TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation awarded $1.8 million in grants to 34 entities to support access to opportunities to improve public health and wellness.
In February Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan announced the launch of the Public Health and Wellness Partners Grant program, initially funded at $1 million to assist schools, local governments and non-profits with projects that can improve their local community’s public health, such as pilot wellness programs or capital projects to create or enhance access to physical activities.
Chief Hoskin said the volume of impressive applications led to increasing the budget to $1.8 million.
“Our Public Health and Wellness team received so many great applications to further the cause of public health in our communities that we felt compelled to add funds to this great new program,” said Chief Hoskin. “These grants are an investment in healthy living and they are an investments through which we will see a great return.”
Grants ranged from one time operations funding for an initiative to address homelessness in a rural county, to public restroom facilities at municipal parks to a tornado siren in an underserved area. A complete list of awardees can be found on the tribe’s website at this link.
“These funds are gadugi, the Cherokee word for ‘working together,’ in action,” 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.
The new grant program is funded under the tribe’s Public Health and Wellness Fund Act. Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner proposed the law in 2021, which was enacted by the Council and provides funds for public health and wellness programs and services using a portion of revenue generated in the tribe’s health system.
PHWFA has funded major capital projects and operations since 2021, including the recently opened Mary (Holland) Carson Wellness Center in Stillwell. The Act also funds separate grants for the tribally affiliated Community and Cultural Outreach participating organizations across the tribe’s reservation and across the United States.
“The Public Health and Wellness Fund Act continues to deliver great results,” said District 8 Councilor Cody Poindexter. “Naturally I was pleased to see some of the communities I represent secure grants, but I am even more pleased that grants were spread out across the reservation and even at-large.”
Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan, who helps oversee the new grant program, said the program will return for the tribe’s next fiscal year. He said a number of applicants that did not receive an award this year should consider reapplying.
“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 in December.”
Gayla Wright, Ward 2 Councilor for the City of Wagoner, said the community is excited about Cherokee Nation’s $150,000 investment into construction of a new splash pad, which will be located at Lincoln Park.
“Thanks to this investment into our community from the Cherokee Nation, we’re on Cloud 9,” Wright said. “The splash pad will encourage families to be outside and we’re ecstatic about its construction and the improvement it will be for quality of life in Wagoner.”
Cherokee Nation also provided a $25,000 one-time pilot operating grant to the Mayes County Grace Foundation to help address the community’s housing insecurity.
“The Mayes County Grace Foundation is honored to be a recipient of the Public Health and Wellness Grant to bring education and awareness to citizens about homelessness and how we can work together in understanding, compassionate solutions,” said Nena Roberts, President and Co-Founder of the Mayes County Grace Foundation. “We look forward to working with and supporting churches, schools and organizations in Mayes County who serve our unhoused Cherokee citizens.”