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Cherokee Nation outlines HAWA meat distribution process; LFPA grant uses local sale barns and Nation herd care
Summary
Staff described a USDA grant-funded meat distribution program prioritizing elders, Cherokee speakers and disabled citizens, distributing roughly 30 boxes per participating community organization; staff said LFPA grant purchases come from local sale barns and Cherokee Nation-managed cattle are held 30 days before processing.
Cherokee Nation community and cultural outreach staff described on April 3 how a USDA grant-funded meat distribution program (referred to in the meeting as HAWA) is operating and how livestock for an LFPA grant are sourced and processed.
Brooke, identified during the report as deputy secretary of state, relayed program details on behalf of Savannah Smith, and Canaan (Community and Cultural Outreach staff) explained implementation. "It's a grant that we got from the USDA. It's meant for folks who aren't are who aren't receiving SNAP or our commodity programs," Brooke said. She described program preferences: elders, Cherokee speakers, people with disabilities and other community-identified special needs.
Brooke said the Nation relies on local community organizations to distribute boxes because "the community orgs know their communities the best" and that the organizations pick up and distribute packages once a month. Canaan added that participating organizations generally receive 30 boxes of meat to serve about 30 families and that the department provides lists to avoid duplication with SNAP or commodity benefits.
Council members asked how people in communities without a local Cherokee community organization (CCO) get service. Brooke and staff said they will help form community groups and that some nearby organizations sometimes serve additional households in smaller communities. Staff also said they are keeping lists of unserved individuals and working to coordinate interim service.
On sourcing, Canaan said LFPA grant meat purchases are procured at local sale barns and that cattle associated with Cherokee Nation herd management are cared for by the Nation for about 30 days before processing: "Cherokee Nation takes care of them for about 30 days before they can be processed, so those are coming from local sale barns for the LFPA grant."
Councilors raised transportation and distribution logistics; staff said they have transport vans with wheelchair ramps and will prioritize elders with mobility needs for pickup. No changes to the program parameters were adopted during the meeting; staff requested council assistance in identifying communities needing service.
