Cherokee Nation Businesses is a tribally owned holding company established in 1969 to operate and manage the economic enterprises of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Native American tribe in the United States with more than 480,000 tribal citizens. The company oversees a diversified portfolio spanning technology, federal contracting, manufacturing and distribution, healthcare, environmental services, construction, security and defence, gaming and hospitality, real estate, and cultural development initiatives.
With more than 11,000 employees and operations spanning the United States and global markets, Cherokee Nation Businesses generates substantial revenue that directly supports the tribe's priorities. The company returns 37% of profits to the Cherokee Nation to fund education, healthcare, infrastructure, and other community programmes. This structure positions the company as both a commercial enterprise and a mechanism for advancing the economic wellbeing and self-determination of Cherokee citizens across generations.
The holding company's operations reflect both traditional business acumen and a distinctive mission centred on tribal sovereignty and community benefit. By consolidating ownership and management of Cherokee Nation's diverse business interests, the company ensures strategic alignment with the tribe's long-term development goals whilst maintaining operational expertise across multiple sectors.