Law | National

Cherokee Nation working to prosecute non-Indians under VAWA






The historic Cherokee Nation courthouse in Tahlequah is the oldest public building standing in Oklahoma. Photo from Cherokee Nation Judicial Branch

The largest tribe in the United States plans to exercise its authority over non-Indian domestic violence offenders

The Violence Against Women Act recognizes tribal authority to arrest, prosecute and sentence certain non-Indians for certain offenses. Tribes must ensure their justice systems protect the rights of defendants in order to exercise their authority and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is very close to meeting the requirements of the landmark 2013 law, senior assistant attorney general Chrissi Ross Nimmo told Tulsa Business and Legal News.

As part of its efforts to protect Native women, the tribe recently received a $390,544 grant from the Department of Justice to help prosecute sexual assault and domestic violence. The money will be distributed over two years.

“There is an epidemic of violence against women and sexual assault across Indian Country, but with these new Department of Justice funds, the Cherokee Nation will be able to better protect our citizens and prosecute violent offenders,” Chief Bill John Baker said in a press release.

The Cherokees were the only Indian Country recipient of grants from the Sexual Assault Justice Initiative. A total of $2.7 million was awarded last month.

Get the Story:
Grant to help with protection programs (Tulsa Business and Legal News 1/6)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories:
Supreme Court agrees to review yet another Indian law dispute (12/14)
DOJ asks Supreme Court to hear Indian domestic violence case (11/11)
Vice President Joe Biden reflects on triumphs of Obama's Indian policies (10/28)
Tribes still waiting on funds from Violence Against Women Act (10/16)
Pioneering tribes share experiences with prosecuting non-Indians (10/07)
DOJ awards $97M in grants for public safety in Indian Country (09/16)
Nez Perce Tribe hosts conference to combat violence and abuse (09/09)
Alaska to recognize tribal domestic violence protection orders (07/31)
Congress fails to provide funds to help tribes comply with VAWA (07/29)
Ambassador Harper discusses violence against indigenous women (07/09)
Native Sun News: Oglala leader blames deaths on domestic violence (07/06)
Appropriations bill adds $10M for tribal courts in PL280 states (07/01)
Eastern Cherokees assert authority in all domestic violence cases (06/16)
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate ready to exercise VAWA jurisdiction (05/22)
Pascua Yaqui Tribe hosts Violence Against Women Act training (5/20)
Native Sun News: Tribes meet to discuss VAWA implementation (04/10)
California Indian Legal Services announces new VAWA project (04/06)
US Attorneys host tribes for Violence Against Women Act session (04/02)
Pascua Yaqui Tribe prosecutes 19 non-Indian cases with VAWA (03/20)
LTBB News: Little Traverse Bay Bands to exercise VAWA power (03/19)
Eastern Cherokees make changes to exercise VAWA authority (03/18)
Tribes in Montana still looking at jurisdiction provisions in VAWA (03/13)
Fort Peck Tribes ready to exercise VAWA power over non-Indians (03/12)
White House Blog: Tribes make communities safer with VAWA (03/11)
Tribes in pilot project filed 26 VAWA cases against non-Indians (03/10)
Tribes reach key milestone with jurisdiction provisions of VAWA (3/9)
Updates from National Congress of American Indians winter session (2/26)
Tribes in Maine face opposition to jurisdiction over non-Indians (02/24)
Bill requires law degree to join Navajo Nation Supreme Court (02/03)
Obama signs measure to extend VAWA tribal provision to Alaska (12/19)
VAWA jurisdiction provision poses special issue for Alaska tribes (12/15)
Congress clears bill to extend VAWA tribal provisions to Alaska (12/12)
Senate backs measure to extend VAWA tribal provisions to Alaska (12/09)
Vice President Biden calls for inclusion of Alaska tribes in VAWA (12/04)
PBS: VAWA helps tribes go after non-Indian domestic offenders (11/24)
Republicans hold up action on Alaska tribal jurisdiction measure (11/19)
Eric Holder: Responding to sexual violence in Indian Country (11/18)
DOJ task force calls for tribal jurisdiction in child abuse cases (11/18)