Tribal Council District 9
Chuck Hoskin Jr.
P.O. Box 921
Vinita, OK 74301
Home: 918-256-8979
Cell: 918-323-5411
Email: chuck-hoskin@cherokee.org
Family: A lifelong citizen of District 9, Chuck resides in Vinita, Oklahoma with his wife, January and their two children, Triston and Jasmine. He is the son of Oklahoma State Representative and Former Cherokee Councilor Chuck Hoskin, Sr. and Patricia Helton, both of Vinita. He is the brother of Amy (Hoskin) Everett of Muskogee.
Education: Chuck graduated from Vinita High School in 1993, and the University of Oklahoma in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to attend the University of Oklahoma Law School and graduated in 2000 with a Juris Doctorate degree.
Career: Attorney, National Labor Relations Board (Field Attorney, 2000-2005; Resident Officer, 2005 to Present)
Professional / Civic Organizations: Member of the Oklahoma Bar Association (Indian Law Section), National Native American Bar Association and Cherokee Bar Association. Board Member and past Chairman, Vinita Indian Territory Coalition. Past chairman (2003-2007), Craig County Democratic Party. Little league assistant coach.
The Cherokee Phoenix asked Tribal Council candidates to respond to seven questions of concern to Cherokee citizens. Read the questions and responses below.
- Why do you want to serve on the Tribal Council?
I want to serve because I care deeply about the future of the Cherokee Nation and I believe I have what it takes to keep up the progress in District 9. The days of the Council serving as a rubber stamp for the administration should be long gone. That does not mean that the Council and the Chief (whoever serves as Chief) fight at every turn. But it does mean that the Council lives up to its role as an equal branch of government to tackle tough problems in healthcare, make needed investment in education, preserve language and culture and encourage economic development. We need watchdogs on the Council, not lap dogs. My primary reason for running for Council is to keep up the progress in District 9, an area of the Cherokee Nation that has, in my opinion, been historically neglected. We’ve made great progress in the district during the past 12 years, but there is more work to be done. I am a lifelong citizen of the district and have worked during the past decade to help to raise my family and build a stronger Cherokee community in my hometown. I am ready to put my dedication and experience to work for the people on the Council.
- What is the greatest priority in your district and how will you address it as a legislator?
Some districts may have only one priority, but District 9 has many. Among the top priorities is investing in economic development, expanding healthcare and preserving language and culture. With respect to economic development, we need to continue our long-term strategy for improving the quality of life in our area, which means boosting investment in road construction, education and healthcare. Investments in these areas will, in the long run, improve the economy for the Craig-Nowata district. In the short run, we need Cherokee Nation to create jobs in Craig and Nowata Counties. We need a strong, independent councilor to hold CNE and CNI accountable for not creating a single job in Craig and Nowata County. We have hard working Cherokees in our district and it would be a wise investment if CNE or CNI created jobs here. With respect to language and culture, I have learned that local community groups are best suited for preserving language and culture and celebrating Cherokee History. In District 9, we’ve seen that investing in groups like the Vinita Indian Territory Coalition, the Welch Pumpkin Festival, the Bluejacket Cherokee Association and the Native American Indian Fellowship (South Coffeyville), produces real results for local communities. My priority, as Councilor, will be supporting groups like these. In the area of healthcare, we need to ensure that the new Nowata clinic is fully funded and find funding sources to expand the Vinita clinic.
- Cherokee Nation-owned business return 25 percent of profits to the Cherokee Nation as dividend. Is that amount appropriate or should it be changed and why?
That percentage is a good minimum, but we should establish a formula for increasing this in particular years, based on a number of factors. We must be careful not to starve these businesses and we must give them the flexibility to make needed investments to keep the businesses thriving. However, when the Cherokee people have pressing needs, business such as CNE and CNI must give way to the needs of the Cherokee people and distribute more than 25% to their owners: the Cherokee people. For example, in District 9, the Vinita clinic, more than any clinic in the Cherokee health care system, needs to expand to meet growing demand. Expanding that clinic should be a national priority worthy of earmarking extra business revenues.
- Should the Cherokee Nation make campaign contributions to local, state and federal candidates and why?
Yes, but at the state and federal level, not at the local or county level. The issue is whether Cherokee Nation should influence public policy at the state and federal level. We should, because state and federal public policy has a direct impact on Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee people. We can do this in a variety of ways, including through diplomacy and lobbying to educate state and federal policy makers. Unfortunately, we live in a world where our ability to gain access to many state and federal policy makers requires that we participate in other aspects of the political process, including campaign finance. Donations to political campaigns should be one of many methods by which Cherokee Nation asserts its influence in the policy-making arena. Like most Cherokees, I’m troubled that we spend a dollar on politics when we have citizens who lack basic services or descent housing. However, the idea that we must to choose between investing in politics and investing in our people is a false choice. In fact, responsible participation in campaign finance can help Cherokee Nation pursue strategies to improve the quality of life for our people.
- If a constituent asked about the recent amendment to remove non-Indians from Cherokee citizenship rolls and the p