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Jim Stafford Special to Oklahoman Bill Anoatubby has been governor of the Chickasaw Nation since 1987 and has overseen exponential growth of the tribe’s employment and business interests. In 1987 the tribe had about 250 employees. Today, the Chickasaw Nation employs almost 13,000 people. Gov. Anoatubby took time to answer these questions about the tribe’s economic development efforts. Q: What are the areas of business development your tribe is focusing on for the future? A: We plan to continue investing in our entertainment, hospitality and tourism businesses which have proven very succe...

Jim Stafford For The Oklahoman Tammye Gwin is executive director of strategic development for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She provides perspective in this Q&A on the Nation’s economic development efforts and its impact on the economy. The Oklahoman's special section on Native Pride: Read all the stories here Q:  What are the areas of business development your tribe is focusing on for the future? A: Choctaw Nation currently operates travel plazas, country markets (grocery stores), casinos, restaurants franchises, a printing company, hotels, RV park, manufacturing operation and cattle ra...

adolce@observertoday.com A line for the pop up clinic at Native Pride in Irving is pictured. Photo by Anthony Dolce IRVING — With COVID-19 vaccinations rolling out all over the country, accessibility to the vaccine can still be an issue, especially in rural areas. Thanks to the combined efforts of Dr. Raul Vazquez, president of Buffalo’s G-Health Enterprises, and J.C. Seneca, owner of Native Pride Travel Plaza, vaccinations were made more accessible. On Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Native Pride Travel Plaza provided 400 vaccines for eligible individuals, including truck drivers and...

Or maybe it’s the promise of an effective vaccine to stop the spread of COVID-19. Gaming activity at Oklahoma’s tribal owned casinos resumed at a brisk pace in the last half of 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a temporary halt to gaming in the spring. Oklahoma revenues from Indian gaming exclusivity fees for the first seven months of fiscal 2021, which began July 1, totaled $87,693,040.23 compared with $89,550,066.11 in the same period the previous year.  That’s a decline of $1,857,025.88, or just 2%. And the industry appears on pace to see pre-pandemic gains for the rest of th...

The Choctaw Nation, for example, saved tens of thousands of dollars on its costs to electrify various tribal buildings after entering into its agreement with Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co.  The Chickasaw Nation likely is enjoying the same benefits. The utility announced it had reached agreements with both tribes to add solar plants, each capable of generating 5 megawatts (MWs) of energy, about a year ago.  The plants came online in August. “We always have tried to be good stewards of our Mother Earth, and so this is just another step in that direction. We are reducing our carbon footp...