Tribe to use emergency funding for SNAP stopgap

Jeff Elkins

The Oklahoman USA TODAY NETWORK

With food insecurity rising due to the federal government shutdown, the Cherokee Nation is stepping up to help by investing more than $6.75 million into emergency relief efforts for tribal and non-tribal citizens in Oklahoma.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner on Tuesday, Oct. 28, declared a state of emergency ahead of a looming halt to SNAP assistance on Nov. 1.

More than 684,600 Oklahomans rely on SNAP benefits to supplement their family’s monthly food purchases. Hoskin said thousands of recipients are Cherokee Nation citizens, some of whom are children, disabled and elderly, and many others are working adults.

The tribe is responding through multiple actions. Every member of a federally recognized tribe within

the Cherokee reservation will have expedited approval for their application to take part in the tribe’s food distribution program where participants get monthly groceries at no cost at one of their eight sites.

Cherokee Nation is also investing more than $1 million into regional food banks and other nonprofits to support all Oklahomans, not just tribal citizens.

“During these tough times, we are reaching out to those nonprofits right now, including our [community and cultural outreach] participating organization,” Hoskin said. “That includes supplying our CCO participating organizations with a second allocation of meat through the Hawiya program.”

Hoskin took to social media Wednesday to share his thoughts on the use of state funds to keep SNAP going during the shutdown after Gov. Kevin Stitt said Oklahoma can’t afford to backfill the program that costs $130 million to $142 million each month.

Hoskin said he believes it’s feasible for the state to use some of its $3.6 billion surplus to fund SNAP, and called Stitt’s assertion “hogwash.”

A shutdown continuing into November would mean the shutdown of the Federal WIC program after receiving emergency funds from the White House to keep it going through Oct. 31. Hoskin said Cherokee Nation will keep theirs open.

With a pool of $4.5 million, he said they will make cash payments available to Cherokee Nation citizens in the region who are impacted by the cessation of federal funding.

To be eligible for the one-time payment, one must be a current SNAP participant and live within the Cherokee Nation reservation or a county bordering it. An application will be available in the coming days. Electronic payments of $185 will be made to recipients.

Cherokee citizens can update their Gadugi Portal profile ahead of the benefit’s availability.

Hoskin also announced $255,000 in grants to the tribe’s CCO nonprofit organizations within the reservation.

If Congress passes a funding resolution soon, Hoskin said the Cherokee Nation will suspend their effort. In the meantime, he urged Oklahomans to reach out to Congress with their thoughts on the shutdown.

“I have no doubt that if Cherokee Nation shut down, or if we let programs and services due to political infighting, you would be outraged and you would speak out. This is exactly what’s happening in Washington, D.C.,” Hoskin said. “We all need to speak out together.”

Many other tribes in Oklahoma are also concerned about the shutdown’s impacts and are looking at ways to help. KOSU recently reported Cheyenne and Arapaho Governor Reggie Wassana said the tribes will ensure the food distribution programs are stocked and allocate additional food pantry funding.

Tasha Mousseau, vice president of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, said the tribe is working to create resource lists and coordinating with food banks. In Eastern Oklahoma, the Muscogee Nation also is gathering information on resources and looking into what the tribal nation can do.