Cherokee Nation opens new north Tulsa elder nutrition site
Wed, July 8, 2026 at 5:14 PM
KTUL
TULSA, Okla. — Standing inside a brand-new commercial kitchen, nothing says good fellowship and good food quite like a fresh piece of traditional fry bread
On Wednesday, the Cherokee Nation officially launched its 17th Elder Nutrition Program at the newly built North Tulsa Cherokee Community Building. While the ribbon-cutting represents a major facility expansion, community members say the center’s true purpose is rooted in unity and healing
“If you’re an Indian Cherokee, a Freedman Cherokee, a Black Cherokee, we’re all Cherokee and let’s come together as the Cherokees,” Lucretia Jackson, treasurer of the North Tulsa Cherokee Community Organization, said during the opening ceremony
Bringing all Cherokee citizens together for food and fellowship is exactly what the Elder Nutrition Program is designed to do. Native elders aged 50 and older can now receive free, well-balanced meals at the North Tulsa facility five days a week
The strategic placement of the site is a critical turning point for the neighborhood. Tribal leaders openly acknowledge that the Cherokee Nation has historically underinvested in this specific part of the reservation, leaving North Tulsa to struggle for years as a documented food desert
The new multi-million-dollar investment aims to immediately change that reality
“We very purposely wanted to come to North Tulsa, acknowledging that we haven’t been here, we haven’t done enough,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “And I think a really good measure of support for the community is to bring something like an elder nutrition site.”
For local residents who call North Tulsa home, securing reliable access to healthy, fresh meals serves as an immediate life changer
“Food is expensive now, and so I feel like being here, and they can come here, is an advantage for the elder people,” Jackson said during a walk-through of the dining room. “I just think it’s great that they have this center that will be helping them, you know? It helps us, but it helps the community.”
Instead of just asking what is on the menu for lunch, those moving through the facility are asking what the gathering itself is truly for. Chief Hoskin noted that coming together at a shared table acts as “good medicine” to combat social isolation among seniors
Inside the bustling kitchen, the staff is focused on ensuring that every plate honors the people who helped preserve the tribe’s heritage. Traditional dishes, including freshly prepared Indian tacos, are used as a bridge between generations
“I say it’s a blessing to be able to be a servant to our elders, and that it’s an enjoyable time to be able to cook for them,” Kitchen Foreman Josie Cheater said. “They love it. They like to garden, they grow their own food… and now the smaller generation is coming up. I think they’re called the little seeds. They’re out there planting too, they’re bringing back tradition.”
The Cherokee Nation plans to continue evaluating reservation needs to expand the footprint of its elder services to other communities
For more details on enrollment requirements, participant forms, and daily cutoff times, you can view the official Cherokee Nation Elder Nutrition Program Guidelines
