When America joined the fray of World War I in 1917, more than 12,000 Native Americans stepped forward and served on the frontlines as snipers, scouts, and in other military roles.
Many Americans don’t know that these service members risked their lives for a nation that had not yet granted them citizenship, which they hoped to gain through military service. Native Americans have defended America from the Great War through every conflict since, and more Native Americans per capita continue to serve than any other group.
National Native American Heritage Month honors them, and it also provides an opportunity to renew VA’s commitment to improving the lives of Native Americans who served in uniform.
The Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) Loan Guaranty Service (LGY) helps address the needs of Native American Veterans through the Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program, a special initiative that supports Native American Veterans who want to buy, build or refinance a home on federal trust land.
“We owe it to Native American Veterans to do everything we can to open the door to the American Dream for them and their families,” said John E. Bell III, executive director of LGY. “We will remain steadfastly committed to informing all tribal nations about the NADL benefit.”
Created in 1992, NADL has steadily grown, opening the doors for more Native American Veterans to own homes. Some of the benefits Native American buyers receive through the NADL program include not having to provide down payments or secure private mortgage insurance, in addition to paying limited closing costs and receiving low interest rate loans.
For Native American Veterans to apply to NADL, their tribe must have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with VA. LGY has worked closely with tribal leaders to sign 111 MOUs.
The NADL team embarks on a vigorous engagement schedule each year, visiting as many tribal communities as possible, either in-person or virtually, to raise awareness on NADL benefits, and to help draft MOUs with tribal nations not yet participating in the program.
In March, LGY reduced the NADL interest rate to 2.5% through March 2025 to address the greatest barrier to program utilization on federal trust land—affordability. To learn more about VA’s Native American Direct Loan program, please visit VA.gov/Housing-Assistance/home-loans/loan-types/Native-American-Direct-Loan.
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Vietnam Veteran David Chee is among the many Native American Veterans and service members who have dedicated their lives to military service. Chee proudly served with the Army's 82nd Airborne, parachuting into the jungles of Vietnam. Chee now owns a home he purchased on Navajo tribal lands with the help of the VA Native American Direct Loan.
For Veterans, donating to charities—especially those that support fellow service members—feels like a meaningful way to give back to the community. However, Veterans and their loved ones must remain vigilant and learn to protect themselves from charity scams.
…. to address the greatest barrier to program utilization on federal trust land—affordability.
One great barrier is that the US government forcefully separated individuals from their tribes. When Indian Reservations were finally loosened, those same people and their descendants were disregarded as belonging to any tribes. We Urban Indians did not leave our tribes voluntarily, it was forced away from our grandparents. Remember The American Holocaust!