Tribal leaders will honor CITGO Petroleum and Citizens Energy Corporation with a traditional Wopila honoring ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in the Rushmore Room of the Best Western Ramkota Hotel.

Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is expected to attend the ceremony along with CITGO chief executive officer Alejandro Granado and Citizens Energy chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II.

Through the combined efforts of CITGO and Citizens Energy, people in more than 220 tribal communities received heating assistance grants this year. Grants totaling about $21 million helped struggling families cope with soaring home-heating costs.