OKLAHOMA CITY – Tribal nations across Oklahoma are stepping up to fill critical gaps left by the federal government shutdown by providing emergency food and resources to Oklahomans in need, tribal leaders said.
Now 40 days long, the shutdown has stalled funding for several key programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
More than 650,000 Oklahoma residents use SNAP benefits to feed themselves and their families.
Food insecurity in Oklahoma was already high before the shutdown. The Oklahoma State Department of Health says roughly one in four children in the state face hunger or uncertain access to nutritious food.
During a recent interim study, it was mentioned that Oklahoma ranks 46th in the nation for food insecurity. About 64% of Oklahoma students qualified for free or reduced-price meals. In Tulsa Public Schools, about 91.6% of students were eligible and in Oklahoma City Public Schools, eligibility topped 95%.
These numbers, lawmakers said, highlight two facts: Many children rely on school programs for consistent meals, and disruptions in federal programs, like SNAP, could push more families deeper into crisis, affecting school-age children, weekend meals, and summer feeding programs.
The shutdown leaves many without a safety net, sparking urgent responses from tribes in southwest Oklahoma, including the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, and others.
KOSU reported that, in response to the loss of SNAP benefits, tribal nations quickly activated food pantries, processed bison meat, and organized large-scale “food tailgates” open to anyone in need, regardless of tribal citizenship status. At a recent event in Clinton, more than 400 households, including non-tribal residents from neighboring Washita County, received pantry boxes, produce, and locally processed bison.
Cheyenne and Arapaho Gov. Reggie Wassana said tribes were prepared to “go out through cities throughout the state of Oklahoma and try to have some food tailgates that will help people … pick up some much-needed food supplies.”
Wichita and Affiliated Tribes Vice President Tasha Mousseau said her tribe is serving as “a hub to connect to resources and to create alternatives that will help feed their families in the interim,” pointing to partnerships with regional food banks and support networks.
Both tribes announced plans to continue weekly food distributions, expanding deliveries into western and central Oklahoma until federal programs resume.
In eastern Oklahoma, leaders from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other tribes adopted a similar town hall approach. Muscogee Nation Press Secretary Jason Salsman compared the mobilization to early pandemic relief efforts. The Nation is redirecting internal funds from nonessential projects to sustain broad and inclusive aid for those affected by job loss, frozen grants, or food shortages, not just tribal citizens.
State data shows the aid has become significant. Tribal governments collectively generate more than $23 billion in annual economic impact, according to the Oklahoma Tribal Economic Impact Report. Much of that supports programs benefiting both Native and non-Native populations.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that during prior crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, tribal food distributions, health clinics, and social services helped stabilize rural communities and fill critical gaps.
Indian Country Today reported that the Cherokee Nation allocated more than $11 million toward food security, including $10.5 million in SNAP-like meal vouchers for 60,000 affected citizens and $1.25 million in food bank assistance to northeastern Oklahoma as of Oct. 30.
“We went into this without any assurance that [reimbursement] would happen, without being able to identify a particular law or regulation that we could rely on for the repayment. But the choice between helping, mindful that we may never recover these dollars, and standing back until we got some federal guarantee was really a non-choice,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said.
In a release from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, tribal leaders said they would continue their efforts as negotiations to end the federal government shutdown continue.