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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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

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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

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VA Tribal Consultation Report FY2012Available on OTGR website: www.va.gov/tribalgovernment

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VA Office of Tribal Government Relations

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VA Organizational Chart

Robert McDonaldSecretary

Peter VicaireOTGR Specialist

Central / Northeast Region

L. HoMana PawikiOTGR Specialist

Southwest Region

Terry BentleyOTGR SpecialistWestern Region

Vacant OTGR

Executive Officer

Mary CulleyOTGR Specialist

Southern Plains / Southeast Region

Sloan D. GibsonDeputy Secretary

Jose RojasChief of Staff

Joshua Taylor (Acting)Assistant Secretary Office of Public & Intergovernmental Affairs

David M. MontoyaDeputy Assistant Secretary Office of Public & Intergovernmental Affairs

Stephanie E. Birdwell, DirectorOffice of Tribal Government Relations

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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

• OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care

• Increase Number of Signed Reimbursement Agreements• 82 IHS sites

• 60 Tribal Health Program (THP)

• 62 THPs 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

VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATEVA OTGR NATIONAL 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

VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

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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

• 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”

VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

•Veterans Cemetery Grants on Tribal Lands• (National Cemetery Administration initiative)

1) Pine Ridge, SD – dedication ceremony July 9, 20142) Rosebud, SD – open3) Yurok Tribe, CA – dedication ceremony August 12, 2014 ($3,318,990)4) Pasqua Yaqui, AZ – open5) Seminole Nation, OK – under construction

•FY 14 Grant Opportunities1) Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes – MT2) Crow Nation – MT3) San Carlos Apache – AZ4) Ponca Tribe – OK•5) Catawba Nation – SC (FY15)

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OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

Tribal Cemeteries in Indian Country

First Operational VA-funded Tribal Veterans CemeteryMonte Calvario Cemetery, Tucson, Arizona

Pascua Yaqui TribeDedicated Veterans Day, 2011

Tribal Cemeteries in Indian Country

Under Construction; Projected Opening FY2013Sicangu Akicita Owicahe (Veterans Cemetery)

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Department of Veterans AffairsOffice of Tribal Government Relations

Mary.Culley@va.gov405-456-3876

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

Southern Plains and Eastern Region Contact

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