Hitting the Jackpot

Tribal leaders in Cherokee established the payment program known as the "per capita". All enrolled members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee--adults and children alike--receive yearly sums. Upon graduation, students from the tribal-run school system are eligible to receive lump-sum payments, with the amount $36,967.78 per person. The money comes from the revenues of Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel, which is owned and operated by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. Cherokee leaders hoped the payment system would provide young adults with a financial head start, as well as an incentive to graduate. Yet for some teenagers, the only guarantee associated with the per-capita seems to be that they will spend it--and quickly. Because of such, the main concern now for all officials of the Cherokee Central school system is how to inform their students about wise spending of the sums they receive. They have launched classes to encourage students to invest their per-capita money, or at least take prudent care of it. Tribal and school officials are thinking of making such lessons mandatory, so that all students are at least given access to financial advice.