Cherokee Nation to assist domestic violence victims

C h e r o k e e w o m e n and f amilies i n need of r e s c u e f r o m d o mes t i c v i o l e n c e s o o n w i l l need to l ook no further than their tribe.

C h e r o k e e N a t i o n Pr i nc i p a l Chi e f Chuck Ho s k i n J r . , f i r s t l a d y J a n u a r y H o s k i n a n d D e p u t y C h i e f B r y a n Warner unveiled facility p l a n s f o r a O n e F i r e Vi c t i m Se r v i c e s o f f i c e in Tahlequah and a new t r a n s i t i o n a l h o u s i n g center i n Stil well aft er r e c o g n i z i n g O c t o b e r a s Do me s t i c V i o l e n c e Awareness Month.

H o s k i n c a l l e d i t “a p r o u d d a y i n t h e Cherokee Nation” a nd o f f e r e d a l l o f the credit for the initiative to his wife.

“T h e F i r s t L a d y encouraged us early on t o do more i n t he ar ea o f d o me s t i c v i o l e n c e prevention, provide more services and get services out into the community, and that i s what we are doing — investing in our advocacy program and helping our citizens who need help with a safe space for rebuilding,” he said in a news release.

One Fire, which stands f or Our Nation Ending Fear, Intimidation, Rape and Endangerment, offers a variety of services t o women who are victims o f a c r i m e a n d w h o l i v e wi t h i n t h e t r i b e ' s reservation boundaries. Services include housing, l e g a l a n d a d v o c a c y a s s i s t a nce, t he r e l e a s e states.

T h e p r o g r a m ' s headquarters will move from its current location i n s i d e t h e C h e r o k e e Nati o n ' s W. W. Keel e r Tribal Complex to a larger f a c i l i t y i n T a h l e q u a h with more private office spaces f or one- on- one consultation with clients. It will also welcome more victim advocates, with 19 employees being fully staffed.

The new t r ansiti onal h o u s i n g f a c i l i t y i n Stil well i s projected t o include seven apartments, e a c h f e a t u r i n g a k i t c h e n , l i v i n g r o o m a nd bedrooms, a s well a s a c o mmunal u t i l i t y r o o m , p l a y r o o m a n d classroom.

The t r i b e a l s o p l a n s t o b u i l d t h r e e t h r e e - bedroom houses behind the transitional facility in the future.

“I t ' s c r i t i c a l t h a t C h e r o k e e s h a v e a s a f e a n d s e c u r e p l a c e to go when they must flee a n a b us i v e s i t ua t i o n, ” January Hoskin said in the release.

“F a r t o o o f t e n i n n o r t h e a s t O k l a h o ma , w h e n t h i s t y p e o f emergency need arises, all the beds at area shelters are full and there is simply no place to go, and that's when women and families i n need get t urned out o n t o t h e s t r e e t . Now, because we are taking on this endeavor, Cherokee women can have a safe place to go, and we will n o t b e d e p e n d e n t o n o t h e r p e o p l e o r o t h e r non-profits.

“A s a m o t h e r o f C h e r o k e e c h i l d r e n a n d g r a n d m o t h e r o f Cherokee grandchildren, t h i s e f f o r t i s r e a l l y important to me.”

Housing i s one of the primary barriers abuse victims face after choosing t o l e a v e t h e i r a b u s i v e partners, One Fire Victim Services Interim Director Shawna Duch said in the release.

“Tho u g h e mer g e n c y shelters can be a source o f i m m e d i a t e s h o r t - t e r m s a f e t y , One F i r e T r a n s i t i o n a l H o u s i n g facility can offer victims a h o u s i n g o p t i o n a n d supportive services f or up to 12 months,” Duch s a i d . “( T h e ) p r o g r a m w i l l g i v e s u r v i v o r s t h e t i me a n d s e r v i c e s they need to achieve goals for long-term safety and stability.”

For more information on One Fire Victims Services, those interested may visit onefire. cherokee. org or call 918-772-4260. Those i n n e e d o f e mer g e n c y assistance should call One Fire's emergency helpline, 866-458-5399.