We hear the phrase “we’re all in this together” a lot these days.
We hear the phrase “we’re all in this together” a lot these days.

And that certainly applies to preserving our precious natural resources.
And that certainly applies to preserving our precious natural resources.

This week, we see how those with the longest ties to our natural history are taking bold
This week, we see how those with the longest ties to our natural history are taking bold

steps to ensure a clean future.
steps to ensure a clean future.

The Cherokee nation is located in a 9,000 square mile area of northeastern Oklahoma.
The Cherokee nation is located in a 9,000 square mile area of northeastern Oklahoma.

Unlike other reservations, Cherokee tribal land is checkerboarded in and around state
Unlike other reservations, Cherokee tribal land is checkerboarded in and around state

jurisdictions, and Cherokee citizens are very much a part of the local communities.
jurisdictions, and Cherokee citizens are very much a part of the local communities.

So maintaining their own civic infrastructure and preserving Cherokee culture while keeping
So maintaining their own civic infrastructure and preserving Cherokee culture while keeping

pace with modern society is a vital task.
pace with modern society is a vital task.

"Well, our belief, and it’s one that’s held our people together for generations,
"Well, our belief, and it’s one that’s held our people together for generations,

is that we look seven generations into the future.
is that we look seven generations into the future.

We look at what our actions today are doing for generations from now.
We look at what our actions today are doing for generations from now.

And I think in the world we live in today, it’s important to reduce our carbon footprint,
And I think in the world we live in today, it’s important to reduce our carbon footprint,

to look for avenues to explore green energy, and I’m standing next to our solar canopy,
to look for avenues to explore green energy, and I’m standing next to our solar canopy,

which is one of our key initiatives to meet that objective, reduce that carbon footprint
which is one of our key initiatives to meet that objective, reduce that carbon footprint

-- think ahead to future generations, make sure that this reservation that we’re on
-- think ahead to future generations, make sure that this reservation that we’re on

right now, is going to be clean and pristine.
right now, is going to be clean and pristine.

Hopefully cleaner as we go by, thanks to these kinds of initiatives for generations into
Hopefully cleaner as we go by, thanks to these kinds of initiatives for generations into

the future."
the future."

The Indian Nations Council of Governments is also home to the Tulsa Area Clean Cities
The Indian Nations Council of Governments is also home to the Tulsa Area Clean Cities

Coalition, easing the way for the Cherokee Nation and other tribal partners to team up
Coalition, easing the way for the Cherokee Nation and other tribal partners to team up

through clean cities on a number of clean vehicle projects.
through clean cities on a number of clean vehicle projects.

This solar canopy, completed in 2017, currently houses eight, free, public level 2 electric
This solar canopy, completed in 2017, currently houses eight, free, public level 2 electric

car charging outlets at the Cherokee Nation's main administrative complex.
car charging outlets at the Cherokee Nation's main administrative complex.

It generates up to 58,000 kilowatt-hours per year and augments grid power supplied to the
It generates up to 58,000 kilowatt-hours per year and augments grid power supplied to the

buildings when not used for charging vehicles.
buildings when not used for charging vehicles.

When it was installed, there were actually very few electric vehicles registered in the
When it was installed, there were actually very few electric vehicles registered in the

area, but in a classic case of “build it and they will come,” the local EV population,
area, but in a classic case of “build it and they will come,” the local EV population,

and demand for charging, has grown rapidly.
and demand for charging, has grown rapidly.

"Since we’ve installed this canopy, we’ve seen both the number of electric vehicles
"Since we’ve installed this canopy, we’ve seen both the number of electric vehicles

utilizing it increase.
utilizing it increase.

Actually we have to increase the number of stalls available.
Actually we have to increase the number of stalls available.

And we have also since that time purchased a number of electric vehicles to supplement
And we have also since that time purchased a number of electric vehicles to supplement

our tribal fleet operations."
our tribal fleet operations."

Once complete, the solar site’s electric vehicle charging capacity will be doubled
Once complete, the solar site’s electric vehicle charging capacity will be doubled

to 16.
to 16.

The Cherokee Nation’s EV Initiative also includes four DC fast chargers and additional
The Cherokee Nation’s EV Initiative also includes four DC fast chargers and additional

level twos, installed or planned for tribal lands throughout the area, as well as a significant
level twos, installed or planned for tribal lands throughout the area, as well as a significant

investment in public transportation.
investment in public transportation.

"We have an electric school bus here in the Cherokee nation, I think it’s the first
"We have an electric school bus here in the Cherokee nation, I think it’s the first

in the region, and we have some electric transit buses, which we think are the first for a
in the region, and we have some electric transit buses, which we think are the first for a

rural-based transit system in the United States."
rural-based transit system in the United States."

With just 2000 fluent speakers remaining, attrition of tribal elders through natural
With just 2000 fluent speakers remaining, attrition of tribal elders through natural

causes and from the COVID pandemic losing many tribal elders to COVID has threatened
causes and from the COVID pandemic losing many tribal elders to COVID has threatened

the very viability of the Cherokee language for the future.
the very viability of the Cherokee language for the future.

This electric school bus transports students in the Cherokee Nation’s groundbreaking
This electric school bus transports students in the Cherokee Nation’s groundbreaking

language immersion program, where new generations of native speakers are being trained to teach
language immersion program, where new generations of native speakers are being trained to teach

others and keep this vital link to the past alive.
others and keep this vital link to the past alive.

These newly-arrived Proterra electric transit buses carry bilingual signage throughout the
These newly-arrived Proterra electric transit buses carry bilingual signage throughout the

interior to act as teaching tools, and as a reminder to all of the importance of not
interior to act as teaching tools, and as a reminder to all of the importance of not

just preserving, but continuing Cherokee traditions.
just preserving, but continuing Cherokee traditions.

"If you go elsewhere in the reservation, you’ll see community organizations that are really
"If you go elsewhere in the reservation, you’ll see community organizations that are really

the hub and the lifeblood of these little communities that again have existed since
the hub and the lifeblood of these little communities that again have existed since

before the state of Oklahoma was here."
before the state of Oklahoma was here."

We have to connect people, from home to work and home to health centers.
We have to connect people, from home to work and home to health centers.

Doing that in an environmentally sustainable way is important, and these transit buses
Doing that in an environmentally sustainable way is important, and these transit buses

are a big part of that.
are a big part of that.