Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Cherokee Nation employee Debra L. American Horse-Wilson was recently appointed to the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans (ACMV). She is currently the only Native American female serving on this committee. As a member of the ACMV, American Horse-Wilson will advise the Secretary of VA as well as Congress on VA’s administration of benefits, healthcare benefits and services to minority veterans.
"Debra L. American Horse-Wilson, Cherokee Nation employee." 
“We at Cherokee Nation are very proud of Debra and wish her success with this prestigious committee,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
As compliance officer for the Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission, American Horse-Wilson processes all gaming vendor applications, performs company background checks, makes recommendations on whether to grant gaming licenses to companies to operate in Cherokee Nation casinos, maintains inventories and databases on all electronic gaming machines in Cherokee Nation casinos and assists gaming inspectors during installation of new gaming machines in all Cherokee casinos.
American Horse-Wilson, who attended public schools in Tulsa, worked for Veterans Affairs from 1990 through 2004 before joining the Cherokee Nation in June, 2004. She worked in the Muskogee VA Regional Office as the public affairs officer for the director; and later in Washington, D.C., for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Minority Veterans Center as liaison between the VA and Indian reservations.
At the dedication of the Cherokee Nation’s Veterans Memorial on November 10, 2005, American Horse-Wilson reconnected with the guest speaker, a VA employee with whom she had previously worked, who invited her to apply for the ACMV. She applied and received a two-year appointment to the committee in June.
“I am excited about being appointed to this prestigious position because I believe this is an opportunity to bring forward the issues of Native veterans to a level of government that will take positive action. Particularly important issues are full access to VA facilities and the need to establish advocates to outreach to those veterans who need help in getting through the maze of utilizing their well-earned benefits and establishing disability benefits,” said American Horse-Wilson. “Veterans are my heart, my life and my opportunity to make a difference in this world.”
Among American Horse-Wilson’s ACMV obligations are providing an annual report to Congress outlining recommendations, concerns and observations on VA’s delivery of services to minority veterans; meeting with VA officials, veteran service organizations and other stakeholders to assess VA’s efforts to provide benefits and outreach to minority veterans; and making periodic site visits and holding town hall meetings with veterans to listen to and address their concerns.
American Horse-Wilson comes from a long line of warriors and veterans. When she was a child, her grandfather, a World War II veteran, took her to American Legion meetings at Pine Ridge. Her father, two brothers, a sister, a nephew and her husband are all U.S. Marine Corps veterans. She joined the Marines in 1974 after graduating from Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah and served her country until 1981, when she was honorably discharged with the rank of E-6 staff sergeant. While in the Marines, she served in South Carolina, Washington, D.C., California and New York as well as in Okinawa, Japan.
Related path(s):
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |
