2015 CANAR Training Conference (Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation) United as Warriors: Telling Our Story Radisson Salt Lake City Downtown November 9-12, 2015 LORAE HOMANA PAWIKI VA Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) Specialist SOUTHWEST REGION (AZ, CO, NM, UT)

OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care REIMBURSEMENT ACTIVITY ~$29,220, ~6,076 Total Unique Veterans ~86 Tribal Health Program sites ~83 Indian Health Service sites VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care TRAINING TO STRENGTHEN REIMBURSEMENT ~VA-IHS/THP Reimbursement Program Team Periodic ~Enrollment Overview by VHA Offered by HEC and CBO - Health Eligibility Center and Chief Business Office 3 rd Tuesday each month Request invitation – send message to ~VA-IHS/THP Reimbursement Agreement Program Enrollment Eligibility Innovative, Engaging, Blended Learning December 2014 (film) ~ are/ihs/index.asphttp:// are/ihs/index.asp VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

OTGR Goal 2: Promote Economic Sustainability Expand Knowledge and Use of Native American Direct Loan (NADL) Program Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) product ~ 91 Tribal Governments signed NADL MOU ~ 3 Tribal Governments in process to sign NADL MOU Read more at pueblo pueblo VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE Housing for Vets Coming to Taos Pueblo Harlan McKosatoHarlan McKosato 8/13/15 Native American veterans from Taos Pueblo in New Mexico were pleased by the recent signing of MOU

OTGR Goal 3: Implement Tribal Consultation Policy Listening Session National Indian Health Board 2012 Conference in Denver, Colorado Tribal Consultation Session National Indian Health Board 2014 Conference Albuquerque, New Mexico September 8, 2014 Proposed Realignment of Services VA Hot Springs, SD November 2014 Tribal Consultation Choice Act Section 102 c December 2014 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 22 Summits (2012 to 2015) 2,800 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 *does not include latest Summits in Northwest VA OTGR NATIONAL 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 OTGR National Newsletter Active OTGR website – 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, )Rosebud, SD – open 3)Yurok Tribe, CA – dedication ceremony August 12, 2014 ($3,318,990) 4)Pasqua Yaqui, AZ – open 5)Seminole Nation, OK – under construction FY 14 Grant Opportunities 1)Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes – MT 2)Crow Nation – MT 3)San Carlos Apache – AZ 4)Ponca Tribe – OK 5)Catawba Nation – SC (FY15) 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 VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE SILETZ HONOR GUARDFORT BERTHOLD HONOR GUARD GILA RIVER FLAG CEREMONY CHINLE COLOR GUARDUTE MOUNTAIN UTE VETERANS

– Office of Tribal Government Relations / Point of Contact / Southwest Region - Main website – VA-IHS-THP Reimbursement Agreements – for tribal leaders to submit inquiries directly to VA hs/index.asphttp:// hs/index.asp - Get updates on current health care reimbursement information. OTGR CONTACT INFORMATION