Cherokee Nation

What Cherokee Nation does

Cherokee Nation is a sovereign tribal government headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, operating under a constitution adopted on September 6, 1839 following the Indian Removal Act. It is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States, with more than 450,000 tribal citizens worldwide and over 141,000 residing within its 14-county reservation in northeastern Oklahoma. The nation's operations span health services, education, career and workforce development, housing, human services, justice, environmental protection, language preservation, and economic development, delivered through wholly-owned subsidiaries including Cherokee Nation Health Services, Cherokee Nation Businesses, Cherokee Nation Housing Authority, Cherokee Elder Care, and 1839 Meat Company.

Cherokee Nation Health Services is the largest tribally-operated healthcare system in the country, comprising 11 facilities including the 60-bed W.W. Hastings Hospital (with a $400 million replacement under construction), the 469,000-square-foot Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center opened in October 2019, and nine tribal health centers. The system serves more than 100,000 patients and records nearly 2 million patient visits per year, supported by a Cerner-based patient portal, 24/7 online pharmacy refills, and telemedicine partnerships (notably with Regional Brain Institute for stroke and critical care). Workforce development is delivered through Career Services offices across the reservation, the Talking Leaves Job Corps center (approximately 197 students ages 16-24), and youth programs, while cultural preservation is pursued via the Cherokee Immersion School and Sequoyah High School in partnership with Apple.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of federal appropriations (IHS, HHS, DOT, USDA, SSBCI, Treasury), tribal government allocations, gaming and hospitality revenue from Cherokee Nation Entertainment's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa, and tribal-owned commercial enterprises (most prominently Cherokee Nation Businesses and 1839 Meat Company). Pricing for citizen-facing healthcare and social services is largely free or nominal (e.g., $100 copays for crowns, $200 eyewear vouchers, free hearing aids for Cherokee citizens). The nation's FY2018 economic impact on the Oklahoma economy was $2.16 billion, and it operates as one of the largest employers in northeastern Oklahoma with 11,000+ employees.

Name

Cherokee Nation

Legal name

Cherokee Nation

Website

https://cherokee.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1839

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Cherokee Nation is a sovereign tribal government headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, serving 450,000+ tribal citizens through healthcare, education, workforce, housing, and economic development programs, anchored by the largest tribally-operated health system in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tribal Government Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (92115), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tribal/First Nations Casino Operations (MPAEAAAD), Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM)

Keywords

• Tribal government services
• Healthcare delivery system
• Workforce development programs
• Economic development lending
• Cultural preservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tahlequah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Federal and Tribal Government Funding: Primary funding from federal agencies including Indian Health Service (IHS), Department of Health and Human Services, and other federal programs. Additional funding from tribal government allocations and grants.
2. Gaming and Hospitality Revenue: Revenue from Cherokee Nation Entertainment operations including Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa, OK, and Legends Resort & Casino development projects.
3. Tribal Enterprises: Revenue from tribe-owned businesses including 1839 Meat Company for food sovereignty programs.
4. Economic Development Programs: State Small Business Credit Initiative allocation deployed through direct microloans and larger loans from Cherokee Nation Economic Development Trust Authority.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cherokee Nation is a sovereign tribal government that delivers comprehensive public services to its 450,000+ citizens, with its core operating business being Cherokee Nation Health Services, the largest tribally-operated healthcare system in the United States, operating 11 facilities serving over 100,000 patients annually. The Nation also delivers workforce development through Career Services and the Talking Leaves Job Corps center, economic development lending through the Cherokee Opportunity Zones program, food sovereignty through the Hawiya meat distribution program, cultural preservation through the Cherokee Language Revitalization Program, and generates enterprise revenue through Cherokee Nation Entertainment's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Product overview

Cherokee Nation operates as a tribal government offering a diverse portfolio of products and services centered around healthcare delivery and workforce development. The core offering is Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS), the largest tribally-operated healthcare system in the United States, which includes W.W. Hastings Hospital (60-bed inpatient facility with a new $400 million replacement under construction), the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center (469,000 sq ft opened 2019), and nine tribal health centers across northeastern Oklahoma. Supporting services include a Patient Portal for online access to medical records and prescription refills, Behavioral Health Services, and the Purchased and Referred Care Program for external medical referrals. Workforce development is provided through Career Services, which includes the Talking Leaves Job Corps center, vocational training programs, and youth employment initiatives. The tribe also operates cultural preservation programs including Cherokee language revitalization using Apple technology, and food sovereignty initiatives like the Hawiya meat distribution program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) The largest tribally-operated health care system in the United States, providing comprehensive medical services through hospitals, health centers, and community programs to Cherokee Nation citizens and other federally recognized tribal members across northeastern Oklahoma.
• W.W. Hastings Hospital A 60-bed inpatient hospital in Tahlequah providing inpatient and emergency care to Cherokee Nation citizens and other tribal members; a new $400 million state-of-the-art replacement hospital is under construction.
• Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center A 469,000-square-foot, four-story outpatient facility in Tahlequah offering optometry, audiology, physical rehabilitation, behavioral health, radiology, lab, pharmacy, primary care, dental, and ambulatory surgery services to tribal citizens.
• Nine Tribal Health Centers Network of nine outpatient health facilities including Amo Health Center (Salina), Cooweescoowee Health Center (Ochelata), Redbird Smith Health Center (Sallisaw), Sam Hider Health Center (Jay), Three Rivers Health Center (Muskogee), Vinita Health Center, Will Rogers Health Center (Nowata), Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center (Stilwell), and Claremore Outpatient & Emergency Health Center.
• Career Services
• Talking Leaves Job Corps
• Behavioral Health Services
• Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) Program
• Hawiya Food Sovereignty Program
• Cherokee Language Revitalization Program
• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Catoosa
• Cherokee Opportunity Zones Lending Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 patients served annually across 11 healthcare facilities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered important, core and minor.

• Apple Inc.importantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Apple is supporting Cherokee Nation's language revitalization efforts through its Community Education Initiative, providing iPad and Mac devices along with teacher training to Cherokee Immersion School and Sequoyah High School. Students use devices for writing exercises, recording pronunciation, animated storytelling in Keynote and iMovie, and building apps using Swift Playgrounds to identify plant species.
• Rogers State UniversityimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Rogers State University broke ground on $35 million STEM center (The Robson Center for Science and Technology) with tribal contributions from Cherokee Nation funding. Facility funded through state appropriations, tribal contributions, and private donations.
• 1839 Meat CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Tribally-owned meat company supplying product for Cherokee Nation's Hawiya Food Sovereignty meat distribution program. Program launched January 2025 to supply meat from 1839 Meat Company to community non-profits.
• Regional Brain Institute (RBI)coreTechnology or IntegrationCherokee Nation Health Services partners with Regional Brain Institute (RBI) for neurology and stroke care. RBI provides acute/critical care, inpatient stroke services, telemedicine consultations, and outpatient neurology services. RBI also provides Stroke Program Service Line Management and Medical Directorship for W.W. Hastings Hospital.
• Job CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTalking Leaves Job Corps Center operated by Cherokee Nation under federal Job Corps program. Serves approximately 197 students ages 16-24 with career technical training, academic education, and life skills. Partnership with Department of Labor.
• Northeastern State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner for Talking Leaves Job Corps students pursuing college degrees. Also historical partner - Job Corps center originally housed at NSU Loeser Hall in 1978.
• Indian Capital Technology CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology center partner for Talking Leaves Job Corps students seeking vocational training and certifications.
• Connors State CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner for Talking Leaves Job Corps students pursuing additional educational opportunities.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma: One of the largest federally recognized tribal nations in Oklahoma, operating comparable comprehensive services including healthcare, education, gaming, and economic development across a multi-county reservation. Closely comparable in scale, geographic concentration, and service breadth to Cherokee Nation.
• Chickasaw Nation: Large Oklahoma-based sovereign tribal government operating comprehensive healthcare, education, and gaming operations including the WinStar World Casino. Directly comparable to Cherokee Nation in service mix, regional footprint, and economic impact profile.
• Muscogee (Creek) Nation: Oklahoma-based federally recognized tribe providing healthcare, education, and tribal services to its citizens with multiple facilities across eastern Oklahoma. Shares the same state-based operating environment, IHS funding model, and gaming-economics structure as Cherokee Nation.
• Navajo Nation: The largest federally recognized Native American tribe by land area and population, operating the Navajo Area Indian Health Service and extensive tribal enterprises. Comparable as a sovereign tribal nation delivering comprehensive services, healthcare, and economic development to its citizens across a multi-state region.
• Citizen Potawatomi Nation: Oklahoma-based federally recognized tribe operating healthcare, education, and gaming enterprises including FireLake Casino. Comparable in operating scale, federal trust relationship, and service delivery model to Cherokee Nation's mid-size operations.
• Poarch Band of Creek Indians: Federally recognized tribe operating one of the largest tribal gaming enterprises in the United States through Wind Creek Hospitality, with diversified operations including healthcare and education. Comparable to Cherokee Nation's gaming-and-government model and its diversified tribal enterprise structure.
• Seminole Tribe of Florida: Sovereign tribal nation that owns Hard Rock International, operating one of the largest tribal gaming and hospitality portfolios in the world. Notably, both Cherokee Nation and Seminole Tribe operate Hard Rock-branded casino-hotels, making them direct peers in the tribal casino hotel category.
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation: Federally recognized tribe operating Foxwoods Resort Casino, one of the largest casino-resort complexes in North America, with diversified tribal government services. Directly comparable to Cherokee Nation as a sovereign tribal nation whose gaming operations substantially fund non-gaming services.
• Mohegan Tribe: Federally recognized tribe operating Mohegan Sun and other gaming properties through Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, with diversified government services to tribal citizens. Comparable to Cherokee Nation in sovereign-tribal-gaming-and-services business model.
• Gila River Indian Community: Arizona-based federally recognized tribe operating Wild Horse Pass and other gaming and hospitality assets alongside healthcare and government services. Comparable to Cherokee Nation's diversified tribal enterprise model combining gaming, healthcare, and government services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CherokeeNation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CherokeeTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCherokeeNation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecherokeenation
• TikToktiktok.com/@thecherokeenation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cherokee Nation