TAHLEQUAH, OK – Cherokee Nation has signed MOUs with various Community and Cultural Outreach (CCO) organizations to enter into the newly announced Hawiya Food Sovereignty Program. CCO organizations will distribute food packages including meat from Cherokee Nation’s own 1839 Cherokee Meat Co. Packages include sausage chubs, pork tenderloin and ground beef.
Participating organizations will coordinate delivery and safe handling practices with Cherokee Nation’s food distribution programs. Participating CCO organizations will distribute packages during the last three business days of each month. Limited quantities are available for eligible families.
“Through the COVID-19 pandemic, we as a nation saw the critical need to invest into the health of our citizens,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “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.”
Any household with a Cherokee citizen is eligible regardless of age, income or residency status. Preference is given to Cherokee elders age 60 and up, along with first-language fluent Cherokee speakers. Recipients have the opportunity to receive packages monthly through this program.
“We are remaining committed to breaking down barriers that our citizens face, whether that be food insecurity or another issue,” said Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner. “Increased access to quality nutritional food will not only help individuals, but reduce the chance of adverse health outcomes for our nation.”
Cherokee Nation utilizes the United States Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) to supplement acquiring and distributing packages. LFPA uses non-competitive cooperative agreements to provide funding for state, tribal and territorial governments to purchase foods produced within the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination to help support local, regional and underserved producers.