Hilda Faye Nickey: The Mississippi Choctaw Tribal Court System - Honoring Nations 2007 Awards

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has created a vibrant economy, and one of the
underpinnings of its success is its court system. Organized independently of elected
leadership, the court provides an arena for the fair, reliable resolution of disputes. Intent on
not becoming just another adversarial court of law, the Choctaw Tribal Court strives to
incorporate traditional Choctaw values into its law and practices, to help both victims and
offenders, and to pay particular attention to tribal youth. In so doing, the Mississippi Choctaw
have developed a comprehensive judicial system that responds to the needs of all its
citizens.