TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner announced Friday during a Veterans Day ceremony, that the tribe is launching a Veterans Treatment Court early next year.
Cherokee Nation received a nearly $1 million, four-year grant from the Bureau of Justice that allows veterans who have nonviolent cases within the Cherokee Nation District Court an alternative to traditional forms of sentencing.
Healing to Wellness Court programs are beneficial because they can offer a more holistic approach to addressing substance abuse and mental health issues. For Native veterans who qualify for the Veterans Treatment Court, the program aims to keep the veteran from reoffending by integrating treatment and rehabilitation services and cultural activities and support into the program.
The Cherokee Nation currently operates a successful Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court Program and a reentry program.
“We want to ensure our veterans who proudly serve this country to protect our freedoms, and may have gotten off path, have the cultural and tribal support they need through the court process,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “Cherokee Nation citizens and those from other tribes who find themselves in our legal system may find that more one-on-one interaction surrounded by cultural activities can be extremely healing and a better alternative to keep them out of court and from reoffending.”
The Cherokee Nation Veterans Treatment Court (CNVTC) is the first tribal VTC to be implemented in Oklahoma.
Among the U.S. incarcerated population 7-8% are veterans.
“Historically, Native Americans have served in the U.S. military at five times the national average. Our Cherokee veterans have stood in defense of our people and our land, so it’s our duty to preserve the strength, resilience and wisdom they fought to protect,” Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said. “I’m proud that Cherokee Nation will be able to offer the Veterans Treatment Court, as this is a way to support our veterans while they rebuild their lives with dignity. Cherokee Nation will continue to honor our veterans not just today, but every day.”
The Cherokee Nation Veterans Treatment Court will include a diverse service structure with the goal to heal Native veterans, providing them resources and support to recover, reintegrate and thrive. Included in the structure will be physical and mental health care; career development; residential services, food distribution, transportation, recovery and re-entry, vocational rehabilitation and more.
“The Court appreciates the continued support of Principal Chief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner, and the Council of the Cherokee Nation in finding ways to expand our justice system during the beginning of the McGirt/Hogner era. There are better ways to create a justice system than copying the state’s outdated model, and I look forward to continuing to work with the other branches of government and the Cherokee people to implement a system we can be proud of,” said Cherokee Nation District Judge T. Luke Barteaux.
During the Veterans Day event, the tribe also honored Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice and Vietnam Army Veteran Rex Earl Starr, who will soon receive the Congressional Gold Medal for his bravery.
He, along with more than 3,000 pilots, medics and crew who flew between combat zones and field hospitals during the Vietnam War, will collectively be awarded next year the highest award Congress can bestow.
“As a Cherokee veteran, it is always a profound honor to witness a fellow Cherokee brother or sister being recognized with such a prestigious award,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs S. Joe Crittenden, a U.S. Navy veteran, said. “I can think of no one more deserving of this honor than Justice Rex Earl Starr, who has dedicated years of service to the Cherokee people in countless ways.”
The Cherokee Nation proudly honors its veterans each month with the prestigious Medal of Patriotism award. Additionally, the Nation funds the annual Cherokee Warrior Flight, a memorable journey in which Cherokee veterans visit the nation's capital to pay tribute to the war memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.
In partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation Office of Veteran Affairs ensures that Cherokee veterans and widows receive supplemental food packages every 90 days, providing vital support to those who have served.
The Cherokee Nation Veterans Center, located in Tahlequah, offers comprehensive assistance to veterans, helping them navigate and access benefits and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as other resources, both within the Cherokee Nation and beyond. For more information on Cherokee Nation veteran programs, contact 918-772-4166.