: BA and Masters of Education, Northeastern State University.
Describe the leadership experience you would bring to the Tribal Council.
“During the past two terms I have taken the lead in improving vital services to the Cherokee people in general, and the Craig-Nowata district in particular. I am a lifelong resident of the district. Years ago, I was disappointed with how our tribe seemed to ignore my district. Contact with our local representative was rare. I am proud to have helped change that. I hold frequent community meetings throughout my district and among folks living outside of the district.
I have worked hard to demand that we invest our resources wisely and fairly. I bring to this job my experiences as a Navy veteran, ironworker, parent and a teacher. I am particularly proud of my work as chairman of the education committee and my work in expanding health care in my district. In difficult times I have tried to be a steady voice. Regardless of who has been chief I always worked to find common ground when I could but stood my ground when the interests of my constituents were at risk. Above all, I live by the example of my late father, a full-blood Cherokee elder: treat people with respect and dignity and they will respect your word.”
Describe the role of the office for which you are a candidate in relation to the other branches of the Cherokee Nation government.
“Having served during two different administrations, I have a strong sense of how important the council is to safeguarding our resources and standing up for fairness. I believe the council is the “people’s branch” of government. The council cannot go back to the days when it was a rubber stamp for the chief. While I will always respect the office of chief and expect it to help set priorities, my job is to look at every proposal and ask: Does this benefit the people? How will it impact my district? Can we afford it? We must also take care to see that fair-minded people are appointed to the judicial branch.
When I visit people during my community meetings, I stress that the money our tribe invests belongs to them, not the government. At a recent meeting, I heard concerns from constituents about million-dollar land deals and loans by Cherokee Nation Enterprises (CNE). Such concerns are a perfect example of why the council is important. Without our oversight, we risk having the “fox guard the hen house.” If given the chance to continue serving, I will continue my efforts to hold the executive branch accountable for every dime of our money.”
What are your priorities for the Cherokee Nation?
“About 10 years ago, we struggled to run a federal scholarship program that benefited only a few Cherokees. Today, thousands receive assistance to pay for college, trade and technical schools. I am proud of the money we invested in local libraries, schools and Cherokee Head Start to bring language and cultural materials to our people. I want to continue my chairmanship of the education committee and study ways to make our programs more cost effective.
We have made historic strides in improving health care in my district. We built new Clinics in Nowata and Vinita. But, there is more to do. We must make sure that our most vulnerable elders have transportation to and from these clinics. Recently, I successfully fought for $3.5 million in promised improvements to the Nowata clinic. If re-elected, I will make sure that promise, and others, are kept.
Economic development is crucial. We must help our communities create jobs so that our people can earn a decent living. That means helping people start small businesses, investing in road improvements and repairing and building homes. I have worked in all these areas, but more work is needed. Continuing my regular community meetings is also a priority.”
What is the biggest challenge facing the Cherokee Nation today and how do you plan on solving it?
“Our biggest challenge is to develop a diverse economy in order to improve our quality of life. We must live within our means, but we should aim high to improve access to healthcare, opportunities in education, economic development and investment in language and culture. We will never do this if our revenues are based solely on gaming. We need to invest our resources in other types of businesses, so long as we have a solid plan and the council can hold the executive branch accountable. We need to find ways to help the thousands of Cherokees who have the talent and energy to run private businesses on tribal lands. We also need to be strong and unified in our negotiations with the state of Oklahoma as we renew our important tobacco and gasoline compacts. If we make wise investments now we will be in a position to expand all of our vital services to the people and create a stronger Cherokee Nation.
Facing these challenges requires that citizens be involved in their government. I’ve worked hard to give Cherokees in my district an opportunity to get involved. I respectfully ask for their support for another term to continue our work.”