Cherokee Nation
At Cherokee Nation, putting elders first is simply our way of life. Each year the Council of the Cherokee Nation, the Deputy Principal Chief and I make serving our elders a priority in the government’s budget. However, with new federal dollars in our COVID-19 Respond, Recover and Rebuild plan, we will be doing even more to help our elders get through whatever lies ahead.
We’re committing over $45 million from these funds to not only avoid budget cuts in Cherokee Nation’s elder programs, but to greatly expand what we can do for our elders for the rest of the calendar year to ensure our most vulnerable citizens’ needs are met.
Although most of our Human Services programs are limited to our reservation boundaries and based on income, we’ve started with something that will help every Cherokee elder, regardless of where they live and regardless of their income: direct economic assistance.
Additionally, we realize there are cases where a low-income elder may be doing without air conditioning or a heater in Oklahoma’s extreme weather. So, our Human Services department is teaming up with the Cherokee Nation Housing Authority to ensure low-income elders with no other options have air conditioning in the summer and a heater this winter so they can safely shelter in their home, as the CDC recommends. COVID-19 regulations have forced us to suspend meal services at our senior nutrition sites across Cherokee Nation, but we know the need is still there. As an alternative, we are providing ready-to-make meals that can be delivered to our elders. They can also safely pick up the meal kits if they prefer. This is on top of the more than tens of thousands we have served through the largest emergency food distribution program in Cherokee history. For some of our tribal citizens, regardless of age, the prolonged pandemic has brought economic devastation. We’ve added $5 million to our general assistance program for Cherokees in dire economic straits with nowhere else to turn. If you are struggling to make ends meet, our emergency assistance program can help. Our Human Services staff always has one goal in mind, and that is to help Cherokees who need a hand. That starts, of course, with our elders. Our Human Services staff works closely with our Career Services staff. That way, hard-working Cherokees who need immediate, short-term help can also receive job training and employment to help them in the long run. If you are in need of assistance or know an elder who needs help, please reach out. Call Cherokee Nation Human Services at 918-453-5422. Finally, if you believe as I do that our elders are precious, that they deserve our respect, that they are the reason we still have a thriving Cherokee Nation, then I ask that you put those thoughts into action. Call and check in on them and see what they need. I also implore you to pay attention to health experts to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing and wearing a mask. Together, we can all do our part to protect our elders. It’s the Cherokee way."Respond, Recover and Rebuild": The Cherokee Nation announced a $332 million spending plan for the tribe's first portion of #CARESAct funding. @CherokeeNation @ChuckHoskin_Jr #Coronavirus #CoronavirusReliefFund #COVID19 https://t.co/0peXB22qAs
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 3, 2020
Chuck Hoskin Jr. is the 18th elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Indian tribe in the United States. He is only the second elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from Vinita, the first being Thomas Buffington, who served from 1899-1903. Prior to being elected Principal Chief, Hoskin served as the tribe’s Secretary of State. He also formerly served as a member of the Council of the Cherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years.
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