By Jade Morrow, FOX23.com News Staff
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKB) is preparing to open a new health care administration building, marking a major step forward for tribal citizens after decades of funding obstacles.
Chief Wacoche said UKB citizens spent years asking for better access to care, but progress was limited because Indian Health Services denied funding.
“We had folks coming in, and they weren’t able to receive dentures, hearing aids, glasses and so forth,” Wacoche said. “If they were referred out to any type of specialty care, whether it be neurology, cardiology or orthopedics, we were denied those services.”
The United Keetoowah Band has historically been denied Indian Health Services funding for decades, according to tribal leaders.
“They had to create a whole new formula, and that was one of them,” Wacoche said. “They always said there wasn’t a formula for our tribe to receive funding.”
UKB citizen Lois Fuller said it was frustrating to see the tribe go so long without funding, leading to a lack of essential services.
“It has not been great for us, and I’m also hearing it from other elders that needed services, and they didn’t get the services they needed or referrals they needed to go to surgery,” Fuller said.
Now, with $2.8 million in funding from Indian Health Services, the tribe will be able to provide expanded health care resources to its citizens.
“We will be providing radiology, we will be providing pharmacy, we will be providing dental [services] moving forward,” Wacoche said.
The chief added that the tribe’s Purchased/Referred Care program and Echota Behavioral Health services will also operate out of the new facility.
Fuller said she is already seeing excitement build among tribal members.
“They’re very happy and surprised that we are doing it,” Fuller said. “Even though there’s a lot of money that we don’t get — grants or federal — we are still doing it somehow, some way.”
After years of obstacles, tribal leaders say the new building represents progress toward self-determination.
“Now, we’re able to express our true sovereignty and provide those services on our own,” Wacoche said.
The health care administration building will be open to UKB citizens and other Native Americans across the 14-county Cherokee Reservation in Oklahoma. The facility is slated to open in April, pending any delays.
