The Chickasaw Nation as a whole saw a net revenue increase of just over Ten percent in 2009. Net assets of the entire tribe increased by sixteen percent. These numbers show that although the entire United States is in an economic recession, the tribe as a whole is flourishing economically. Some of the major assets acquired during 2009 are, but not limited to, the purchase of the WinStar Casino Hotel and the Remington Park Horse Racing Track and Casino. Some other successful businesses’ contributing to the success of the Chickasaw nation are Chickasaw Nation Industries and Solara Health Care. In the Future, Chickasaw Nation is opening a new 370,000 sqft. Medical Center, which is projected to be completed and opened in Spring 2010. This facility will be three times larger than the previous medical center and will employ 300 additional medical and administrative professionals to help boost an already thriving local economy.
Education:
Funding for education has increased considerably over the past few years. More than eleven million dollars in education assistance was given to students of all ages in fiscal year 2009. This was a two million dollar increase between 2008 and 2009. With this money, more that 2,000 students received grants and scholarships to assist with various college costs. This money is not just for college bound students, but also for younger men and woman to use in their pursuit of knowledge. And innovative science-technology-math academy was opened in April of this year. This academy will enable young people the explore career opportunities in the sciences with the proper resources.
Economic success put to good use:
Along with a couple large investments to boost the Chickasaw economy further, the Nation built three new Social and Political landmarks. The first is the new Chickasaw Cultural Center, which is planned on being opened to the public on June 24th after twenty years of official and unofficial public requests. The Cultural center is located on 109 acres of hills, woodlands, and streams near the Chickasaw National Recreation area. The Cultural Center uses live demonstrations, ancient artifact replicas and Nature to tell Chickasaw stories. The Second and Third are the new Legislative and Judicial buildings the represent two of the three branches of Chickasaw government. The Legislative building is a 13,880-sqft facility. It has a 130-set legislative chamber with modern audio and visual equipment, and office for each representative, three state of the art conference rooms, and a gym. The Judicial building is perhaps even more impressive. The 15, 610 sqft judicial building has two courtrooms’, each with digital evidence presentation equipment, a secure evidence room, holding rooms for prisoners, and a full time security monitoring system. Both these buildings set the standard for not just reservation politics but local politics throughout the regular United States. These landmarks exemplify the Chickasaw Nations current economic prosperity.
By Michael Bracelin
Works Cited
"Current Affairs." The Official Site of Chickasaw Nation. http://www.chickasaw.net/governor/index_5258.htm
"Current Affairs." The Official Site of Chickasaw Nation. http://www.chickasaw.net/governor/index_5198.htm
"Current Affairs." The Official Site of Chickasaw Nation. http://www.chickasaw.net/governor/index_1653.htm
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