TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation’s team of more than 70 Deputy Marshals took their annual Oath of Office in the Cherokee Nation Council chambers at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex on January 22.
The Cherokee Nation Deputy Marshals pledge their Oath of Office annually, promising to uphold the Cherokee Nation’s constitution and promote its culture, heritage and traditions, while acting in the best interests of the Nation. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh and Acting Marshal Daniel Mead each addressed the tribe’s Deputy Marshals and other Marshal Service personnel prior to the oaths being administered.
“It is a great and distinct honor to bear witness to this pledge. While some might assume taking an Oath of Office each year could become somewhat routine, in this room, with this group of men and women, I can tell there’s no routine when it comes to such a serious oath. That’s what I admire so much about our Marshal Service,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “The Marshal Service represents something special and important, which is that the Cherokee people can govern their own affairs. We can take care of each other. We can hold each other accountable. Today, in the post-McGirt era, the responsibilities of the Marshal Service have grown exponentially.”
“Meanwhile, we know there are people in elected office who wish the Cherokee Nation, and other tribes, would just go away. But our ancestors lost too much, ceded too much land, lost too many lives, had too many treaties forced upon us, too many injustices visited upon our people for us to let anyone tell us that this land isn’t the Cherokee Nation Reservation,” said Chief Hoskin. “For the rest of the time that I’m in office, I will work every day to make sure everyone respects it, and the best way that I can do that is to have the backs of the Marshal Services of the Cherokee Nation.”
The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service is committed to public safety across the Cherokee Nation Reservation’s 7,000 square miles. Cherokee Nation has exclusive tribal law enforcement authority over the reservation, as well as cross deputization agreements with more than 100 law enforcement agencies operating within its reservation.
“The men and women of the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, beginning at the grassroots level, work daily to serve and protect not just our Cherokee families, but everyone who lives and works here in the Cherokee Nation Reservation,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “I am proud of the integrity this department has, and of the efforts they make each and every day to be the shining example of what a law enforcement agency can and should be.”
Acting Marshal Daniel Mead initiated the Oath of Office for the Deputy Marshals during the ceremony.
“Getting to stand in front of you all and to lead your Oath of Office is an absolute honor. No matter what, if you’re having a bad day at home, or whatever it may be, I have watched you always put that aside and make sure that the Cherokee Nation Reservation is safe,” Mead said.