Governing a nation means paying attention to where our people are struggling and taking responsibility for fixing what stands in their way. In the Cherokee Nation, our advocacy for our citizens has always been about restoration, accountability, and looking out for one another as Cherokees.

Some of our most meaningful progress has come from that mindset. We have strengthened our sovereignty through our laws and recognized gaps in language and cultural preservation, educational opportunities and health care. And we have responded with historic action and investments.

At the heart of every decision is a simple Cherokee value: When we see a community need, we come together to address it, for our people today and for future generations. That’s just who we are as Cherokees.

Although major decisions are often finalized at the tribal complex, the most vital solutions are often quiet ones, born from the understanding that strong communities are built by meeting real human needs.

This week, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I proposed a plan to invest $4 million in opioid settlement funds to build and operate transitional living housing for formerly incarcerated Cherokee citizens. This investment is part of a broader settlement from September 2025 totaling more than $6.5 million. It is a continuation of the work originally initiated in 2017 by then-Principal Chief Bill John Baker and Attorney General Todd Hembree, who took action against the opioid industry for the harm inflicted upon our communities.

This new transitional housing will work in concert with our “Coming Home Reentry Program,” which provides essential support services for citizens returning to society from incarceration. Recognizing the program’s critical value, we recently secured a $500,000 funding increase for it, which was unanimously approved by the Council of the Cherokee Nation for the fiscal year 2026 budget.

Under our proposal, the $6.5 million in new opioid settlement funds will be secured through an amended Public Health and Wellness Fund Act. We have earmarked $2 million specifically for the construction of residential transitional living facilities and another $2 million to seed operating funds. The remaining funds will be deposited into the Behavioral Health Capital Fund to support future needs.

These investments in reentry are part of a comprehensive public health strategy already in motion. The Public Health and Wellness Fund Act currently supports more than $64 million in construction for substance use disorder inpatient and outpatient facilities. With a future inpatient and outpatient treatment campus in Tahlequah and an outpatient center in Vinita expected to open in 2027, we are significantly expanding access to care across the Cherokee Nation.

Assisting individuals as they reenter society may not always garner headlines, but it addresses a critical systemic gap. Without housing, employment opportunities, or basic support, too many formerly incarcerated people are forced back into the very circumstances that led them into the justice system.

National data confirms that transitional housing significantly reduces repeated incarceration. In Oklahoma — a state with one of the highest incarceration rates in the country — the lack of such support has real, devastating consequences for Cherokee families.

That’s where we can — and should — make a difference for our people.

Our laws must carry a solemn promise of restoration. Cherokee citizens who have served their time deserve a fair opportunity to return home and contribute to our society once again. This investment continues our tribe’s commitment to strengthening public health, restoring balance in our justice system, and supporting the long-term well-being of every Cherokee family.

---

---