TVSOs Open Doors

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

Trained and certified Tribal Veteran Service Officers provide culturally sensitive services within veterans’ own communities

Since the founding of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs more than 75 years ago, one of the agency’s core philosophies has been the belief that veterans are best served when services are provided by and available within their own communities.

This philosophy is just as important — if not more so — when it comes to outreach to the Oregon tribal veteran community.

An estimated 3,856 Oregon veterans are American Indian, representing nine distinct tribes. Tribal veterans have one of the highest records of military service per capita of any ethnic group, and the Native American communities in Oregon have a long and rich history of honoring and supporting all veterans.

“Our tribes, men and women, served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the wars that are happening today,” Gary Burke, chair of the Board of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, said at the Oregon State Capitol Building in January 2019. “American Indians still believe that this is their country. And they are willing to put their lives on the line for this country.”

Burke’s words came at an event in which he signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick to establish a Tribal Veteran Service Office to serve the veterans and family members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Such MOUs have also been established with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. These MOUs enable each tribe to hire a Tribal Veteran Service Officer who — like local veteran service officers — are trained and certified by ODVA to file claims on behalf of their nation’s veterans.

“Like all veterans who have served our country with honor, tribal veterans deserve their rightful place among the nation’s heroes,” said Fitzpatrick. “They also deserve the same access to the benefits and resources they have earned through their service.”

Fitzpatrick said the ultimate goal of this partnership is that tribal veterans would receive the same level of service as veterans currently receive from any local veteran service officer.

“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 local veteran service offices, and the same is true, if not even more so, for our tribal veterans.”

The continuing work in standing up new Tribal Veteran Service Offices reflect the importance of cultural recognition, according to ODVA Assistant Director of Statewide Veteran Services Joe Glover.

“We honor and respect the sovereignty of these tribal nations, and the ability to support these nation’s own trained and accredited veteran service officer is a major piece of that honor and recognition,” Glover said. “Tribal Veteran Service Officers and Tribal Veteran Representative supportive partnerships with ODVA are truly equity in action.”

The tribes in Grand Ronde and Umatilla have now hired Tribal Veteran Service Officers. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has hired a Tribal Veteran Representative (TVR), whose role is to advocate for tribal veterans and assist them in connecting with an accredited VSO and their benefits.

“This is a critical job, and we’re thrilled to have another TVR advocating for veterans and families,” Glover said.

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 a memorandum of understanding to help establish the Tribe’s first Tribal Veteran Service Office in January 2019.

Find Tribal Veteran Services In Your Area

Multiple tribal governments in Oregon have established Tribal Veteran Service Offices (TVSOs) with accredited veteran service officers who are trained and certified through ODVA.

Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:

Phone: 503-879-1484 | Website: grandronde. org | Contact: Ramona Quenelle Address: 9615 Grand Ronde Rd, Grand Ronde

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation:

Phone: 541-429-7389 | Website: ctuir.org | Contact: Sam Spino Email: samspino@ctuir org Address: 46411 Ti’mine Way, Pendleton