TAHLEQUAH, OKLA. (KTUL) — The Cherokee Nation announced the launch of the Hawiya Food Sovereignty Program, a new initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity among its citizens.
The program, in collaboration with various Community and Cultural Outreach (CCO) organizations, will distribute food packages that include meat products from the Cherokee Nation’s own 1839 Meat Co., such as sausage chubs, pork tenderloin, and ground beef.
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. emphasized the importance of the program, stating in a news release that, “Through the COVID-19 pandemic, we as a nation saw the critical need to invest into the health of our citizens. We know that Native Americans are disproportionately affected by unhealthy diets and outcomes of those diets. The fact is that many communities in rural areas are in food deserts and lack access to proper nutrition. The Hawiya program uses the strength of our grassroots organizations to bridge the physical gap in securing adequate nutrition for Cherokees.”
The program is open to any household with a Cherokee citizen, regardless of age, income, or residency status, with preference given to Cherokee elders aged 60 and up, as well as first-language fluent Cherokee speakers.
Eligible families can receive packages monthly, distributed during the last three business days of each month.
Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner highlighted the program’s broader impact, saying, “We’re remaining committed to breaking down barriers that our citizens face, whether that be food insecurity or another issue. Increased access to quality nutritional food will not only help individuals but reduce the chance of adverse health outcomes for our nation.”
While individuals in the Cherokee Nation’s FDPIR Program or SNAP are generally ineligible, exceptions can be made in cases of hardship, as self-reported by the recipient and determined by the CCO organization.
The Cherokee Nation is utilizing the United States Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement to support the acquisition and distribution of food packages.
This agreement provides funding for state, tribal, and territorial governments to purchase foods produced within the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination, supporting local and regional producers.
For more information, individuals can contact Community and Cultural Outreach at 918-207-4963 or via email at cco@cherokee.org.