The North Tulsa Cherokee Community Organization (NTCCO) hasn’t had a home in six years, but that’s expected to change next year.
The Cherokee Nation is purchasing property at 1205 E. 46th St. N., formerly known as Greater Sunrise Baptist Church, to build a community center for NTCCO. It helps answer a plea from north Tulsans who, for years, have been calling for more useful development and investment, such as housing, grocery stores and community spaces.
Waynetta Lawrie, president of the organization, said her group has desperately needed a place of their own to host community events, outreach efforts and services for children and elders.
“This is just something that we’ve been waiting a long time for, and it’s much needed in this community,” Lawrie said. “Now, this community organization can say they have a home base to have so many people in the community stay connected to the Cherokee culture.”
Funds for the property came from the tribe’s Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act. It designates $40 million every three years to rehab and build housing and community centers across the reservation. Julie Hubbard, communications director for Cherokee Nation, said the tribe has built or replaced 10 community centers this year.
Once they demolish the church, NTCCO hopes to open the new $2.2 million, 4,000-square-foot facility in late spring or early summer.
“I just want to say thank you to the Cherokee Nation for having so much faith in us and helping us reach our desires for the community,” Lawrie said. “The community is looking forward to this.”
In a statement sent to the Tulsa Flyer Friday, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to north Tulsa.
“From new community space to safe, affordable housing, Cherokee Nation is committed to lifting up our tribal communities, including north Tulsa,” Hoskin said. “(The center) will give the North Tulsa Cherokee Community Organization a permanent home with plenty of gathering space, a modern kitchen and outdoor recreation areas.”
Hoskin said Cherokee Nation is also collaborating with Habitat for Humanity to build 12 new affordable homes for local families.
“With each positive step forward, Cherokee Nation is creating a stronger Tulsa and a brighter, more hopeful future not just for our citizens, but for our friends and neighbors,” Hoskin said.
‘He’s been a champion for us’
Ashley Grant, Cherokee Nation’s new District 5 tribal councilor, bought a home nearly five years ago in north Tulsa. Grant, who also represents part of Owasso, said she has experienced the lack of available resources and meaningful economic investment in that part of the city.
“Having grown up in Tahlequah, I definitely knew that that area was part of the nation, but now that I’ve been up there and I’ve been in this role, it’s true: north Tulsa, City of Tulsa, others, really have not invested in that area,” Grant said. “It’s something that I think we recognize and we know that we want all areas of our nation to be representative of us.”
Grant hopes to aid Hoskin in investing more in the north Tulsa community before his term is up.
“I think it’s something that we’re going to try and make a priority, especially in the next two years before (Hoskin) leaves office — to make partnerships where we can and help those communities there in north Tulsa,” Grant said.
She said Cherokee Nation did not have active community centers in the Tulsa metropolitan area until Joe Deere, the District 13 tribal councilor, began organizing them in 2019. After massive population growth in Owasso over the past decade, tribal councilors redistricted much of Tulsa County into District 5 and Rogers County into Deere’s District 13.
“Owasso is officially our largest city in the Cherokee Nation and also our largest Cherokee population city,” Grant said.
Another piece of the puzzle to a changing population in the Tulsa area is Freedmen citizenship, Grant said. The tribe’s “by blood” restriction for citizenship was unanimously removed in 2021 by a Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruling.
Grant said she believes many Cherokee Nation Freedmen descendants still haven’t filed citizenship since the “by blood” restriction was removed from the tribe’s constitution.
“Hopefully in the coming years, we can get that message out, and it might grow even more,” Grant said.
Lawrie said Hoskin’s support for the Cherokee Freedmen has helped NTCCO’s efforts in the community.
“He’s been a blessing to the Freedmen citizens. If it wasn’t for him, we probably wouldn’t be as far as we are now with our Cherokee north Tulsa citizens and our community-building and the services that we’re going to be providing,” Lawrie said. “He’s been a champion for us.”
With the community center coming next year and potentially plans down the line for further investment in the community, Lawrie is hopeful the best is yet.
“Our citizens are so excited to have this space, and we’re looking forward to more infrastructure to come in the north Tulsa area. Together, in the spirit of gadugi, we find that it benefits all of us,” Lawrie said.
News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
