Cherokee Nation has become a national leader of governments in accountability:

• -First Indian Government to enact a Free Press Act

• -Independent Newspaper

• -Received Excellence in Governmental Accounting for the last five years in a row

• -Clean Audits

• -Open Records Act / Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• -Whistleblower Protection Act

• -Cherokee FIRST

• -Annual Financial and Progress Reports to the Cherokee People in Paper and Video

• -Online Live-Video Streamed Council and Committee Meetings

• -Council hired their own CPA and Attorney

• -Published financial statements of Gaming Enterprises

• -Advisory Council members on Business Board

• -National Award Winning Cherokee Nation Website

• -Annual Open House

• -Toll free number for reporting waste, abuse and fraud

• -Independent Attorney General

• -Independent Marshal

• -Independent Internal Audit

An Administration that follows the constitution, and the rulings and orders of the Court

• -Reclaimed our Marshal Services from the BIA

Before Principal Chief Smith’s administration, there were furloughs of Cherokee employees, record deficits in the general fund, numerous federal audits resulting in disallowed costs and a cash flow crisis resulting from mismanagement of the government.