'We don't do it alone.' Cherokee Nation chief speaks to Oklahoma Legislature

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. spoke in the Oklahoma House and Senate chambers Tuesday, highlighting the work done within the tribe to improve education and promote healthy living. The effort includes building a $35 million health center in Salina, Oklahoma, investing in public gymnasiums in small northeastern Oklahoma communities and spending $73 million over five years to build drug treatment centers across the Cherokee Nation reservation. Despite political conflict in recent years over the McGirt decision at the U.S. Supreme Court, Hoskin called on lawmakers and the Oklahoma state government to work together with tribes, saying, "We have to recognize that we don't do it alone."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Cherokee chief tells OK Legislature about health, education efforts