What does a stronger Choctaw Nation look like?
When you ask people what they want for the future, the answers are usually the same. They want a good job. They want to provide for their family. They want their children to have a better life than they had.
That is what a stronger Choctaw Nation looks like.
Over the years, our Nation has made great progress. We have built businesses, created jobs, improved healthcare, and invested in education. Those achievements deserve to be celebrated. But our work is not finished.
The next step is to make sure more Choctaw families earn higher incomes.
A higher income is about more than money. It means parents can pay their bills without worrying every month. It means young people are more likely to stay in southeastern Oklahoma because there are more opportunities. It means grandparents can retire with dignity. It means local businesses have more customers, and it means our communities continue to grow and prosper.
Good jobs are the key. Our casinos and tourism businesses are a strong foundation, but we also need more jobs in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, technology, transportation, and other skilled trades. These jobs often pay higher wages while giving people a chance to build a better future.
Investing in education also matters, but education does not only mean college. Trade schools, apprenticeships, and job training can lead to excellent careers, and every Choctaw citizen should have a chance to learn skills that lead to a substantial paycheck.
We should also support people who want to start their own businesses. If you would like to start a small business, please reach out to the Chahtapreneur program, and they will help you with training and technical assistance. A small business can provide for a family and create jobs for others. When Choctaw-owned businesses succeed, our communities become stronger.
As our economy grows, we must remember who we are. The Choctaw people have always believed in helping one another. We value family, hard work, respect, and service to our communities. Those values should continue to guide our decisions because even small steps today can make a big difference for our children and grandchildren.
Our ancestors overcame many hardships so that we could have a better life. We honor them by continuing to build a stronger Choctaw Nation.
A stronger Choctaw Nation is not measured only by the number of businesses we own or the buildings we build. It is measured by the success of our people. When our families prosper, our Nation prospers, and that is a future worth working for.
Many of these strategies are being offered across several different programs, and I plan to be very intentional about advocating for the expansion of these opportunities.
Yakoke,
Anthony Dillard District #10 Tribal Council