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VA Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) Oklahoma Specialty Court Conference

VA Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) Oklahoma Specialty Court Conference Thursday, September 11, 2014. How positive relations with Tribes can enhance and strengthen our efforts with Veterans living in tribal communities…. Ms. Mary Culley, Tribal Relations Specialist.

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VA Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) Oklahoma Specialty Court Conference

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  1. VA Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) • Oklahoma Specialty Court Conference • Thursday, September 11, 2014 How positive relations with Tribes can enhance and strengthen our efforts with Veterans living in tribal communities…. Ms. Mary Culley, Tribal Relations Specialist

  2. Which VA Administrations offers services/benefits to Tribal Governments in an effort to reach Veterans in Indian Country ? Veterans Benefits Administration: VBA • Native American Direct Loan Program • Creek Nation has an MOU agreement with VA, MOU NADL #79 • Ponca Nation has an MOU agreement with VA, MOU NADL # 56 National Cemetery Administration: NCA • Tribal Cemetery Grants Veterans Health Administration: VHA • VA Office of Rural Health- Native Domain emphasis • VA/ Indian Health Service Memorandum of Understanding-2010 • VA/Indian Health Service Reimbursement Agreement-2012 2

  3. VA –Tribal Relations Milestones • 2000 - President Clinton’s Executive Order 13175 • 2007 – VA establishes VHA/Office of Rural Health • 2009 (Nov) President Obama Memorandum on Tribal Consultation (Executive Order 13175) • 2009- 2010 VA Solicitation for Tribal Consultation (proposed policy) • 2010 VA-IHS MOU • 2011 – Secretary Shinseki signs VA Tribal Consultation Policy. The Office of Tribal Government Relations is established within VA as part of implementation of the Tribal Consultation Policy • 2012 (Dec) VA-IHS Reimbursement signed MOU 3

  4. VA Tribal Consultation Report FY2012 Available on OTGR website: www.va.gov/tribalgovernment 4

  5. VA Office of Tribal Government Relations 5

  6. VA Organizational Chart • David M. Montoya • Deputy Assistant Secretary Office of Public & Intergovernmental Affairs • Stephanie E. Birdwell, Director • Office of Tribal Government Relations • Sloan D. Gibson • Deputy Secretary • Robert McDonald • Secretary • Jose Rojas • Chief of Staff • Joshua Taylor (Acting) • Assistant Secretary Office of Public & Intergovernmental Affairs • Peter Vicaire • OTGR Specialist • Central / Northeast Region • L. HoMana Pawiki • OTGR Specialist • SouthwestRegion • Terry Bentley • OTGR Specialist • Western Region • Vacant • OTGR • Executive Officer • Mary Culley • OTGR Specialist • Southern Plains / Southeast Region 6

  7. Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) OTGR Specialists: • Work with VA colleagues to expand relationships with tribal governments that support priorities tribal leaders have for meeting the needs of tribal Veterans • Promote Veteran-Centric message and action to Indian Country OTGR Goals: • Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care and Benefits • Promote Economic Sustainability • Implement Tribal Consultation Policy 7

  8. VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE VA OTGRNATIONAL UPDATE • OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care • Increase Number of Signed Reimbursement Agreements • 82 IHS sites • 60 Tribal Health Program (THP) • 62THPs In Progress with Tribal.Agreements@va.gov Staff • Total Disbursed [FY12, FY13, FY14 (to June 2014)] • $10.5 Million • Conduct Veterans Training Summits • 19(2012 to 2014), nationwide • 2,212 participants

  9. VA OTGRNATIONAL UPDATE • OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care • OTGR Goal 2: Promote Economic Sustainability • OTGR Goal 3: Implement Tribal Consultation Policy • Conduct Veterans Training Summits • 19 Summits (2012 to 2014) • 2,212 participants • Supports 3 OTGR Goals • Forum for VA Subject Matter Experts • for Tribal Program and IHS Representatives • for Listening to Tribal Veterans • for Tribal Leadership and VA Leadership

  10. Demographics American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest representations in the armed forces (in comparison to other racial minorities – approximately 200,000 veterans) January 2013, National Data showed Oklahoma had approximately 15,229 American Indian veterans August 2013, OKC VA Medical Center had approximately 3494 Native American Veterans enrolled in their healthcare system March 2013, Muskogee VA Medical Center had approximately 1573 Native American Veterans enrolled in their healthcare system Nationally – approximately 32% of the Native American population is enrolled in VA’s healthcare system Oklahoma – approximately 3% of the Native American population in Oklahoma is enrolled in VA healthcare Homeless Numbers for our Native American Veteran population unknown, because Native Veterans do not self-identify 10

  11. VA OTGRNATIONAL UPDATE • Conduct Webcasts • Establishing Reimbursement Agreements Between VA and Tribal Health Programs on 03/25/2014 • Using the Native American Direct Loan (NADL) on 11/22/2013 • Network, partner, collaborate in Indian Country • Meeting Tribal Leaders, Tribal Health Directors, Tribal Veterans Representatives in region to facilitate access to healthcare and benefits • Meeting Veterans – help field concerns for healthcare or benefits • Write and eMail OTGR national newsletter, May 2013 to present • Activate OTGR website – www.va.gov/tribalgovernment • Support Veteran Court Resource Guide for Tribal Veterans • Support VA published report “American Indian and Alaska Native Service Members and Veterans, September 2012”

  12. OTGRNATIONAL UPDATE • Veterans Cemetery Grants on Tribal Lands • (National Cemetery Administration initiative) • Pine Ridge, SD – dedication ceremony July 9, 2014 • Rosebud, SD – open • Yurok Tribe, CA – dedication ceremony August 12, 2014 ($3,318,990) • Pasqua Yaqui, AZ – open • Seminole Nation, OK – under construction • FY 14 Grant Opportunities • Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes – MT • Crow Nation – MT • San Carlos Apache – AZ • Ponca Tribe – OK • 5) Catawba Nation – SC (FY15)

  13. Tribal Cemeteries in Indian Country First Operational VA-funded Tribal Veterans Cemetery Monte Calvario Cemetery, Tucson, Arizona Pascua Yaqui Tribe Dedicated Veterans Day, 2011

  14. Tribal Cemeteries in Indian Country Under Construction; Projected Opening FY2013 Sicangu Akicita Owicahe (Veterans Cemetery) Rosebud Sioux Tribe

  15. Southern Plains and Eastern Region Contact Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Tribal Government Relations Mary.Culley@va.gov 405-456-3876 405-626-3426 (BB) www.va.gov/tribalgovernment-Main website Tribal.agreements@va.gov– VA-IHS-THP Reimbursement Agreements Tribal.Consultation@va.gov– eMail for tribal leaders to submit inquiries directly to VA 15

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