Cherokee Nation Set to Receive First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine

The Cherokee Nation is set to receive its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine directly from the Indian Health Service (IHS) starting this week.

The Cherokee Nation is set to receive 975 of the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Dec. 14. The Cherokee Nation will vaccinate its frontline health care workers and emergency responders, Cherokee speakers, Cherokee National Treasures and elders over the age of 65 during its first phase.

“Taking a COVID-19 vaccine is another step forward to saving lives among our Cherokee people and helping stop the spread of this deadly virus in our Cherokee communities,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “I know some of our Cherokee elders may have reservations about taking the vaccine, but it will save our elders, our speakers, our National Treasures and frontline workers. As we continue our phased plan and get more doses into 2021 to begin vaccinating our employees and citizens, we can begin the process of healing from what we know is the worst public health crisis our tribe has faced in generations.”

The Cherokee Nation made several purchases and facility updates to keep the COVID-19 vaccines stored properly.

“We have been working with IHS and following CDC guidelines to create a prioritization plan that will include our frontline health care workers and those who are at high risk of infection to be among the first to receive the vaccine so that we can get our most vulnerable and at-risk populations vaccinated,” said Brian Hail, Deputy Executive Director of External Operations for Cherokee Nation Health Services.

The vaccine will be administered in two doses, with the second dose given exactly 21 days after the first. Citizens must take both doses for the vaccine to be effective. Future vaccines may mandate different dose requirements and the Cherokee Nation may alter its distribution plans accordingly.

“We’re planning based on current vaccine distributions arriving in the coming weeks, and the distribution plans may change as we learn more about the future vaccine availability and dosing requirements arriving from IHS in 2021,” said Chief of Staff Todd Enlow.

Phase 2 of Cherokee Nation’s vaccination distribution includes those Cherokee Nation Non-health care critical staff such as teachers and childcare staff, food security staff, shelter staff to those under age 55 with underlying health conditions.

Phase 3 includes more of the general Cherokee population and those users of Cherokee Nation Health Services and their beneficiaries.

“The more of our frontline staff that receive the vaccine puts us in line to receive larger allocations in the future. Use of this first allocation and the time in which we administer it, is very important to benefit our communities moving forward,” said Dr. R. Stephen Jones, Executive Director of Cherokee Nation Health Services.

Cherokee Nation Health Services plans to use all 975 doses of the vaccine within one to two weeks after receiving them per FDA guidelines. Allocations of the second dose are estimated to arrive within the 21 days. When the health system has documented the use of the first doses of the vaccine, the tribe can then request more.

Continual updates on the Cherokee Nation’s phased vaccine distribution plan and an FAQ will be posted on www.cherokee.org and the Cherokee Nation Facebook page.

The Cherokee Nation has had nearly 7,000 positive cases of COVID-19 and 50 deaths, including 20 Cherokee speakers within its health system.

“To rapidly meet the demand for tests and treatments against COVID-19, the FDA grants emergency use authorization while these tests and treatments advance toward full approval by the FDA. In an emergency, such as a public health crisis, it takes collaboration and strong decision making to ensure public safety. Because of the vaccine, we will now be able to protect more of what is precious to us, our patients, families and communities.” Jones added. 

As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more readily available, the tribe encourages everyone to continue to wear a mask, wash their hands regularly and observe social distancing. The benefit provided by the vaccine will take several months before it decreases the amount of community spread and impact to Cherokee families and communities. It is important to continue to respect the lives of Cherokee elders and honor the Cherokee language.

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CN and State of Oklahoma Extend Hunting and Fishing Compact for 2021

(L to R) CN Chief of Staff Todd Enlow, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, 

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Secretary of Natural Resources Chad Harsha. 

Cherokee Nation citizens in Oklahoma will receive their 2021 hunting and fishing licenses after the tribe’s Hunting and Fishing Compact with the State of Oklahoma has been extended.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed the compact extension on Thursday in Tahlequah, while Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Friday morning in Oklahoma City.

“Extending the Hunting and Fishing Compact is a victory for Cherokee citizens, reminding us of our inherent right to hunt and fish on our land just as our ancestors have done for countless generations,” Chief Hoskin said. “This extension provides Cherokee citizens living in Oklahoma an opportunity to hunt and fish not just within the Cherokee Nation reservation, but in all 77 counties of this state. The compact is also good for the state by providing a financial boost to wildlife service programs. I commend the state and Gov. Stitt for working to continue this important agreement.”

The compact between the Cherokee Nation and State of Oklahoma benefits both the tribe and the state, with the Cherokee Nation boosting licensure and opening the door to more than $7 million dollars in projected federal funding for the state’s wildlife department. These additional funds are used by the State of Oklahoma for wildlife conservation, aiding fish and wildlife management across the Cherokee Nation reservation and throughout the state of Oklahoma.

“I appreciate the Cherokee Nation working with my office and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation on a one-year hunting and fishing compact extension,” said Gov. Stitt. “This compact continues a partnership between the State of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation to capture federal funds for conservation efforts across our state while promoting hunting and fishing opportunities for citizens of the Cherokee Nation.”

Under the compact, Cherokee Nation issues its own free hunting and fishing licenses to Cherokee citizens residing in Oklahoma. Licenses are recognized by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and provide Cherokee citizens the same privileges of an Oklahoma hunting and fishing license, including a single universal deer tag and a single turkey tag per calendar year. Under the compact, the Cherokee Nation will purchase up to 150,000 licenses.

“Over the next year, the Cherokee Nation will continue to collaborate with the State of Oklahoma to negotiate a longer-term Hunting and Fishing Compact that provides additional tags and access for Cherokee citizens,” said Secretary of Natural Resources Chad Harsha. “We look forward to those discussions and appreciate the State of Oklahoma being a cooperative partner in this effort.”

The compact between the tribe and the state, the first of its kind in the country, originally went into effect on Jan. 1, 2016 and included an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2018. A subsequent one-year extension was later signed, followed by a year-long extension signed in January of 2020. The extension signed this week by Chief Hoskin and Gov. Stitt is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2021.

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Oklahoma State Dept. of Health Lays Out Plan for Vaccine Distribution

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has released its updated priority group list and plan for distribution of the recently approved COVID-19 vaccine. Phase one will begin as soon as Oklahoma receives its first doses.

The first phase includes distribution to healthcare workers who provide direct inpatient COVID care, residents and staff at long term care facilities, paramedics, and EMTs. 

Phase two is expected to go into effect some time in January. Distribution of the vaccine in Phase two will be available to first responders such as law enforcement and fire fighters. Healthcare workers who provide COVI-D19 treatment at urgent care and outpatient facilities are also included in this phase. Residents and staff of group settings such as jails and shelters along with those over 65 are also included. Adults of any age with comorbidities will also have access to the vaccine during Phase two.

Essential business employees, and those involved in education such as students, teachers and school staff will be included in Phase three. Critical infrastructure employees are also included.

During Phase four (the final phase) the vaccine will be available to all Oklahomans.

Phase three includes essential business workers, teachers, students, and anyone working in education.

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Sallisaw High School and Middle School Going Virtual

Students attending Sallisaw Middle School and Sallisaw High School will move back to virtual learning on Monday, Dec. 14. Students are scheduled to return to traditional learning after the Christmas Break ends on Jan. 4.

Sallisaw Superintendent Randy Wood announced the changes on Friday due to the large number of positive COVID-19 cases within those two buildings.

All athletes, boys and girls, within the basketball and wrestling programs of the two schools are currently under quarantine. Many have tested positive for the virus. Wood stated that approximately 200 athletes are quarantined at this time. All athletic facilities will also be closed.

Liberty and Eastside will remain traditional for the time. "We will monitor these buildings and make a decision day by day," Wood said.

Buses will run and lunches will be served like normal for both Liberty and Eastside students. Middle School and High School students can pick up lunches at their cafeteria from 11 until noon, Monday through Friday.

Wood stated he didn't have an exact number of positive cases but said, "It's a lot." He went on to add that they are receiving calls almost constantly of those with positive test results.

He pointed out that they have seen the biggest surge in numbers roughly 14 days after the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays.

All youth league activities will be suspended until Jan. 4.

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CASC Spring Enrollment Now Open

Enrollment for spring 2021 is now open at Carl Albert State College. Students wishing to get started on their degree, or pick up where they left off, have the unique opportunity to enjoy a world-class education at an affordable price. Carl Albert is also diligently working to ensure the safety of all on campus this coming spring. Adopting the theme “Dedicated” for the year, prior to the fall semester beginning, campus leadership worked diligently to adopt safety measures such as hand sanitizing stations, increased class spaces, sanitizing machines, to-go meals at the café, and more! “We are so proud of our students, staff, and faculty for doing their part all fall semester to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said President Jay Falkner. “We are proud to have maintained extremely low numbers of positive cases on our campus, and it’s due to the efforts of our entire Viking family. We are confident we can continue the same safety measures this spring.”

In addition to increased safety measures on campus, additional learning options have also been implemented through VikingFlex, Carl Albert’s blended learning platform. Through VikingFlex, students have the opportunity to construct the class schedule that works for them, and choose from in-class, virtual, or online instruction. “VikingFlex truly does meet the student where they are, and allows them to build a class schedule that meets their unique needs,” said Bill Nowlin, Vice President of Enrollment Management. “In the COVID climate, it’s important to get creative to help our students achieve their goals, and the VikingFlex platform does just that.”

Students who wish to enroll in the spring semester at Carl Albert may contact Enrollment Management at 918.647.1372, or start the process online. After applying, the next step is to explore academic options and degree plans. “While our office will be closed from December 11th to January 4th, students can still receive assistance with enrollment by emailing advisement@carlalbert.edu,” said Nowlin. “Also, they will have until January 22nd to completely enroll.” 

For more information on Carl Albert’s academic offerings and enrollment options, visit www.carlalbert.edu. 

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Webbers Falls Christmas Bash Set for Saturday

The Town of Webbers Falls will be celebrating a “Historic Downtown Christmas” from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the museum. 

Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, the event will feature a silent auction, food vendors, hot cocoa, s’mores, a cake walk, a live manger, games, a tree lighting, Santa Claus and more. 

Masks are highly recommended for everyone who comes to historic downtown Webbers Falls for this holiday extravaganza. 

For more information, visit www.webbersfallschamberofcommerce@gmail.com.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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CN Veterans Can Register on Cherokee Warriors Database

The Cherokee Warriors Database, a centralized portal to identify thousands of Cherokee veterans across the globe, is now live for tribal citizens who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces to register.

“We know that Cherokees serve in the United States military at greater per-capita rates than other ethnicities, and have fought in every major conflict and war since this country was founded, and it’s been a challenge over the years to identify and serve each Cherokee veteran,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “What better way to serve and support our veterans than to do this from our centralized Cherokee Warriors Database, connecting all departments in the Cherokee Nation.”

The Cherokee Warriors Database can be found at https://gadugiportal.cherokee.org/

Veterans can register with branch of military, years of service and upload their military service documents (DD214s). The data is verified by the tribe’s Office of Veteran Affairs and citizens are identified across all departments, such as Cherokee Veterans Center, registration and eventually tag offices, housing, health services and others.

“We will be a stronger and more responsible government when we can identify every single Cherokee Nation veteran and keep those records current and updated in our database,” Cherokee Nation Secretary of Veteran Affairs S. Joe Crittenden said. “The Cherokee Warriors Database will enable us to better connect veterans to the critical services they need and rightly deserve.”

Crittenden said the tribe will be able to better inform veterans of events and services and increase financial opportunities, including federal funding to support veterans.

The Cherokee Nation has launched the new Gadugi Portal to empower every tribal citizen. This centralized database allows citizens to register and connect directly to services with singular action, rather than multiple connections and applications.

Once a citizen registers and updates their address, for example, that data is shared in the registration citizenship database and in coming months with all other departments in the Cherokee Nation. Previously, a Cherokee Nation citizen completed a paper form or faxed in a request for a change of address, and had to provide similar updates to various departments.

The Cherokee Nation partnered with Salesforce to launch the new “Gadugi Portal.”

“The Cherokee Nation believes in ‘gadugi,’ working together to better our tribe,” said Chief of Staff Todd Enlow. “The portal signifies our Cherokee spirit and the dedication of every Cherokee Nation employee working together for the betterment of our citizens, beginning with our veterans.”

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