Cherokee Nation leaders joined Sequoyah County community members on July 17, to celebrate the grand opening of the new Sallisaw Redbird Smith Estates.

Redbird Smith Estates is a 16-acre subdivision with 33 lots. The first 12 new homes constructed in the housing addition were funded by the Cherokee Nation’s historic Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act created by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner with support from the Council of the Cherokee Nation.

“We know based on our own recent housing study that we have in this region a $1.75 billion housing deficit. We are all concerned about it, and rightfully so – housing insecurity impacts all of us in some way. That is why the Cherokee Nation is committed to working toward solutions that make a real impact and improve housing insecurity that exists in our area,” Chief Hoskin said.

“These new homes for Cherokee families are just one part of our historic housing investment under the Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act. I can feel a lot of joy listening to the Cherokee leaders who have supported these efforts, and I can feel the joy listening to the Cherokee families who are moving into these new homes.”

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation is offering the new homes under a leaseto- own model with the New Construction Home Ownership Program. Several Cherokee families began moving into the units Thursday morning.

“What a great day it is when we can gather together and celebrate alongside fellow Cherokees as they take a new step toward homeownership. This housing addition is beautifully designed and will provide safe, secure homes for these families for generations to come,” Deputy Chief Warner said.

“We’ll also soon be opening eight new duplexes in this same housing addition, providing even more housing opportunities for Cherokees. I look forward to coming back in the months and years ahead to visit the Cherokee families who call this neighborhood their home.”

The 12 new homes are between 1,644 and 1,745 square feet, each with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a twocar garage. Construction of the homes included unique Cherokee cultural elements, such as tile work within the kitchens that reflects traditional basketweave patterns.

“I am so thrilled to see these new homes completed here in Sallisaw, and I look forward to the future growth of this neighborhood,” District 5 Councilor E.O. Smith said. “It’s a great day to celebrate, and I appreciate the support for this project from my colleagues on the Council and from Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner.”

Along with the new home construction, the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation is also constructing eight new duplex units at the entrance of the new subdivision, which will provide a total of 16 rental units for low-income Cherokees when completed.

Amenities in the subdivision include a storm shelter, sidewalks, fiber optic internet, generator connectivity and playground access for children. The playground and just under one mile of sidewalk are funded through Cherokee Nation’s Public Health and Wellness Fund Act.

“Cherokee Nation is building us homes. It’s a great thing. The kids and I are so happy. Thank you Cherokee Nation, because it’s a great opportunity to own our own home. My kids will have a stable place and the house is amazing,” Anghelina Mchenry, a resident in the newly constructed housing addition, said. “It’s a great community, too.”

Redbird Smith Estates is named in honor of the late Cherokee traditionalist Redbird Smith, who is known for having opposed assimilation during the allotment era and for encouraging Cherokees to remember and embrace traditional ways.

Under the Hoskin-Warner administration’s landmark Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act, the tribe commits $40 million in tribal funds to housing and community facility infrastructure every three years into perpetuity, on top of federal housing dollars. HJSCA, first enacted in 2019 and amended in 2024, has fueled the largest housing investment in Cherokee Nation history.

The project was designed by Blue River Architects and Wallace Engineering. Construction was done by M Cross Construction. The playground was installed by Happy Playgrounds, a TERO vendor. The Cherokee Nation Businesses Construction team also assisted building the subdivision, while the Cherokee Nation Building Trades Program assisted with elements of the subdivision project.