New Cherokee Nation Health Center

by Tim Hudson

A delegation of Delaware Tribal officials were recently on hand for an open house for the new Cherokee Nation Health Center in Ochelata, Okahoma.

On May 5, Delaware Chief Chet Brooks, Assistant Tribal Chief Bonnie Jo Griffith , and tribal member Benita Shea were among those in attendance for an open house held at the new $10 million Cooweescoowee (prounounced coo-WEE-scoo-WEE) Health Center, which will serve Natives in northeastern Oklahoma.

The 28,000-square-foot facility is five times larger than the existing Bartlesville Health Center which it will replace, and also offers a much wider variety of services. It is the first of four new health facilities that will be completed under a $100 million health care improvement plan using Cherokee casino profits.

The new health center has 10 exam rooms and offers family medicine, full lab services, optometry, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy with drive-thru, radiology, disease prevention, and more.

“You’ve been a part of us for so long” Principal Chief Bill John Baker said of the Delaware group as he addressed the crowd.

“And we are happy to have you here.”

Delaware Tribe of Indians Chief Chet Brooks says the facility is wonderful.

“It’s a fine looking facility and it will provide all kinds of care,” he said.

“Medical, dental and optometry assistance to our tribal members…. I’m very pleased with the new clinic.”

He says that the clinic’s location is better for tribal members, in that it’s about 10 miles closer than the existing clinic and “will have additional services.”

Assistant Tribal Chief Bonnie Jo Griffith agrees, saying, “We appreciate it being so close and modern.”

“As tribal council members, we are happy the Delaware tribe will be able to use it” she said.

The facility carries historic Cherokee Nation Principal Chief John Ross’s Cherokee name, Cooweescoowee, which is a type of bird. Ross is the longest serving chief of the Cherokee Nation, leading the Cherokees from 1828 to 1866 and across the Trail of Tears. Cooweescoowee is also the name of the northwestern historic district of the Cherokee Nation.

“The health center, and this is true of of all our health centers, is open to any member of any Federally recognized tribe” Cherokee Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr said.

“And any member of the Delaware Tribe may certainly use the health center.”

He says that some of the programs however are limited to the Cherokee Nation’s citizens.

“Some of those programs will only be available to Delaware members who have dual citizenship….if a Delaware is carrying both cards they are eligible for any service.

He says that for more information on which services are available may be obtained by calling the clinic at 918-453-5000.