Cherokee Nation Awards $1.87 Million in 2026 Public Health and Wellness Partners Grants

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner announced the distribution of $1.87 million from the 2026 Public Health and Wellness Partners Grant to more than 30 awardees across the Cherokee Nation Reservation.

The competitive grants support a broad range of public health and wellness initiatives, from capital infrastructure projects to wellness programs, benefiting many communities and countless citizens.

The Public Health and Wellness Partners Grant program was initially launched in 2025 by Chief Chuck Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner to support access to opportunities to improve public health and wellness. This is the second year of the grant awards.

"Our Public Health and Wellness team received so many great applications again this year to further the cause of public health in our communities which Deputy Chief and I know are so consequential especially in communities that often lack resources for these types of projects," said Chief Hoskin. "These grants are an investment in healthy living, and they are investments through which we will see a great return for many generations to come."

Grants awarded in 2026 span a wide range of community needs across multiple counties. Notable projects include a $100,000 grant to Maryetta Public School in Adair County for development of an outdoor recreation space featuring pickleball and basketball courts, and a $150,000 Walking Trail in Jay City Park. Additional grants supported public safety improvements, ADA-accessible infrastructure, youth athletic facilities, and community wellness programs.

A complete list of awardees is available on Cherokee Nation's website.

The City of Skiatook will receive $86,500 toward an emergency communications tower.

"The tower will support our police, fire, EMS, and 911 communications by providing a dedicated communications infrastructure designed to meet both our current needs and future growth," said City of Skiatook E911 Director of Communications Tiarr Wakefield. "This investment is about more than infrastructure-it's about ensuring that when someone calls 911, first responders have dependable communications that allow them to respond quickly, coordinate effectively, and serve our community safely. We sincerely appreciate the Cherokee Nation's partnership and commitment to enhancing public safety for the citizens of Skiatook and the surrounding communities we serve."

The grant program is funded under the tribe's Public Health and Wellness Fund Act, legislation proposed by Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner and enacted by the Council in 2021. The Act allocates 10 percent of revenue generated by the tribe's health system toward public health and wellness programs and services. Since its enactment, the fund has supported major capital projects across the reservation, including the Mary (Holland) Carson Wellness Center in Stilwell, among other projects.

"These projects embody the spirit of Gadugi, the Cherokee word for 'working together' in action for the wellbeing of our citizens," said Deputy Chief Warner. "I know our Public Health and Wellness team was excited to review all of the submissions and we will all be eager to see how these dollars make a positive local impact."

Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan, who helps oversee the grant program, confirmed that the program will return for the tribe's next fiscal year.

"Part of the key to our prosperity is that we share our resources with our friends and neighbors," said Duncan. "Non-profits and other eligible entities can look forward to the Public Health and Wellness Partners grant returning next year for even more impactful changes."