The Smith/Grayson Team is leading our Nation in the Right Direction. They are the Right Leaders, at the Right Time.

The Right Direction...

The Cherokee Nation has seen unequaled growth under the leadership of Principal Chief Chad Smith since his election in 1999.

Chad Smith is creating good jobs for our people, with competitive salaries, good benefits and retirement plans. Instead of a situation where the next generation of Cherokees have to move out of state just to find a job, Chad Smith believes in investing in the future to create more jobs, so our people can stay home and build strong Cherokee communities and keep our culture alive. The Cherokee Nation is headed in the right direction.

Jobs...Today the Cherokee Nation provides 6,500 jobs.

In 1999, the Cherokee Nation and its businesses employed about 2500 people. Today, that number has grown to more than 6500, because Chad Smith made it a priority to reinvest in Cherokee businesses and create jobs.

"Creating a job is the best service we can provide our people. When our citizens have good jobs, with health care benefits, it takes the financial burden off our health clinics, our housing programs, and other social service programs because those families are taking care of themselves and helping others in their community. That leaves more resources for services for our elders, our children and those who can’t work or help themselves." — Principal Chief Chad Smith

Community...

The Cherokee Nation is delivering record amounts of services like scholarships, roads, health care, language and cultural programs and services for our elders. Because of the success of Cherokee Nation’s businesses, Cherokee Nation Enterprise (CNE) has record-setting profits up 335% over three years, manufacturing at Cherokee Nation Industries, and environmental services at Cherokee Nation Business (CNB, there are more resources than ever for services to the Cherokee people. Our housing programs now help twice as many families as they did just a few years ago, because of new, community-based and self-help initiatives.

Language & Culture... A renaissance of Cherokee Culture and Language is flourishing...

A new generation is speaking Cherokee, thanks to language immersion classes that have expanded from pre-school level to elementary age students. With community classes and language programs in schools, the Cherokee language, the foundation of our culture, is taking root in young people. "We’ve got children, preschoolers, elementary age, even high school kids, who can speak Cherokee to each other. When you see little kids telling stories and laughing with each other in Cherokee, you know we are on the right track." – Principal Chief Chad Smith

A new Cherokee Nation Information Systems program has made it possible to conduct language classes which average 1,000 students from around the world.

Principal Chief Smith has brought financial accountability, transparency and discipline, and under his leadership, there are more resources available for government services than ever in the history of the Nation. The Nation, under his leadership, now has resources to diversity and take advantage of non-gaming business opportunities.