Chief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner Announce $4.5M Increase in Elder Initiatives

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner signed directives on Wednesday launching new elder nutrition sites and making massive increases to the tribe's low-income elder utility assistance, increasing both benefits and eligibility to about 4,200 elders of the program.

"Elders on fixed incomes feel the impact of inflation the hardest and they are the least able to deal with it," said Chief Hoskin. "State and federal leaders should take action. Today, Cherokee Nation leaders are taking action."

Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner signed a directive on Wednesday at the annual Elder Summit in Tahlequah tapping the tribally funded Public Health and Wellness Fund Act to:

• Increase the annual benefit paid under the tribe's Elders in Need program for on-reservation elders over 60 by 50%, from $400 to $600 payments to utility companies.
• Expand eligibility for EIN from 1,400 participants to 4,200 participants, a 200% increase in participation.
• Add new elder nutrition sites in Tahlequah, Salina, Catoosa and Locust Grove in fiscal year 2027.
• Remodel elder nutrition sites in Oaks, Foyil and Porum in fiscal year 2027.

The landmark PHWFA will fund the Elders In Need expansion through a $2 million annual investment. Benefits are paid via direct payment to the household utility provider of the elders' choice. Benefits are not counted as household income and are not taxable.

The program expands eligibility from 1,400 to 4,200 by making all federally funded Cherokee Nation Low Income Heat and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and all Cherokee Nation Food Distribution Program participants age 60 years and older living within the Cherokee Nation Reservation eligible for the expanded EIN program.

For elders who live within the reservation in urban areas but are ineligible for the rural-based food distribution program, eligibility will be determined based on comparable income guidelines.

Eligible elders will receive information on the expanded EIN program in the coming weeks from the tribe's Human Services department.

Last year Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner launched an expansion of the tribe's elder nutrition program using PHWFA funds, adding sites in Bowlin Springs, Dewey and Tulsa.

Wednesday's initiative funds four new sites and remodels three others, a capital investment of approximately $2.5M from the PHWFA.

The initiative further implements Chief Hoskin's 2026 State of the Nation address recommendation to put an elder nutrition site "within reach of every Cherokee elder on the reservation."

After the implementation of Wednesday's initiative this fiscal year, eight new elder nutrition sites will have been added to the program under the Hoskin/Warner Administration.

The tribe's elder nutrition sites are administered through its Human Services department or, in the case of Bowlin Springs and Locust Grove, through partnerships with local non-profits.

"Our elders have been there for all of us, so we should do all we can to be there for them," said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. "The initiatives we signed today boost the spending power of low-income elders on a fixed income and provide more elders with access to a nutritious meal."

Cherokee Nation's annual Elder Summit drew over 2,500 elders across two days. Monday's event was held at the Hard Rock in Catoosa and Wednesday's was held at the Chota Center in Tahlequah.

Janet Brown, a participant of the Porum Elder Nutrition Site, said she's eager for the remodel of the site, "Cherokee Nation is going to redo the kitchen with all stainless steel, they're going to expand the walls, they're going to give us new lighting and a new floor and we are so excited."

Both days of the summit featured speeches from tribal elected officials, presentations by service providers, door prizes and a free meal.

"I first began serving on the Council in 1991, and during my different terms of service, I am very proud to see the work and the investments we are continuing to make into serving our Cherokee elders," said District 10 Councilor Melvina Shotpouch. "I look forward to continuing that work with the Council and Administration."

For more information on Cherokee Nation programs for elders, visit https://www.cherokee.gov/departments/human-services/ or call the tribe's Human Services department at 918-453-5422.