- Details
- By Chuck Hoskin Jr
Like most of Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation Reservation is facing a historic drought. Over 90% of Oklahoma is experiencing severe to extreme drought, according to the National Drought Monitor. Cherokee farmers and ranchers need relief, so Cherokee Nation is offering a new program to provide financial help.
The million-dollar Relief for Cherokee Ranchers program will serve up to 2,000 ranchers – one per Cherokee household – with a one-time payment of $500 to mitigate the cost of buying and hauling hay. Right now, there’s little to no grass for livestock, and local ranchers have been selling off their herds to survive.
We will fund the Relief for Cherokee Ranchers program under our Respond, Recover and Rebuild Plan (RRR), funded by the federal American Recovery Plan Act. That first RRR budget passed with only one dissenting vote, an overwhelming mandate that prepared us for today’s challenges. Cherokee Councilman Rex Jordan said it best: “When the Council reviewed and approved the first ARPA budget in May 2020 by a vote of 16-1, little did we know that it would set the stage for stepping up for our farmers and ranchers today in their time of need.”
Working herds and earning a living off the land is deeply engrained in Cherokee culture. Sadly, pastures in northeast Oklahoma are simply burned up, and it is heartbreaking to see the damage and hear the personal stories of how this drought is threatening Cherokee families.
That is why we have also expanded our collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to amplify their programs and resources for Native agriculture producers. Recently, Cherokee Nation hosted a daylong information session with the USDA to explain federal programs that can help with home loans, business supports, water infrastructure and drought relief for ranchers and small-business owners. The USDA is a powerful agency that can bring a great deal of funding to help both Cherokee and non-Cherokee farmers in our region.
Through this difficult time and beyond, Cherokee Nation is focused on strengthening our agriculture industry and providing avenues for Cherokee Nation citizens to succeed in agriculture. Our experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized how important food sovereignty and universal food access are for the livelihoods, health and well-being of the Cherokee people.
There are approximately 80,000 American Indian agricultural producers in the United States, and many are Cherokee. Historically, these producers are underrepresented in the agriculture industry and often lack adequate resources to expand and grow their operations. Native agriculture producers have disproportionately experienced negative impacts related to the pandemic, including rising costs, difficulty exporting goods and fewer financial resources to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic.
The “Relief for Cherokee Ranchers” applications will open on the Gadugi portal starting Monday, Aug. 8, and will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the allocated budget is expended, the program will end. Candidates must live within the Cherokee Nation Reservation and currently be impacted by the hay shortage.
All applicants can apply at https://gadugiportal.cherokee.org/ and will be asked for support documents to be reviewed for eligibility. Since 2020, the Cherokee Nation administration and the Council of the Cherokee Nation have worked collaboratively to provide more than $750 million in direct financial assistance to Cherokee citizens. Now we have a responsibility to step up for our farmers and ranchers in their time of need.
Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
More Stories Like This
Leading the Way in Rare Disease AdvocacyFor Native Communities, Medicaid Is a Promise Washington Must Keep
“One Beautiful Bill” Would Be a Tragic Setback for Indian Country
Federal Courts Left (Not) to Protect Sacred Sites
Joining the Call to Save Job Corps
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher