Turning a Day of Work into a Day of Service

Osiyo,

Here in northeast Oklahoma, our Cherokee workforce is more than an economic engine. It is a living expression of Gadugi, our cherished Cherokee community value of working together for the good of everyone. When thousands of employees from our Cherokee Nation government and businesses dedicate even one day of service to their neighbors, the impact ripples through every community within our 7,000-square-mile Cherokee Nation Reservation. That is the vision behind our newest initiative, which will strengthen our tribe for generations to come.

Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I have worked to make volunteerism and national service a larger part of the Cherokee Nation's mission. Our latest step is the new Gadugi Corps "Day On" Employee Volunteer Program. Through this effort, Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses employees will have one paid day each calendar year to participate in community service activities.

We are fortunate to have outstanding employees who have dedicated their careers to serving Cherokees. Whether it is helping a community organization, supporting elders, assisting with a cleanup project or responding to a local need, a day of volunteer service can make a significant difference.

This program also represents the continued growth of Gadugi Corps, an idea that I can trace back to conversations the Hoskin/Warner administration began having in 2023 to expand volunteer and service opportunities for our Cherokee citizens. Working with Gadugi Corps Executive Director Shawn Crittenden and the Council of the Cherokee Nation, we built the framework that has become one of the most important programs at the Cherokee Nation.

The initial concept became an independent department with more than 8,000 volunteers in its database, connecting Cherokees with opportunities to assist fellow Cherokees and help communities turn goodwill into action.

I have seen our Gadugi Corps step up in the aftermath of natural disasters. I have seen it provide mentoring and reading programs for our young people and create opportunities for those living away from home to come back and experience what it means to contribute to the Cherokee Nation. I know elders whose lives have been made better because of this work. The list is long, and the scope of Gadugi Corps is broad by design - as volunteerism without boundaries.

The "Day On" program takes that idea further by making volunteer service part of the culture of our workforce. Today, the Cherokee Nation and our business entities employ over 14,000 people around the globe. Thanks to a policy developed by our Human Resources Department, employees across CNB, the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation and other entities will now be able to take a paid day to join Gadugi Corps on a project that addresses both challenges and opportunities in our communities.

Thousands of employees have already signed up for Gadugi Corps, and this policy ensures that when an opportunity arises, they will have a clear path to take that day of service. For me, that investment matters. Cherokee Nation's strength is measured, in part, by the relationships we build and by our willingness to show up when someone needs a helping hand.

Of course, Gadugi Corps is open to more than our workforce. The thousands of volunteers include Cherokee Nation citizens across the country from all walks of life, including some of our non-Cherokee friends and neighbors.

But, Gadugi Corps is so well suited for our workforce, because our workforce understands what it means to serve.

Through the Gadugi Corps "Day On" program, we are dedicating time to live out that commitment beyond their everyday job duties. If thousands of Cherokee Nation employees each give even one additional day of service, imagine the collective good we can accomplish. That is Gadugi in action, and it is one more way we can strengthen the Cherokee Nation, together.

Wado,

Chuck Hoskin Jr.
Principal Chief