- Details
- By Chuck Hoskin Jr
Guest Opinion. As a sovereign government, one of Cherokee Nation’s most profound responsibilities is providing safety and enacting justice across our Reservation. This task is rooted in deep Cherokee values of protecting our citizens and neighbors, and we carry it out through a modern justice system, exemplified by efficiency and collaboration.
We were recently honored to provide a tour of our justice system operations to representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice: Principal Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove and Director of the Office of Tribal Justice Gina Allery. The visit showcased Cherokee Nation’s effective system of policing and prosecution for our important federal partners.
For nearly two centuries, Cherokee Nation has upheld a vision of justice anchored in accountability and self-determination. From the adoption of the 1839 Cherokee Nation Constitution, we operated a judicial branch including a Supreme Court and district courts, as well as the oldest law enforcement entity in Oklahoma, the Cherokee Lighthorsemen, now known as the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.
This system has grown exponentially following restored legal recognition of our jurisdictional authority by the McGirt decision and others. We have gone from handling fewer than 100 criminal cases annually before McGirt to filing more than 25,000 charges since the ruling.
Today, Cherokee Nation’s justice system has reached an impressive scale and scope. With 71 full-time commissioned marshals, 99 active cross-deputization agreements, and a legal team of 18 full-time attorneys supported by 26 dedicated staff members, our capacity is robust.
This transformation is not just about policing and prosecutions, but also one of purpose. Cherokee Nation’s modern justice system grows out of the crucial responsibilities of sovereignty that shape every aspect of our governance. Our justice system employees work faithfully to meet the needs of a dynamic population while enforcing the law across our 7,000-square-mile reservation.
The $74 million allocated this year alone to public safety underscores our dedication to fairness and justice. Earlier this year, the Council of the Cherokee Nation and I approved a law to earmark $50 million for a justice center in Tahlequah and another $10 million for a courthouse in another part of the Reservation, as well as making updates to our criminal code on illegal drug trafficking. A recent criminal justice task force looked at improvements to our criminal sentencing laws, reentry programs, and system of detention. With movement on multiple fronts, we are not content with simply building an adequate justice system; we want to have the best in Indian Country.
The success of Cherokee Nation’s system cannot be measured by numbers alone. Through partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, we have cultivated an open environment where cooperation thrives. These relationships boost our ability to maintain public safety across the 7,000-square-mile Cherokee Nation Reservation.
Of course, this recent federal engagement is par for the course for my administration. Since taking office in 2019 we have hosted a number of cabinet officials and other high-ranking dignitaries across the Biden and both Trump administrations. Recently, we engaged top level health leaders in Washington, D.C. I owe it to the Cherokee people to seize every opportunity to tell our story to federal officials and encourage their support, as we did at the recent DOJ meetings.
The visit by DOJ officials allowed us to share all these achievements and to showcase the operational sophistication of Cherokee Nation’s justice system and our commitment to ensuring safety in communities across our reservation. These efforts at Cherokee Nation strengthen our families, uplift our values, and serve as powerful reminders of the potential of tribal sovereignty. Cherokee Nation’s justice system is a model not only for tribal governments, but for all who desire stronger and safer communities.
Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
More Stories Like This
Double Down on What Works: Invest in Native CDFIs, Don’t Eliminate ThemThe Big Ugly Bill Attacks Tribes, Our Lands, and Our Rights
Native Mascots Don't Honor Our Ancestors. They Harm Our Children.
Modernizing the Path to Homeownership in Indian Country
The Future is Bright for Cherokee Nation Health Services at Claremore
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher