Father of Cherokee girl honored in Oklahoma

The Associated Press//October 15, 2013//

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TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The National Congress of American Indians is honoring the biological father of a Cherokee girl at the center of a lengthy custody dispute.

At a meeting in Tulsa on Tuesday, the group honored Dusten Brown, a member of the Cherokee Nation who is the father of 4-year-old Veronica. Brown was also recognized for his service with the Oklahoma National Guard.

Last week, Brown announced he was dropping all custody claims and was working with the South Carolina couple who adopted Veronica on ways he could be involved in her life.

Veronica had been the subject of court battles since she was born to a non-Cherokee mother, who put the girl up for adoption. Matt and Melanie Capobianco of Charleston, S.C., had been lined up to receive custody since 2009.