TAHLEQUAH, OK – The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (UKB) completed the acquisition of a new Healthcare Administration Building, a milestone that significantly expands the tribe’s physical footprint, strengthens its healthcare system, and reinforces its sovereign authority to administer health programs for its members.
The newly acquired 3.88-acre property features a 7,700 sq. ft. building that will serve as the new UKB Healthcare Administration Building. The acquisition is one of the most significant investments in UKB health infrastructure in recent years and reflects the tribe’s long-term commitment to building permanent, self-governed systems to serve its members.
“This is a historic day for the United Keetoowah Band,” said UKB Chief Jeff Wacoche. “By completing this acquisition, we are not only expanding our physical presence – we are asserting our sovereignty and taking direct responsibility for administering healthcare for our members. This is about building lasting institutions, exercising self-determination, and ensuring the UKB controls its own future.”
Over the coming months, the UKB Health Administration Team and Prevention Team will relocate to the new facility, establishing a centralized hub for health program administration, care coordination, prevention initiatives, and strategic planning.
“It’s the third busiest intersection in the county,” said Bryan Shade, tribal attorney and Lippes Mathias partner. “It is just shy of four acres and really is the best property location-wise that we could hope to purchase. And it’s all in the name of healthcare and economic development.”
As part of this expansion, behavioral health services will eventually vacate Echota West, allowing that facility to be repurposed as the UKB Health Clinic. Echota West is a 4,000 sq. ft. building located on 40 acres west of Tahlequah, adjacent to but outside city limits. The transition will substantially increase clinical capacity and transform Echota West into a dedicated site for direct patient care.
The new Healthcare Administration Building creates the infrastructure necessary for UKB to operate and expand health programs efficiently, freeing clinical spaces to focus exclusively on patient care and enabling long-term growth across behavioral health, prevention, and clinical services.
“This move fundamentally strengthens our health system,” said Jennifer Leep, Director of Echota Behavioral Health. “For the first time, we will have dedicated facilities designed to support both administration and care delivery. It allows us to expand services thoughtfully, protect patient privacy, support our providers, and ensure that health programs are administered by the tribe, for our members and community.”
The acquisition marks a major expansion of the UKB footprint in the Tahlequah area and underscores the tribe’s continued investment in permanent infrastructure that supports self-determination and community well-being.
The UKB will share additional updates on relocation timelines, renovations, and the opening of the UKB Health Clinic at Echota West as transitions are completed.
