This story was originally published by the Cherokee Phoenix.

Lindsey Bark
Cherokee Phoenix

TAHLEQUAH – Cherokee Nation leaders gathered on Oct. 14 to cut the ribbon to open the tribe’s new Indian Child Welfare office. 

The 40,000-square-foot space, formerly a Mean’s Furniture store at 3227 S. Muskogee Ave., was purchased by the Cherokee Nation and remodeled to house the more than 70 ICW employees with the capacity for up to 98 employees. 

While the need for more space was evident, it allows the department to continue serving more than 1,100 children throughout the state and nation. 

“This building represents far more than bricks, wall and office space. It represents hope, safety and belonging,” said CN ICW Senior Director Sally Wilson. “It reflects our nation’s promise to ensure that every Cherokee child grows up connected to their family, their culture and their community.”

Wilson said every part of the new space was designed with purpose. Completed in just under two years, it features 6,000 square feet of storage space, a drive-up loading dock, offices, conference rooms, classrooms, visitation rooms, an indoor playroom and two outdoor playgrounds.

“The room where families will reunite were built to bring them comfort and calm. The spaces where our staff work were created to encourage teamwork, support and healing. The Cherokee language and art that you see when you go through the building serves as a daily reminder of our identity and the sacred responsibility to care for our children,” Wilson said. 

Hettie Charboneau, CN ICW Director of Foster Care, expressed excitement about the new building and the opportunities it brings. She said being united with her coworkers under one roof was important.

“That’s what we’re about, being unified for our children and for our families. Our children will come and get to play here. They’ll get to do crafts here. They’re going to learn about our culture and our language,” Charboneau said. “I just can’t tell you from the bottom of my heart how much this means to me. I’ve been with the tribe for 32 years and I came at a wonderful time. It was a time of growth back in 1993 and to see all the changes that have happened, all the different buildings that we’ve been in. I’ll probably retire in just a few years, but it’s going to be in good hands.”

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said one visit to the old ICW offices is what it took to see the need for a new space. 

“It was one visit to the Indian Child Welfare department at the invitation of Brad Eubanks,” Hoskin said. “He took me through every hall, and he took me through every spot on the ceiling where the water was dripping. Then he took me to his office, which is really an abuse of the word office, because there was a mop bucket and broom, and he didn’t complain. Nobody in there complained, but seeing was believing that place was too small.”

He added that people in his position need to get out of the office and see firsthand the day-to-day work and life of CN staff, and investment in ICW was important because of the mission that it supports.

“Sometimes the hard work of our departments can outpace the capital investments, but today, we’re matching that. The duty of any government is really the same as the duty of any family, which is to take care of the most vulnerable among you, those that can’t protect themselves,” Hoskin said. 

ICW processes around 1,400 notifications a month from child welfare agencies and the tribe currently has 95 active Cherokee foster homes in Oklahoma and Arkansas. 

For more information visit icw.cherokee.org or call 918-458-6900.