{"id":283444,"date":"2025-11-03T00:01:52","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T06:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=283444"},"modified":"2025-11-03T08:55:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:55:14","slug":"chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-takes-action-amid-food-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/11\/03\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-takes-action-amid-food-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation takes action amid food crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oxBMqdYoD7w?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Cherokee Nation: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/oxBMqdYoD7w>Chief Hoskin responds to attack on hunting and fishing rights by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Governor Stitt, it\u2019s raining. Save SNAP.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, November 3, 2025<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChuckHoskin_Jr\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Cherokee Nation<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source-links\"><A \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/\">cherokee.org<\/A><\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nI am <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/story.php?story_fbid=1243353104490955&amp;id=100064488320431&amp;mibextid=wwXIfr&amp;rdid=4bldOKl1K69Z7uPy\">calling<\/a> on Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to follow Cherokee Nation\u2019s lead and extend a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans who will lose food assistance in November.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nOn November 1, <a href=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/OKGOV\/2025\/10\/23\/file_attachments\/3432525\/Federal%20Shutdown%20Plan-Letter.pdf\">over 922,000<\/a> low-income Oklahomans, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/data-products\/chart-gallery\/chart-detail?chartId=54640\">mostly kids<\/a>, will get kicked while they\u2019re down. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbpp.org\/research\/food-assistance\/a-closer-look-at-who-benefits-from-snap-state-by-state-fact-sheets\">They will lose, on average, $184, in SNAP benefits<\/a> because leaders of the world\u2019s wealthiest and most powerful nation cannot seem to keep the federal government funded. It will cost between $130 million and $142 million to fund a month of SNAP, <a href=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/OKGOV\/2025\/10\/23\/file_attachments\/3432525\/Federal%20Shutdown%20Plan-Letter.pdf\">according to Gov. Stitt<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nOn October 26, in the midst of the second-longest federal government shutdown in American history, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was exhausted.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThis means millions of low-income Americans \u2014 mostly children, many elders and a lot of working families who struggle with low wages and high food prices \u2014 face a crisis in November. Among them are tens of thousands of citizens of the Cherokee Nation.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheCherokeeNation%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0T3pLnjHK1JTcai9rTC3kLPrHEint6qNM4jVazBk5SiqEGgPGsLA5TrLfzzZw6M5Vl&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"609\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\"><\/iframe>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBecause Cherokee Nation has laws on the books and funding in place to address emergencies, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I had resources and legal authority at our disposal to address the SNAP crisis.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nTwo days after USDA\u2019s announcement that SNAP benefits were stopping, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/chief-hoskin-deputy-chief-warner-declare-food-emergency-due-to-federal-shutdown\">we announced a $6.75 million crisis response package<\/a>. I issued an emergency declaration and we committed $4.5 million of the package to fund $185 payments in November to all Cherokee Nation citizens on SNAP living within our reservation and in surrounding counties. The balance of the package \u2014 over $2 million \u2014 funds food banks and other non-profits and will keep our Women Infant and Children (WIC) program operating should the federal funding dry up.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nGov. Stitt has the same type of laws and budgets available as governor that I do as Chief. The difference is, he has exponentially more resources at his disposal. The state of Oklahoma enjoys budget reserves of over $3.69 billion, including the $1.32 billion \u201cRainy Day Fund,\u201d which can be used for emergencies. The SNAP crisis is an emergency.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe governor needs to call a special session immediately. He and the legislature need to declare that the loss of SNAP funding is an emergency, just as Deputy Chief Warner and I did. He needs to utilize a small portion of the state\u2019s surplus, less than 4%, and extend a helping hand to SNAP recipients.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThere is no legal or procedural barrier to Gov. Stitt and the legislature taking this action. The only question is whether they have the will to do it.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_anadisgoi-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/chief-hoskin-deputy-chief-warner-declare-food-emergency-due-to-federal-shutdown\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/22\/stateofemergencysnap.jpg\" alt=\"Chief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner declare food emergency due to federal shutdown\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/chief-hoskin-deputy-chief-warner-declare-food-emergency-due-to-federal-shutdown\">\n\t\t\tChief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner declare food emergency due to federal shutdown\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/chief-hoskin-deputy-chief-warner-declare-food-emergency-due-to-federal-shutdown\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Anadisgoi\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tAnadisgoi\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomavoice.com\/2025\/10\/29\/food-banks-prepare-to-feed-oklahomans\/\">The governor voiced objections to tapping state reserves<\/a> that amount to hogwash, in my estimation. He fretted at a press conference that the federal government may not reimburse the state for sending replacement SNAP payments. Maybe, but that is a flimsy excuse when we remind ourselves that we are talking about giving low-income people purchasing power.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIt is worth noting that, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ers.usda.gov\/topics\/food-nutrition-assistance\/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap\/key-statistics-and-research\">according to President Trump\u2019s USDA<\/a>, every dollar spent through SNAP generates more than $1.50 in local economic activity. That means the loss of SNAP robs from your local grocery store and the people who work there. Oklahoma\u2019s budget will be fine and our economy stronger if we keep low-income Oklahomans shopping for groceries by tapping state reserves.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nGov. Stitt observed that the state cannot endlessly fund SNAP and that no one knows when the shutdown will end. He\u2019s right, but that should not stop us from taking this SNAP crisis a month at a time.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nGov. Stitt says that the victims of this crisis should simply lean on food banks and churches. Food banks and church food pantries are already stressed and not all are within reach of all SNAP participants. Perhaps the state could use our plan as a template, providing cash assistance to SNAP recipients and donating to regional food banks.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"fb-video\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/813797814719248\/\" data-width=\"auto\" data-show-text=\"false\"><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Cherokee Nation: <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/813797814719248>Cherokee Nation declares food emergency due to federal shutdown<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nFor Cherokee Nation leaders, stepping up to help our citizens, friends and neighbors in need was a fiscal and policy choice. But, ultimately, it was question of right and wrong. Providing relief was a moral imperative. So, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oxBMqdYoD7w\">we met the crisis with bold action<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nOklahoma is sitting on a $3.69 billion reserve. It has funds for unexpected crises, including a constitutional \u201cRainy Day Fund\u201d for crises response \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/oksenate.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-05\/oc10.pdf#page=33\">upon the declaration of the governor that an emergency exists,\u201d with a supermajority of the legislature in concurrence<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nGov. Stitt, it\u2019s raining. It is time to lead. It is time to follow Cherokee Nation\u2019s lead and save SNAP for all Oklahomans in need.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<HR><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-3\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/23\/chuckhoskinavatar.jpg\" alt=\"Chuck Hoskin Jr\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\" class=\"rounded-circle\" \/><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"col-md-9\"><EM><A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChuckHoskin_Jr\">Chuck Hoskin Jr.<\/A> \r\nis the 18th elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Indian \r\ntribe in the United States. He is only the second elected Principal Chief of the \r\nCherokee Nation from Vinita, the first being Thomas Buffington, who served from \r\n1899-1903. Prior to being elected Principal Chief, Hoskin served as the tribe\u2019s \r\nSecretary of State. He also formerly served as a member of the Council of the \r\nCherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years.<\/EM><\/div><\/div><HR>\r\n<img src=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/03\/ChuckHoskin-7.jpg width=0 height=0 class=invisible>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It is time to lead. It is time to follow Cherokee Nation\u2019s lead and save SNAP for all Oklahomans in need.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":283457,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,9,14],"tags":[77,76,128,40,560,127,224,3618,556,102],"class_list":["post-283444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment","category-opinion","category-politics","tag-cherokee","tag-chuck-hoskin","tag-elders","tag-food","tag-kevin-stitt","tag-oklahoma","tag-shutdown","tag-snap","tag-usda","tag-youth","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/03\/ChuckHoskin-7.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-1bJG","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=283444"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":283459,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283444\/revisions\/283459"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/283457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=283444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=283444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=283444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}