"The State of the Chickasaw Nation is strong. We are in a time of growth and economic prosperity the likes of which our tribe has never seen. We have much to be thankful for," said Governor Bill Anoatubby in his State of the Nation address Saturday, Oct. 4 at Fletcher Auditorium on the MSC campus in Tishomingo.
In an address interspersed with state-of-the-art multimedia vignettes, and interrupted by cheers and applause, Gov. Anoatubby cataloged the recent progress of the tribe and sketched his vision for an even brighter future.
Successes in economic development, health care, education, housing, elder services were highlighted, along with plans to expand on those accomplishments.
Economic development success stories focused on the recent opening of the Bedre' Chocolates factory in Pauls Valley, entertainment centers in Thackerville and Davis and a travel plaza in Kingston.
"It is vital to our future that we continue to look for new opportunities to diversify our business interests. For example, we continue to explore the hospitality industry," Gov. Anoatubby said, making mention of the three restaurants at the Thackerville facility, the new hotel under construction in Davis and the family entertainment center under development in Ada.
Three purposes for business development outlined in the address are funding tribal operations, creating jobs and moving toward self-sufficiency.
"Opportunities abound for our people. Our various businesses and economic ventures are creating jobs that require a variety of skills and talents," said Gov. Anoatubby. "Creating jobs is important to us. As Chickasaws, we inherently strive for self-sufficiency - self sufficiency as a government and for our people."
A project which combines economic development and heritage preservation on the horizon is the Chickasaw Cultural Center near Sulphur. This project will not only help preserve Chickasaw culture and heritage, it is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors each year.
"To protect our nation, we must educate those around us, including our own people," said Gov. Anoatubby. "We must teach our history. Our children must learn where they come from, what was lost, and what we are working to recapture."
On a related theme, Gov. Anoatubby said "we lift up our elders. Our elders are one of our most precious resources. They share with us the stories of the past and guide us to out future."
Noting that the tribe recently finished construction on two of 11 senior sites, he said there are plans to continue expanding "all of our programs."
Advances in the health care system cited in the address include the new diabetes care clinic in Ada, which is scheduled to be open by the end of the year. This clinic will provide all diabetic care services under one roof to help make patient care more convenient and efficient.
"Although our health system is state-of-the art, it is still growing," said Gov. Anoatubby. He added that the new ambulatory clinic under construction in Purcell moves the tribe closer to "our vision of health care availability within a 35-mile radius from anywhere within the Chickasaw Nation."
The Family Life Center is also nearing completion in Ada. Modeled after the Lifestyle Center of America in Sulphur, the Family Life Center will provide cardiovascular equipment, weight rooms, aerobics, gymnasium and swimming pool.
"This new facility helps us get closer to our goal of providing the resources for preventative health care," said Gov. Anoatubby. "We do not just treat illnesses. We want to stop the occurrence of preventable diseases such as diabetes."
Housing successes highlighted include the "Chuka Chukmasi" home loan program, which has been nominated for the Harvard Project's "Honoring Nations" award which honors the very best tribal programs in the United States. There were also 55 new homes constructed for Chickasaw citizens this year alone and the construction of 300 more is anticipated in the next five years.
Another theme of the address is the desire to broaden the horizons of students and provide the educational opportunities to help make young dreams come true.
One example is the Chickasaw Nation Aviation and Space Academy, designed to enlighten students about opportunities in the aviation and aerospace industries. Another is the Summer Youth Program which allows students to earn a paycheck while gaining valuable real life experience in a variety of vocations.
Outlining his vision for the future near the end of his address, Gov. Anoatubby said, "We should not rest until every Chickasaw has an opportunity for an education - until every elder has the care they need - until every Chickasaw has a place to live - until every able-bodied Chickasaw has a quality job - until our language is once again thriving - until quality health care is available to every Chickasaw - or until every Chickasaw realizes his or her dreams."
