Environmental Stewardship Is Community Wellness

Osiyo,

For the Cherokee people, environmental stewardship is not simply a trend - it is a responsibility passed down through generations. As we celebrate Earth Day with a monthlong series of awareness events, we are reminded that protecting our land, water and air is inseparable from protecting our culture, our citizens and our future.

In recent years, the Cherokee Nation has taken decisive steps to protect its natural resources and plan for a sustainable future. The 2021 Cherokee Nation Park, Wildlands, Fishing and Hunting Preserve Act ensures that public lands across the reservation are safeguarded for generations to come. Complementing that law, we executed a series of executive actions aimed at reducing the tribe's carbon emissions and improving operational sustainability. We have reduced single-use plastics across tribal government, banned Styrofoam and launched a review of the environmental impact of data centers across the reservation.

In 2024, we established both a Youth Climate Change Task Force and a Clean Energy Task Force, elevating community voices and expert guidance alike to help shape the next chapter of Cherokee Nation sustainability efforts. Those bodies encouraged us to expand recycling availability, among other critical efforts.

Over the past year, the Cherokee Nation has made meaningful progress in turning long-standing values of stewardship into action.

In 2025 alone, our initiatives avoided nearly 1 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions - a reflection of practical, community-first solutions that improve everyday life for our citizens. Across the Cherokee Nation Reservation, 16 community buildings generated more than 145,000 kilowatt-hours of solar electricity, lowering utility costs while protecting our environment. We expanded affordable housing through projects such as the Ganohili Housing Addition in Jay, building energy-efficient homes designed to keep families safe and reduce long-term costs. Facilities like the Amo Health and Wellness Center in Salina now serve as models for sustainable construction, using solar power and healthier building materials to support wellness.

Our work also addresses the impact of waste. Through our Food Waste Management Task Force, pilot composting programs diverted more than 1,000 pounds of organic waste from landfills and returned it to the soil to fertilize heirloom gardens and support the tribe's seed bank growth. Community collection events removed thousands of pounds of electronic and hazardous waste, protecting both the environment and public health.

At the same time, we have prioritized direct support for Cherokee families.

More than 2,100 households received energy assistance through LIHEAP, along with weatherization services and indoor air quality improvements. These efforts reflect a simple truth: Environmental sustainability is also social responsibility. It is about ensuring that every Cherokee family has access to safe, affordable and healthy living conditions.

Building on this progress, the Cherokee Nation released its 2025 Annual Energy Report, establishing a long-term strategy to strengthen resilience, reduce costs and prepare for future challenges.

However, the work is far from complete. To meet the needs of future generations, we must continue to evolve and invest. That is why I have sent to the Council of the Cherokee Nation a proposal called the Cherokee Nation Energy and Sustainability Act of 2026. This legislation creates a comprehensive framework to guide energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling and litter reduction across our communities.

It also establishes a dedicated Office of Energy Programs within the Secretary of Natural Resources to coordinate these efforts and sets clear, measurable goals - including net reductions in energy and water use every three years beginning in 2027. These benchmarks ensure continued accountability while adopting new innovations.

The proposed act builds on that momentum by creating a more coordinated and accountable approach to environmental stewardship. It centralizes energy policy and requires clear, measurable goals for recycling, conservation and efficiency through rolling three-year plans beginning in 2027.

The legislation also mandates ongoing reductions in energy use, water consumption and food waste, and introduces initiatives such as "Cherokee Nation Recycles" and "Litter Free Cherokee Nation." By addressing issues such as light pollution and formally recognizing sustainability efforts as matters of public health, we are aligning environmental responsibility with the well-being of Cherokee communities.

This is more than just policy. It is a long-term commitment to our people, as environmental action is a critical step in holistic community wellness. By advancing this legislation, we are honoring our responsibility to both our elders and our youth.

Together, we will protect our natural resources, strengthen our communities and carry forward a legacy of stewardship that defines who we are as Cherokee people.

Wado,

Chuck Hoskin Jr.
Principal Chief