Economic Status

The Chickasaw Nations website states“ From Bank2, Bedre Chocolates, KADA, and KYKC radio stations and the McSwain Theatre, to the many gaming centers, travel plazas and tobacco stores, the variety and prosperity of the Chickasaw Nations businesses exemplifies the epitome of economic success”. The Chickasaw Nation is not just a community but a fully incorporate business as well. With much of its economic focus concentrated on the I-35 corridor between Dallas and Oklahoma City, the Chickasaw Nation now operates both an extensive tourist industry as well as several large-scale gaming operations.

When Bill Anoatubby entered the office of Tribal Governor in 1987, the Chickasaw Nation employed 250 people and had an annual budget of $11 million, now that is up to 9,000 people with an annual budget of over $350 million. This increase is largely due in part to the expansion of the gaming industry within the Nation. Prior to 1987 the Tribe relied primarily on federal funding (90%) to maintain its programs and services. The focus on gaming within the nation has provided many economic opportunities within the Tribe. Using the revenue from its gaming operations the Tribe was able to invest internally as well as externally. The establishment of a gaming consultation firm increased the tribe’s revenue to such a large degree that it was able to invest and acquire properties outside of its jurisdictional boundaries. The Tribe under Windall Gilliam who is the CEO of Chickasaw Nation Industries, which is one of the largest Tribal Companies in the lower 48 oversees all of the tribes businesses and owns and operates 18 casinos including the largest gaming resort in the state of Oklahoma.[1] According to the Chickasaw Nation Industries website the tribe received it’s Federal Charter from the Department of the Interior in 1996 “ and was created for the purpose of promoting the economic development of it’s sole stakeholder the Chickasaw Nation of Southeast Oklahoma.” CNI. Inc operates ten businesses, which range from construction and consultation firms to aviation companies. Its client list includes not just the Department of Defense and NASA but other federal and private institutions as well.[2]

The Tribes other revenue sources include four radio stations, two newspapers, a community garden which produces both flowers and vegetables for local markets and numerous other industries such as convenience stores, truck stops and hotels which capitalize on the Nations close proximity to a major interstate. The Nation has also invested heavily into developing a tourist industry within southern Oklahoma. The Nation is currently meeting with National Park Service to take over the managerial role of several tourist sites which would allow not only for further development for the Tribes industries, but for increased tourist revenue as well.[3] Tom John the administrator for Chickasaw Nation Division of Self-Governance stated, “ Our long term goals include expanding on existing partnerships and developing a more unified approach to economic development and tourism in the region”.[4]

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[1] Michael Baker, “Chickasaw Nation in talks over land in south central Oklahoma”, OKnews, April 23, 2010.

[2] ibid

[3] ibid

[4] ibid

By William Caraway

Works Cited

Baker, Michael. “Chickasaw Nation in talks over land in south central Oklahoma”. OKnews. April 23, 2010.