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TAHLEQUAH, OK - Cherokee Nation and the Department of Veterans Affairs Tulsa Vets Center have created a one-of-a-kind Veteran’s outpost located at the Cherokee Nation Tribal Complex in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation Office of Veterans Affairs is the only veterans’ office in the country that is operated by both tribal and Department of Veterans’ Affairs staff.

"We feel it is important to honor the Cherokee Nation’s veterans", said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. "We know that our Indian veterans deserve fair treatment from the government they served, and from their own government as Cherokees. This office helps us give Cherokee veterans the respect they deserve.

Rogan Noble, a tribal veterans representative, is a Cherokee who served with the Marine Corps in Vietnam during the late 60’s. His federal counterpart, Eddie G. Hoklotubbe, is also a Vietnam veteran who served with the First Cavalry Division of the Army and is a member of the Choctaw Nation. Both Noble and Hoklotubbe bring years of experience working with the VA system to the Cherokee Nation.

"The Department of Veterans Affairs realized that the veterans in this area weren’t accessing the veteran’s system,” Hoklotubbe said. "Now we have a memorandum of understanding, which gives us the opportunity to go directly into the communities where our veterans live and get them the assistance they earned and deserve."

According to Noble, there are many World War II and Korean War veterans who live within the Cherokee Nation jurisdiction that are eligible for services. Most of these veterans simply did not know these services existed. For instance, a 72 year-old Korean War veteran was recently certified by VA as 100% disabled due to wounds he received in the war.

"In real terms, that’s $2,200 of tax free money we were able to help this gentleman get each month,"Noble said.

Both Noble and Hoklotubbe acknowledge that the public has a general lack of information about veterans programs and have designed the Cherokee Nation program to provide counseling services and to serve as a liaison between the veterans living in Indian communities and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hoklotubbe, who earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma, provides individual, group and couples counseling to veterans and their family members. Noble’s time is dedicated to helping veterans file applications for benefits and assisting them in obtaining other services from the Department in areas such as education, mortgages, health, disability, and pension.

According to Noble, the Veterans medical facilities are some of the most underutilized services available to veterans in our area.

"In past years, only veterans who needed treatment for a service connected health occurrence could be treated at a VA facility", Noble said. "But the regulations have changed and now any veteran can be treated at a VA facility. Those who fall below federal income guidelines may receive free health care, while a payment schedule based on income is available to all those whose income is greater than the federal guidelines."

Noble also said that many Indian veterans who need specialized treatment that is not available at Indian Health Service facilities may be able to receive that treatment at a VA facility.

"Most of the time, these veterans that are Indian Health Service patients can be seen and treated at the veterans health facility", Noble said. "This provides the veteran quick access to quality health care, while allowing limited tribal dollars to be used to meet the health care needs of individuals who are not eligible for veterans and other services. This is especially true for Vietnam veterans who have Type 2 diabetes."

This past summer, the Department of Veterans Affairs designated Type 2 diabetes as a service connected illness for those Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Now, Vietnam veterans with Type 2 diabetes are entitled to receive treatment and other services from the VA.

"We hope that we can work with the Cherokee Nation Health Department to ensure that all Vietnam veterans with Type 2 diabetes are channeled to the proper health facility where they can get treatment for this serious disease", Noble said.

Noble and Hoklotubbe have long term plans for the program that include an Oklahoma Native American Veterans Coalition, a possible Cherokee Veterans memorial, and the creation of a "Warriors Society" that will utilize a database of all Cherokee Veterans. Their immediate goal is to educate veterans about the services available to them through the VA and assist them and their families in accessing these services.

The Cherokee Nation Office of Veterans Affairs will hold meetings in communities throughout the 14-county jurisdiction. Meetings dates, times, and places will be published in local papers prior to the event. The Cherokee Nation Office of Veterans Affairs provides services to both Indian and non-Indian veterans. For more information, please contact the Veterans Affairs office at 1-800-256-0671(ext.2694).