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ODVA, Tribes Join Forces to Help Veterans
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ODVA, Tribes Join Forces to Help Veterans
By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine
Shortly before signing a historic memorandum of understanding with the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs at the State Capiol Building, Gary Burke, chair of the Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, asked to say a few words.
“Our tribes, men and women, served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the wars that are happening today,” he said. “American Indians still believe that this is their country. And they are willing to put their lives on the line for this country.”
American Indians have always been willing to put their lives on the line to protect their people and their country, going back even farther than WWI. It’s estimated that there are almost 150,000 tribal veterans living in the U.S., more than 3,000 of them here in Oregon.
If those numbers seem small, consider this: American Indians serve in their country’s armed forces in greater numbers per capita than any other ethnic group, and they have served with distinction in every major conflict for over 200 years.
A U.S. general of no less stature than George Washington himself remarked on their “excellent use” as scouts and light troops in 1778.
Many tribes were involved in the War of 1812, and Indians served as auxiliary troops on both sides during the Civil War. In 1866, the U.S. Army formed the Indian Scouts, which were active throughout the West in the 1800s and into the early 1900s.
Warm Spring Apache scouts, out on patrol for the U.S. Armed Forces circa 1872.
And as Chair Burke said, American Indians by the thousands served with courage and honor in the wars of the 20th century and into the modern era.
The memorandum of understanding between the Umatilla tribes and ODVA was an agreement that will pave the way for the state’s first-ever tribal veteran service office, called a Tribal Veteran Representative, or TVR.
The TVR will operate just like a county veteran service office, providing direct services to tribal veterans under ODVA’s power of attorney. Like all county veteran service officers, the TVRs will be trained and certified through ODVA.
Kelly Fitzpatrick, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs, shakes hands with Gary Burke, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, shortly after signing the memorandum of understanding earlier this year at the Oregon State Capitol Building.
“Like all veterans who have served our country with honor, tribal veterans deserve their rightful place among the nation’s heroes,” said ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick, who signed the MOU with Chair Burke in January. “They also deserve the same access to the benefits and resources they have earned through their service.”
Fitzpatrick said the ultimate goal of the partnership is that Umatilla veterans would receive the same level of service as any county veteran service officer.
Sam Spino, the new Tribal Veteran Representative (TVR) for the Umatilla tribes.
“Our veterans deserve the chance to work with service officers who understand their unique challenges, resources, and cultural identity,” she said. “This is the vision behind our network of county veteran service offices, and the same is true, if not even more so, for our tribal veterans.”
“Thanks to these new services, more of our people than ever will have access to physical and mental health care and other benefits they have earned,” Chair Burke agreed.
This is the second tribal veteran service office to be established in the state of Oregon. The first was created through a MOU signed with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs last August.
