(Photo by harry_nl via Flickr/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
On October 29, 2025, Vice President JD Vance, within a Turning Point USA event, went on to blatantly disregard the history of Indigenous People in the United States. Vice President Vance stated that when settlers arrived in the U.S., they found “widespread child sacrifice” alongside the mistreatment of women in Indigenous communities. Not only are these comments blatantly wrong, but they also highlight the lack of true representation and continued attempts to rewrite history by the current U.S. government toward Indigenous Peoples and their long history on these lands.
Amid these disrespectful comments made by Vice President Vance, one of the longest U.S. government shutdowns affected the lives of Indigenous Peoples heavily. Indigenous communities and Tribal Governments are subject to U.S. government organizations, such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service, which, during the shutdown, were strained by the suspension of funding and employees being unable to work. Despite the government reopening, the impact on available services is felt most by those in need as government employees work to catch up.
Specifically, on October 28, 2025, the Cherokee Nation declared a state of emergency due to the suspension of SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown. This emergency declaration continued after the recent U.S legislative deal due to the possible lag in receiving federal benefits. These benefits are important in areas with limited grocery store access, where food is expensive; as such, support for purchasing them is vital to the well-being of Cherokee people. Not only did the Cherokee Nation suffer as a result of the suspension of SNAP and other important federal services, but they are speaking up against the U.S. government and the ever-continuing deterioration of U.S.-Indigenous relations stemming from the settler-colonial process.
The Historical Removal of the Cherokee at the Hands of Settler Governments
Before European settlement, the Cherokee Nation resided on what is now the southeastern United States, consisting of many modern states, including as far north as West Virginia, down to Georgia and Alabama. By 1827, under continuous pressure and multiple treaties from the British and U.S. governments, the Cherokee Nation’s lands had shrunk immensely to within the borders of Georgia. Following this, the Cherokee Nation brought a lawsuit against the U.S federal and Georgia state governments, which sought to stop interference in their land by settlers. In 1832, they won this case, with the Supreme Court recognising the Cherokee as a sovereign nation that the state of Georgia could not interfere with.
However, U.S. President Andrew Jackson disregarded the Supreme Court’s decision. In May of 1838, President Jackson, with the help of the U.S. Army, forced the Cherokee, along with the neighbouring Choctaws, Creeks, and Seminoles, into detention camps for removal from their lands onto reservations. Over the next several months, under threat by the U.S. Army, the Cherokee, alongside their neighbours, were forced to march from the Southern United States to Oklahoma with minimal supplies. This march would come to be known as the Trail of Tears, which killed an estimated 4,000-5000 Cherokees due to illness and exposure.
Following their forced removal, the Cherokee Nation, in 1846, enacted a new treaty in the borders of Oklahoma that entrenched their reservation as “secured to the whole Cherokee people for their common use and benefit”. However, by 1887, the land held by the Cherokee Nation was subject to the new General Allotment Act, which forced many Indigenous Nations into western norms of individual property ownership. This process was deeply corrupt, as many Indigenous community members were scammed out of their land by settler contracts without understanding them, further scattering the Cherokee Nation.
The Bureau Draws a Blank Check
This historical background is important for understanding the current relationship between the Cherokee Nation and other Indigenous nations, as well as the U.S. government organizations. Specifically, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is the most relevant department for many of the Tribal governments’ daily responsibilities.
Historically, the BIA created hostile living conditions and separated families by forcing Indigenous children into residential schools, where there was often physical and mental abuse and the banning of Indigenous culture and identity. This policy was part of the process to eliminate Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty and force them to adopt Anglo-American lifestyles. These processes contributed to the BIA becoming influential throughout the past century as an authority in Indigenous Peoples’ affairs in the U.S., especially land management, education, and health. However, as the shutdown continued, the department furloughed 1,000 employees, leaving them unpaid until the legislature restored funding to the government.
Federal Work on Pause
With the government shutdown, funding disruptions occurred; the Cherokee Nation did not take the loss of emergency funding lightly. However, earlier this year, the BIA experienced sudden, unexpected layoffs caused by the Trump Administration’s DOGE cuts. The BIA facilitates many programs regarding education, health, and land services, which are important in rural areas where local resources are limited.
This cut in funding represented a loss of $140 million relative to previous budgets. Back then, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. of the Cherokee Nation stated that “the cut would be a major setback for the regional economy if the funds are not restored.” Now, although the BIA’s operations are considered essential during the government shutdown, funding remains even more minimal than it was before the cuts.
In light of this, the Cherokee Nation has opened new avenues of funding from investments in different industries, such as “gaming” or casino revenue, shifting its reliance on the BIA. For instance, in 2023, over 140,000 jobs for Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents in Oklahoma were employed by Tribal businesses. These operations contributed to an annual income of $3.1 billion for the Cherokee Nation alone. These economic initiatives by the Cherokee Nation demonstrate the integral role of Tribal governments in local economic development.
Underserved Health
The next-largest bureau affecting the Cherokee Nation is the Indian Health Service (IHS). The IHS’s charter is to provide medical care and support to Indigenous Peoples. As part of many treaties with Indigenous Peoples, those who moved were guaranteed medical care and support. Due to a lack of funding and the remoteness of some Indigenous Communities, this promise falls short.
This was the first government shutdown in which the IHS had advanced funds to sustain services. Access to healthcare in rural communities is difficult, and with cuts to funding at the federal level, it has meant a new push by Tribal governments to ensure their members can access healthcare. IHS facilities operations remained intact, but the threat of cutting federal employees poses the risk of disrupting services and the department’s work.
To counteract this, the Cherokee Nation has taken over the management of IHS hospitals on its land. With over 100,000 members living within the land administered by the Cherokee Nation, health needs range widely. This lack of federal support is why the Cherokee Nation has invested $11 million in restoring the 95-year-old Claremore Indian Hospital. Still, Principal Chief Hoskin Jr. plans to expand this investment to build a new $255 million health facility. These plans highlight how the Cherokee Nation show solutions for when the federal government is either at a standstill or actively defunding programs for communities in need.
Land Management and the Threat To Environmental Safety
Land use, especially in Eastern Oklahoma, is administered primarily by Tribal governments or state departments. Projects such as fire prevention, environmental conservation, and mineral rights in the state are important to the Cherokee Nation and its people.
For example, the Cherokee Nation is a partner in the REAP program funded by the USDA, which provides loans to Tribal Governments and other businesses to build renewable energy infrastructure in rural areas. The department’s closure and funding are in danger for renewable energy projects, which prevents new sources of clean and more reliable energy in places that do not always have that opportunity.
Another example is the EPA, a significant agency for tracking environmental risks, which is now cutting or furloughed staff in that department. It is especially important for Indigenous Communities such as the neighbouring Chotaw Nation in Oklahoma, where numerous oil fields produce toxic pollutants. The uncertainty regarding federal workers’ employment status creates gaps in service in tracking environmental safety that are important to at-risk communities.
In addition, the EPA is required to consult with Tribal communities on policies and permits for EPA-related projects. This lack of EPA consultation can cause economic delays or prevent important project information from being shared.
Food Insecurity and SNAP, the Final Straw
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is the largest U.S. program that provides food benefits, such as food stamps, to low-income American citizens. During the government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP, stated on October 26, 2025, that the federal government would not compensate SNAP recipients beginning in November.
As such, on November 1, 2024, 42 million Americans did not receive their SNAP benefits. This program includes 500,000 Indigenous Peoples. Facing this challenge, on October 28, 2025, Principal Chief Hoskin Jr. declared a state of emergency for the Cherokee Nation due to food insecurity caused by the government shutdown.
However, this state of emergency was not one of fear, but of a final outcry against the U.S. government on behalf of the Cherokee Nation. As Principal Chief Hoskin Jr stated, “I cannot predict what Congress or the president will do to stop the impending hunger crisis, but I know what the Cherokee Nation is going to do… We’re going to protect those in our region who are most at risk of hunger due to the federal government shutdown.” This declaration enabled the Cherokee Nation to access over $6.75 million available in emergency relief funding, taking matters into their own hands and standing up for those in the community who are most vulnerable.
Historically, the U.S. government, including during the Trail of Tears, has used starvation tactics to draw out Indigenous Peoples. The Cherokee Nation’s state of emergency is a direct counteraction to this. As Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Bryan Warner stated: “Our resources are not unlimited, but we cannot and will not stand by while people suffer. So, we are taking action.” The Cherokee Nation’s declaration will provide relief for many Cherokee members who face uncertainty amid the ongoing government shutdown. This state of emergency marks a pivotal moment in the Cherokees’ diminishing relationship with the U.S. government.
A Complicated Partnership
The most extended U.S. government shutdown in history, an event that affected many Americans, has more immediate effects on Native Americans, specifically the Cherokee Nation, than many think. With the history of settler colonialism and its impact on the Cherokee Nation’s welfare in Oklahoma, it is a significant issue to rectify injustices from the federal government, whilst also ensuring funding is available to the Cherokee Nation.
The Cherokee Nation’s efforts and vocal opinions are at the forefront of efforts to secure greater sovereign rights from the Oklahoma and federal governments while also meeting its citizens’ needs. With minimal representation for the nation at the federal level, due to a lack of recognition of its delegate to the U.S. Congress, often there is no direct political input in federal decisions such as budgets or healthcare.
However, with new funds from invested industries by the Cherokee Nation’s national company, it shows initiative in ensuring that, at the federal level, the regional level can still provide services without relying on just essential employees. With emergency funds still active despite the federal government reopening, the Cherokee Nation’s government continues to seek to buffer the effects of the temporary SNAP suspension on its citizens. However, the current instability within the Trump administration continues to strengthen the Cherokee Nation’s independence, as federal agencies face ongoing funding cuts and employee losses due to furloughs.
With funding resumed for the immediate future and knowledge of what steps the Trump administration is willing to take to create pressure, such as the SNAP suspension, it will be something to consider for the Cherokee Nation’s leaders planning for the future.
Edited by Isaac Code
