{"id":294538,"date":"2025-11-10T00:01:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T06:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=294538"},"modified":"2025-11-10T11:19:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T17:19:00","slug":"chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-protects-our-elders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/11\/10\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-protects-our-elders\/","title":{"rendered":"Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation protects our elders"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fb-video\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\/videos\/799573142947794\/\" data-width=\"auto\" data-show-text=\"false\"><blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\/videos\/799573142947794\/\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\/videos\/799573142947794\/\"><\/a><p>\ud83d\udd34LIVE: Tune in as Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. provides remarks at the Cherokee Nation Northern Region Elder Summit at the Hard Rock Hotel &amp; Casino Tulsa!<\/p>Posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\">Cherokee Nation<\/a> on Wednesday, October 29, 2025<\/blockquote><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Cherokee Nation: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCherokeeNation\/videos\/799573142947794\/\">Cherokee Nation Northern Region Elder Summit<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Expanding Food Security and Protecting Cherokee Elders<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, November 10, 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\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs Cherokee Nation citizens, we draw strength from those who came before us. Our elders are the foundation of our communities, the keepers of our history, and the heart of our families. As we gathered recently for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/live\/?ref=watch_permalink&amp;v=799573142947794&amp;rdid=5wTvVjFfBOdWuCbf\">annual Cherokee Elder Summit<\/a>, we renewed a promise to care for those who have showed us the way.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThat promise is taking shape through a major expansion of our elder nutrition services, backed by up to $2 million from the tribe\u2019s Public Health and Wellness Fund.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThis investment will expand food access, create new nutrition sites, and strengthen support for Cherokee elders across our 7,000-square-mile reservation in northeast Oklahoma. It\u2019s more than an infrastructure project, it\u2019s a commitment to food security, long-term wellness, and personal dignity.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe expansion begins with a new elder nutrition site in Dewey, joining an existing partnership with a local Cherokee community organization. Two more sites will follow, identified through data and community need. By listening to our elders and assessing where the gaps exist, we are ensuring that no community is overlooked and that every Cherokee elder can share in the security of a warm meal and a welcoming space.\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%2Fpfbid0312rzZ94sQzZAqB9nx85Nb3nGgVuAk7uPAThaXMgP72ToUHC46nA9Q75vyNNk72fwl&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"784\" 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\nIn the coming year, meal service at all sites will increase to five days per week. These meals are far more than nutrition, they are moments for fellowship, laughter, and coming together to share a meal and stories. These are the kind of values that bind us as Cherokee people.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWe also announced our decision to rename the Senior Nutrition Program as the Cherokee Nation Elder Nutrition Program, reflecting this deeper sense of cultural respect. It honors our Cherokee beliefs of valuing one another and leaving no Cherokee behind. And it is critical we care for one another through every season of life.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThis effort is part of a larger vision: to make sure every Cherokee elder can age with security, independence, and connection to our tribal culture. That includes investing in a network of community gathering locations, upgrading kitchens and dining areas, and ensuring transportation options for those who live close by. It also includes creating opportunities for cultural enrichment, like field trips, Cherokee language activities, and intergenerational events that bring youth and elders together in meaningful ways.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBy 2026, every site will undergo a full review to ensure elders have access to safe, modern, and welcoming spaces. Community partners will receive support through new Elder Nutrition Partner Grants, reinforcing the shared responsibility that we all have to look after the most vulnerable among us.\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%2Fpfbid035RKeVMbkWxXc2Wt37dX67KEv6Tq3Fz8AQTeMzj6pGasicus3xu5JEEjw9CGD3mKzl&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"740\" 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\nAdditionally, Cherokee Nation <a href=\"https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-expands-snap-emergency-november-payments-nationwide\">is expanding food assistance for Cherokee households nationwide<\/a> by authorizing an emergency round of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) support for eligible Cherokee families <a href=\"https:\/\/www.anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/cherokee-nation-adjusts-snap-emergency-assistance-in-response-to-usda-payment-changes\">to help fill the gap<\/a> caused by the federal government shutdown.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nOur one-time, direct expansion \u2013 funded through the Public Health and Wellness Fund \u2013 will provide extra grocery support during a time when rising costs and federal delays are straining family budgets. This action ensures that Cherokees, no matter where they live, are not left behind and have access to more food spending power at a time when the federal SNAP program has been reduced to partial payments due to federal dysfunction. It is another example of Cherokee Nation stepping up when others fail to act, reinforcing that our commitment to food security extends to every Cherokee citizen across the United States.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs for our elders, far too many still face the grim reality of hunger, isolation and other barriers to health and happiness. Cherokee Nation is changing that story. By investing in food security and elder care, we are building a stronger, more compassionate Nation, one that never forgets those who taught us what it means to be Cherokee.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nCaring for our elders isn\u2019t just policy, but rather our way of life. When we feed our elders, we are feeding the roots of our Nation, ensuring that the wisdom, strength and compassion continue to nourish our people for generations to come.\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\/10\/CherokeeNation-10.jpg width=0 height=0 class=invisible>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Our elders are the foundation of our communities, the keepers of our history, and the heart of our families.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":294544,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[77,128,40,127,224,3618],"class_list":["post-294538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-cherokee","tag-elders","tag-food","tag-oklahoma","tag-shutdown","tag-snap","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-1eCC","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/10\/CherokeeNation-10.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294538","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=294538"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294538\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":294545,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294538\/revisions\/294545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=294538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=294538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=294538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}