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VINITA, OK The Cherokee Nation has been approved for a joint venture with Indian Health Service to build a new health care clinic in Vinita that will dramatically improve the availability of health care services available for Native Americans in Craig County. The clinic will be built by the Cherokee Nation and operated as a joint venture with the Indian Health Service. “A joint venture means we can work together with the federal government to provide a much higher level of health care in Vinita than we have been able to before,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Having a larger clinic in Vinita is a part of a plan for a comprehensive health care system for our citizens.” Cherokee Nation officials will now work with Indian Health Service (IHS) to prepare plans for the construction of the facility as well as outlining the responsibilities of the tribe and IHS. Preliminary plans include an approximate 40,000 square-foot facility and a total construction cost of about $14 million. The project will create several new jobs for the area. The new clinic will eventually replace the existing Cherokee Nation health clinic in Vinita, which currently has limited services available. Because the project is still in the very early planning stages, it will be years before it is open to patients, but today’s announcement is considered the first step. “We've seen steady progress in District 9 (Craig County) and Cherokee health care officials should be proud of their hard work in securing funding for a new Vinita clinic,” said Chuck Hoskin, Jr., Tribal Council member representing Craig County. “I'm confident that the Council and Chief Smith will work together to see this project through to completion.” Since 2002, more than 1.5 million patient visits have been scheduled at Cherokee Nation health centers, taking a tremendous burden off of city, county and state health organizations. The tribe currently operates nine health centers throughout the Cherokee Nation.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org