Noteboom The Law Firm

New VA Office Reaches Out To Tribal Veterans

February 4, 2011 -The Office of Tribal Government Relations is the newest office created by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The office's purpose is to advocate on behalf of tribal veterans to make sure they are collecting the VA benefits their military service guarantees them.

The office will be working on behalf of over 200,000:

• American Indians;
• Alaska Natives;
• Hawaiian Natives; and
• Veterans who are part of the Alaska Native Corporations.

The US government officially recognizes 800 tribal governments, which represent almost a quarter million tribal veterans. The VA currently provides benefits to many tribal veterans living on tribal lands. The Office of Tribal Government Relations will work to not only reinforce the VA's relationship with tribal veterans, it will develop the relationship even further by ensuring those tribal veterans are given the full gamut of VA benefits to which they are entitled.  

The office's first Director is a member of the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation. She has been a social worker and spent almost 15 years involved with tribal issues. The office will start with a 6 person staff dedicated to nurturing a "federal-tribal relationship." Through this office, the VA will continue on with their mission of taking care of all the veterans who have served this country.