TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner along with other Cherokee Nation leaders and staff gathered in Stilwell to cut the ribbon on the tribe’s 15th senior nutrition site Tuesday, Jan. 28.
“Last year at the Cherokee Elders Summit, Deputy Chief Warner and I announced the expansion of the Human Services Senior Nutrition Program by adding this Stilwell site. For years, Cherokee Nation has been making strides to make resources more available for Cherokee citizens, especially our elders,” Chief Hoskin said. “With the opening of the Stilwell senior nutrition site, we are taking a step toward making that goal a reality. Though there is more work to be done, I am proud of this accomplishment and thrilled for the elders who will be able to utilize this space.”
The 6,000-square-foot building will serve as a setting for Cherokee elders who are participants of the senior nutrition program to fellowship over a meal. The senior nutrition program also offers homebound meals to these seniors as well.
A 2023 study conducted by the Cherokee Nation determined the Stilwell area of Adair County to be one of the highest priorities for a new senior nutrition site, as there are at least 1,000 Cherokee elders within proximity to the facility who qualify for its services. The study is available on the tribe’s website, Cherokee.org
“It was a beautiful day to provide more services to our Cherokee elders here at the Stilwell senior nutrition site,” Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said. “Our goal is to meet our Cherokee elders where they’re at, as we know it’s not always easy for some to get to these senior nutrition sites across the reservation. So it’s an honor to be able to serve our elders in this capacity. This facility isn’t only a place where they can find a warm meal, but it’s also a place where they can meet and fellowship as well.”
Located at 7 W. Division Street in Stilwell, the facility also has a large amount of food prep, storage and kitchen space that will allow the program to diversify cooking methods and allow for a training space for other cooks and be able to store food for other nutrition sites.
“We are bringing something to elders where they can break bread, laugh and just have fun and that is the importance I want to signify today,” District 7 Councilor Joshua Sam said. “I want to give a heartfelt thank you to Chief Hoskin, Deputy Warner and their administration, the Council and the Human Services department for the work going into this building.”
Currently, the tentative hours for the Stilwell site will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with meals being served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“This place right here is not just going to serve Stilwell people, but a lot of people in Adair County,” District 8 Councilor Codey Poindexter said. “This is going to be another place in the Cherokee Nation where we can have fellowship and that spirit of gadugi and sit with our elders.”
The tribe also operates 14 other senior nutrition sites across the reservation, with programs located in Porum, Marble City, Belfonte, Kenwood, Evening Shade, Oaks, Spavinaw, Tahlequah, Dry Creek, Greasy, Caney/Tailholt, Nowata and Foyil.
“This will be a welcoming environment that will allow the program to host visitors to share helpful information with elders and will have additional space for activities that will add to the quality of life for these elders,” Executive Director of Human Services Jennifer Kirby said. “While the main focus is to provide elders with meals, this also gives elders a chance to be engaged with their peers and provides a safe place for them to spend time during the week.”
For elders interested in becoming a participant of the tribe’s senior nutrition program, they must be 50 years or older and be a citizen of the Cherokee Nation or another federally recognized tribe. For more information on the program, call 918-453-5241.