Mary L. Halland Carson Wellness Center Opens
by Renee Fite
City of Stilwell Director of Public Relations and Media
About 200 people gathered Monday, August 4 at 11 a.m. for the Mary L. Holland Carson Wellness Center grand opening. Under awnings set up in front of the state of the art facility, several speakers spoke before ribbon cutting photos were taken and tours given inside the beautiful center.
Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan served as emcee, introducing speakers and special guests. Chief of Staff Dr. Corey Bunch welcomed everyone and opened the gathering with prayer.
Deputy Chief Bryan Warner summed up his words in the final sentence, “the best thing we can do is love one another.”
Council Member Cody Poindexter said the wellness center is the opportunity to care for the body, mind and spirit in harmony.
Cherokee Nation Opens New Wellness Center
Ribbon Cutting for the Mary L. Holland Carson Wellness Center grand opening.
photo: Renee Fite
Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said the wellness center built without
federal dollars.
Renee Fite photo
“This is an opportunity to care for ourselves and others, said Poindexter. Council Member Josh Sam noted this is the strongest the tribe has ever been, “thanks to the leadership of Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner.”
Jim Carson said 45 years ago no one would have dreamed of this wellness center. “Drew and I are pleased to follow in our father’s footsteps. The dividends to this center are many and not about money. Our grandmother was a proud Cherokee citizen put on the Dawes Rolls at age 2,” said Carson.
The Cherokee Nation is stepping up doing things here no one else does for Cherokee country, said Carson.
“This is a fabulous structure. I’m enrolled and I need to come out and get some help,” Carson said. “Drew and I appreciate being a small part of the healthy vision.” Mayor Jean Ann Wright said there’s no better place to be from than Stilwell.
“I graduated from the very first Cherokee Nation Nursing program and was the first nurse hired at the old Cherokee Nation clinic,” said Wright. “I never dreamed something so amazing would be here. It’s not just a place for guys to work out but there’s classes and childcare. I hope this place becomes a cornerstone for our health and a place for families.”
Executive Director of Public Health, Lisa Pivec, said growing up as a child at Peavine School she never imagined a building like this here. “The Cherokee Nation is leading the country in wellness. When you say that your family matters, put your priories where your heart is,” said Pivic.
Keynote speaker was Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “Putting this facility beside the Mankiller Clinic is exactly where it should be. This facility is for folks who are new to exercise,” said Hoskin.
Mary L. Holland is part of the generation who looked behind them and wondered if the best days of being Cherokee were behind them. They helped bring us to this day, said Hoskin.
“Chief Mankiller wanted the tribe to stand on its own financially and it does. This facility costs $21 million and we didn’t take a penny of federal dollars. It’s all built by the Cherokee Health System,” said Hoskin. “There are now more ways for people to be healthy where they are. It’s a world class system as envisioned by Chief Mankiller, who said we can do healthy care better ourselves.”
Inside the crowd tasted avocado toast prepared by the Kawi Cafe staff in the wellness center, and people tried out different pieces of equipment and checked out the childcare room and classroom. An elevator offered a lift to the second floor and back down, and stairs also give access to the upstairs where additional equipment is available. A station was setup in the lobby for people to sign up for services.
Mayor Jean Ann Wright was the first nurse at the old Cherokee
Nation clinic.
Renee Fite photo
In the end, Duncan challenged the audience to seize the opportunity for world class healthcare.
