Like many successful American companies, we started in manufacturing. Like many successful Native-owned businesses, we expanded to gaming and hospitality. And to bring more opportunity home to Cherokee Nation, we diversified to do business around the world. Use the timeline to explore our history.
June 1969
Founded with purpose
Cherokee Nation’s first business venture brought a manufacturing plant and jobs to Cherokees in Stilwell, Oklahoma. Then, like now, our proceeds were put to use to empower Cherokee Nation’s citizens.
October 1970
The Right to Vote
The Principal Chiefs Act restores Cherokee Nation’s right to elect its leaders.
August 1971
CHEROKEES VOTE
W.W. Keeler becomes the first elected Principal Chief of Cherokee Nation since Oklahoma statehood.
June 1974
EXPANSION & GROWTH
Cherokee Nation Industries employs 192 Cherokees. Its second plant, in Tahlequah, manufactures parts for IBM.
October 1984
ARC OF PROGRESS
Cherokee Nation Industries and Boeing officials meet in Texas. Their talks lead to a $3.9 million contract for electrical assemblies in support of the Peacekeeper Missile Program.
October 1988
U.S. ENACTS INDIAN GAMING
Congress passes the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the legal foundation of American Indian gaming.
January 1989
HELLO FROM THE PENTAGON
The U.S. Defense Department makes a “thank-you visit” to Cherokee Nation Industries for excellence in quality control management.
November 1990
BINGO!
Cherokee Nation’s very first gaming enterprise, Cherokee Bingo Outpost, opens in Roland, Oklahoma. Today, thousands of Cherokees work in gaming and hospitality at 10 northeastern Oklahoma locations.
September 1993
THE FIRST FEW NOTES
Cherokee Nation Entertainment opens a Bingo Outpost in Catoosa, Oklahoma.
April 1994
Go West
Cherokee Nation Entertainment opens a high-stakes bingo facility in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma.
September 1995
Eight Figures
Cherokee Nation Industries reaches $10 million in annual sales.
June 1996
CHEROKEES WORKING TOGETHER
Cherokee Nation Industries employs 275 workers across all facilities.
October 1999
SDB Supplier of the year
Boeing presents Cherokee Nation Industries with their SDB Supplier of the Year Award.
October 2000
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
The Space Shuttle Discovery, on mission STS-92, launches the International Space Station’s Z1 Truss into orbit around Earth. Cherokee Nation Industries manufactured more than 100 parts for the truss.
April 2002
248 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH
A Cherokee Nation flag arrives at the International Space Station aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-110.
September 2002
GAMING IN FORT GIBSON
Cherokee Nation Entertainment opens gaming operations in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.
August 2003
CHEROKEE NATION’S
HISTORIC PLACES
The Cherokee National Capitol Building, Supreme Court Building and Cherokee National Prison are placed in trust for Cherokee Nation. The buildings were restored by Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism, and today are home to three museums: Cherokee National History Museum, Cherokee National Prison Museum and Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum.
March 2004
HORSE RACING AT WILL ROGERS DOWNS
Cherokee Nation Entertainment acquires Will Rogers Downs and renovates the facility. It reopens in 2005, continuing a great tradition of horse racing in Oklahoma with the addition of casino gaming.
September 2004
CHEROKEE CASINO TAHLEQUAH
Gaming arrives in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. By 2006, it contributes 180 jobs to Cherokee Nation’s economy.
October 2004
A good deal all around
Oklahoma’s citizens vote YES on State Question 712, establishing a framework for gaming agreements between Native American tribes and Oklahoma. By 2019, total revenue for the state has doubled initial projections.
December 2004
Resort Destination
Cherokee Casino Resort Catoosa opens to the public, it is Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s first resort casino.
July 2006
CHEROKEE CASINO SALLISAW
Cherokee Casino Sallisaw opens, adding 150 jobs to Cherokee Nation’s economy.
August 2009
The house is a-rockin’
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa opens. More than 1215 employees work for our flagship hotel and casino resort today.
September 2009
INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
Diversifying our businesses allows us to generate steady income for Cherokee Nation that can keep pace with the tribe’s growth for generations to come. In 2009, Cherokee Nation Businesses acquires ITX, Cherokee Nation’s first company outside of the Cherokee Nation reservation.
May 2010
WESTWARD EXPANSION
Expansion is completed at Cherokee Casino & Hotel West Siloam Springs, making it the second resort destination at Cherokee Nation Entertainment.
May 2010
CHEROKEE CASINO RAMONA
Cherokee Casino Ramona opens and creates more than 100 jobs in Cherokee Nation.
September 2010
CNB DIVERSIFIES
Cherokee Nation Businesses’ federal contracting companies earn more than $145 million in gross revenue.
January 2011
ETI ACQUISITION
2013
$100 MILLION FOR HEALTHCARE
Cherokee Nation Businesses commits $100 million to Cherokee Nation to improve Cherokee Nation’s healthcare operations throughout the 14 counties of Cherokee Nation.
February 2015
A CHEROKEE VOICE
The first episode of Emmy-award winning show “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People” makes its television and online debut. More than ten seasons are available to watch, free of charge, at osiyo.tv.
March 2015
GAMING IN SOUTH COFFEYVILLE
Cherokee Casino South Coffeyville opens, creating more than 100 jobs in Cherokee Nation.
October 2015
RESORT STYLING IN ROLAND
Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland becomes our third resort destination, featuring a new gaming facility, buffet, parking garage and hotel.
September 2016
ECONOMIC ENGINE
Cherokee Nation Businesses earns $1 billion in annual revenue for the first time.
December 2016
CHEROKEE CASINO GROVE
September 2017
CNBILLION
Cherokee Nation Businesses federal contracting division secures $1 billion in contract wins in a fiscal year for the first time.
January 2019
CHEROKEE NATION
FILM OFFICE
The Cherokee Nation Film Office opens to promote Cherokee Nation as a destination for filmmakers and grow Oklahoma’s film industry.
August 2019
CHEROKEE NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism opens the Cherokee National History Museum to showcase the complete Cherokee story.
March 2020
CHEROKEE FEDERAL
Cherokee Nation Businesses’ federal contracting business unit rebrands to Cherokee Federal.
September 2020
A DECADE OF DIVERSIFICATION
Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting business unit of Cherokee Nation Businesses, records more than $600 million in gross revenue through the efforts of 3,300+ employees working in more than 20 countries around the world.
October 2020
CHEROKEE NATION’S BUSINESSES
Cherokee Nation Businesses celebrates a decade of giving back to Cherokee Nation. In ten years, CNB returned more than $725 million in company profits to create better lives for Cherokees, today and tomorrow.
December 2021
CHEROKEE STORY
Cherokee National Research Center opens in Tahlequah. This state-of-the-art facility holds the national collection of historical Cherokee documents, cultural artifacts and genealogical records, relocated from the Cherokee Heritage Center.
October 2022
PASTURE TO PLATE
Cherokee Nation Businesses opens 1839 Cherokee Meat Co. — a USDA and state-certified meat processing plant. The new venture provides sustainable, locally sourced meat to citizens all across Cherokee Nation and the surrounding communities.
Cherokee Nation Businesses
leanna.reeder@cnbglobal.com
brandon.scott@cnbglobal.com
