United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma

About The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee

Facts About the United Keetoowah Band Of Cherokee In Indian Territory:

  • The United Keetoowah Band was federally recognized in 1950, following ratification of their constitution.
  • The UKB maintains a one‑quarter blood requirement for membership.
  • The UKB were formerly known as the Western Cherokee in the early 1800s.
  • The word Keetoowah is sometimes spelled “Kituwah.”
  • Keetoowah is the name of an ancient Cherokee settlement (pre‑contact) in their eastern homeland.

The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee's Original Lands

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Geography

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Geographical Identity:

Southeast

Click to Learn More About the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee

Read about the storied heritage of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee, including its cultural influence and historical journey to Oklahoma, through resources at the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Contact the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee

Physical Address:

18300 W. Keetoowah Circle
Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 746
Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74465

Phone:

(918) 871-2800

Website:

Socials:

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Leadership

Highest Elected Official

Chief

Jeffrey

Wacoche

Date Elected:

11/4/2024

Next Election Date:

11/6/2028

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Politics

Jurisdiction by County:

  • Adair
  • Cherokee
  • Craig
  • Delaware
  • Mayes
  • McIntosh
  • Muskogee
  • Nowata
  • Ottawa
  • Rogers
  • Sequoyah
  • Tulsa
  • Wagoner
  • Washington

Congressional District:

2

Tribal Population:

14,034

Resident Indian Population in Tribal Service Area (HUD 2025):

14,311

Type of Federal Tribal Governance:

Self Governance

Year of Self Governance Entry:

2011

Gaming Compacts by Year:

7/1/2020

Other Oklahoma Compacts:

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma Resources

Law Enforcement:

UKB Lighthorse Police

Charlie Dreadfulwater, Director
918-207-9955
4400 S. Whittmore Lane
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Education and Training:

United Keetoowah Band Education Department

Dr. Leslie Hannah
lhannah@ukb-nsn.gov
education@ukb-nsn.gov
918-871-2796
18300 W. Keetoowah Circle
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Childcare Center:

Henry Lee Doublehead Child Development Center

Christie Kirk, Director
918-871-2799
18771 W. Keetoowah Circle
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Housing Authority:

Keetoowah Housing Department

Roxana Wilden
rwilden@ukb-nsn.gov
housing@ukb-nsn.gov
918-871-2773
18300 W. Keetoowah Circle
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Behavioral Health Center:

Echota Behavioral Health Services

Jennifer Leep
Jennifer.leep@echota.org
918-708-9009
1640 W Keetoowah St.
Tahlequah, OK 74464

Medical Clinics:

Indian Health Service (IHS)

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Federal Funding Overview

Unique Identifying Number (UEI): R112PP2REV21

Number of Federal Grants in Audit: 58

Tribe Provides Law Enforcement in Jurisdiction or Bureau of Indian Affairs Provides: Tribe

Tribe Provides Indian Child Welfare Services: Yes

Type Amount
Latest Single Audit of Federal Grants, Contracts, and Compacts — Federal Expenditures $26,310,278.00
Latest Single Audit of Federal Grants, Contracts, and Compacts — Federal Awards $45,740,455.00
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Self Governance Annual Funding Agreement $945,753.00
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Aid to Tribal Governments $0.00
Indian Health Service Compact (IHS): Annual Funding Agreement $0.00
Indian Health Services (IHS): 93-638 Contracts/Self-Determination Annual Allocation $0.00

Long Range Planning

Type Amount
Grant(s) for Tribal Lands, Climate, Natural Resources, Energy, and/or Water $526,670.00
National Performance Partnership Grant on Environment $0.00
Broadband Grant $0.00
Grant(s) for Language and Cultural Preservation, NAGPRA and/or THPO $201,044.00
Rural Economic Development and/or Community Development, CDFI/Enhancement Grant(s) $0.00
Federal Transportation Annual Allocation for Road and Bridge Construction $889,936.39
Annual Transportation Planning Allocation $20,339.98
Tribal Public Transit Funds $285,228.00

Protection

Type Funding Amount
Disaster Planning and/or Mitigation Grant(s) $0.00
Homeland Security Grant $0.00
Grant(s) for Justice, Courts, and Community Policing $0.00
Adam Walsh (SORNA) and/or Missing Persons Grant(s) $0.00
Provides Violence Against Women and Family Violence Prevention Services $12,903.00
Tribe Offers Child Welfare Social Services (Stephanie Tubbs and/or Child Support Enforcement) $315,730.00
Tribe Offers Promoting Safe and Stable Families (Mary Lee Allen) $1,195,734.00
Foster Care (Title IV-E) $0.00
Tribe Offers General Assistance Program $4,552.00
LIHEAP – Tribe Offers Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program $1,289,751.00

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Health, Wellness, and Social Caring

Number of Clinics: 0

Number of Hospitals: 0

Offers Dental: No

Offers Pharmacy: No

Offers Residential Treatment: No

Type Amount
Medicare Enrollment Assistance Grant $0.00
Special Diabetes Program Grant $0.00
Alzheimer Disease Program Grant $0.00
Injury and Suicide Prevention Grant(s) $0.00
Behavioral Health Grant(s) – Check with Tribe/Health Clinic for Other Counseling Services $0.00
Rural/Public Health, Demonstration Projects, and/or Child Insurance Grant(s) $0.00
Cancer Prevention and/or Good Health and Wellness Grant(s) and/or Chronic Pain Grant $0.00
Opioid and Substance Abuse Program and/or Tobacco Control Grant $0.00
Long-Range Medical Research Grant(s) $0.00
Offers Title VI – A and B (Elder Nutrition) $124,451.00
Offers Title VI – C (Elder Caregiving) $582,658.00
Offers Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program $0.00
Offers Food Distribution, Other Nutrition, Farmer’s Market, and/or Commodities Programs $72,641.00
Veteran Homeless Grant(s) and/or Veterans Cemetery Establishment or Operation Funding $0.00

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Employment, Housing, and Education

Public Law 102-477 Tribe: No

Number of Casinos: 2

Offers an Employment Assistance Program: Yes

Number of FTE
Tribal Employees:
92

Housing Managed by Tribe or TDHE: Tribe Operates

Number of Homes Needed by Tribe for Oklahoma: 1,608

Has a Competitive Indian Community Development Block Grant(s) From US Housing and Urban Development: No

Has/Had a Competitive US HUD Indian Housing Block Grant(s) From US Housing and Urban Development: No

TypeAmount
Indian Employment, Training, and Education Program(s)$0.00
Vocational Rehabilitation Program Grant and/or Vocational Funds for Tribal Victims$23,827.00
HUD Annual Allocation for Tribal Housing$1,568,350.00
Emergency Home and Rental Assistance Grant$535,834.00
DHHS-ACF-CCDF Annual Allocation of Childcare Funds$4,632,347.00
Headstart Program$43,024.00
Indian School Facility Assistance and Student Transportation$0.00
Indian Equalization Program$0.00
Youth and/or Boys and Girls Clubs and/or AmeriCorps Grant(s)$0.00
Special Education Assistance Grant$0.00