United Keetoowah Band acquires new healthcare administration building

Staff Report | Cherokee 411

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma has completed the acquisition of a new Healthcare Administration Building, a move tribal leaders say will significantly expand health services and strengthen the Tribe’s sovereign authority over healthcare delivery.

The acquisition was finalized Dec. 16, 2025, and includes a 3.88-acre property with a 7,700-square-foot building that will serve as the new UKB Healthcare Administration Building. Tribal officials described the purchase as one of the most significant investments in health infrastructure made by the UKB in recent years.

“This is a historic day for the United Keetoowah Band,” UKB Chief Jeff Wacoche said. “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, creating a centralized hub for health program administration, care coordination, prevention initiatives and long-term strategic planning.

Tribal Attorney Bryan Shade, a partner with Lippes Mathias, said the location of the property played a key role in the acquisition.

“It’s the third busiest intersection in the county,” Shade said. “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 the expansion, behavioral health services will eventually move out of Echota West, a 4,000-square-foot facility located on 40 acres west of Tahlequah, adjacent to but outside city limits. Once vacated, Echota West will be repurposed as the UKB Health Clinic, increasing space dedicated exclusively to direct patient care.

The transition is expected to substantially expand clinical capacity while separating administrative functions from care delivery.

“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.”

Tribal officials said the acquisition marks a major expansion of the UKB footprint in the Tahlequah area and reflects a long-term commitment to permanent, self-governed healthcare systems that support community well-being and tribal self-determination.

The UKB plans to release additional information in the coming months regarding relocation timelines, renovations and the opening of the UKB Health Clinic at Echota West.