Leah Hitcher a resident of Stilwell, Oklahoma within the Cherokee Nation Reservation. Leah is a citizen of Cherokee Nation in addition to Muscogee Creek heritage. Leah has two daughters and a shared German Shepard named Banilla. Leah formerly worked 11 years in the Tribal Court and Permanency Unit within the Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare department. Leah accepted the position as the Juvenile Healing to Wellness Coordinator in September 2022, and quickly worked to complete the strategic plan and implementation of the Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court at Cherokee Nation. Additionally, Leah holds a bachelor’s degree from Haskell Indian Nation’s University in American Indian studies and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Oklahoma. Leah has spent a majority of her working career working with Indigenous populations within the Cherokee Nation Reservation.