Respond, Recover and Rebuild COVID-19 Assistance Payment
Cherokee Nation used a portion of its $1.8 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to provide a one-time $2,000 lump-sum COVID-19 relief payment to every enrolled Cherokee Nation citizen, regardless of age, income, or residency. Legislation authorizing the payments was signed by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. in 2021. Applications opened via the tribe's online Gadugi Portal on June 1, 2021. Roughly 392,832 citizens were eligible, with over 313,900 having received payment as of mid-2021 reporting and the window later extended through June 1, 2024 for citizens with pending citizenship applications. The program was administered by Cherokee Nation, not an individual official.
Tribal, Indigenous, COVID-19, ARPA, One-Time Stimulus, Large-Scale
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Cherokee Nation
- City
- Tahlequah
- State / Province
- Oklahoma
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 918 453 5000
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 392,832
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 2,000 USD
- Payment frequency
- Lump Sum
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit, Debit Card, Check
- Benefit details
Each eligible Cherokee Nation citizen received a single $2,000 payment funded through the tribe's American Rescue Plan Act allocation, distributed via the Gadugi Portal application system. Payment amount and structure did not vary by household size, income, or need. Citizens with pending citizenship applications submitted by June 1, 2022 remained eligible to apply and receive the payment through June 1, 2024.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligibility required enrolled Cherokee Nation citizenship, with no restrictions based on age, income, or residency (on or off the reservation). Applicants applied through the Gadugi Portal beginning June 1, 2021. Individuals with citizenship applications pending as of June 1, 2022 remained eligible until June 1, 2024.
Demographics
- Race / ethnicity targets
- Cherokee Nation citizens (Indigenous/Native American)
Health
- Health conditions
- Covid
Citizenship
- Citizenship / immigration status
- Citizen
- Tribal enrollment required
- Yes
Geography
- US states covered
- Oklahoma
- Countries covered
- United States
Application Process
- How to apply
Eligible citizens applied online through Cherokee Nation's Gadugi Portal (gadugiportal.cherokee.org), which opened for applications at 1 p.m. CT on June 1, 2021.
- Selection process
All enrolled Cherokee Nation citizens who applied and verified citizenship status were eligible; no competitive selection or means-testing was used.
