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Posted December 1, 2021
Do You Have a COVID-19 Vaccine Success Story? NIHB Wants to Hear From You!
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is requesting COVID-19 vaccination success stories from Tribes, Tribal members, or Tribal organizations. Did your encouragement help a loved one to go get their COVID-19 vaccine? Did you set up a vaccination clinic in your Tribal community? Do you have a fun story about getting your COVID-19 vaccine? Let us know! You can send us a short (less than 60 second) video or a photo and a short description of your story.
We want to highlight all of the great work being done to vaccinate our Tribal members! NIHB will be sharing your success stories on our social media pages with the goal to inspire those who are unvaccinated to roll up their sleeve and get their COVID-19 vaccines.
To submit your vaccination success story, you can record a short video or send us a photo and a short blurb about your success story, You can upload them to this form or by emailing Darby Galligher at [email protected].
Posted November 22, 2021
IHS to Initiate Tribal Consultation on Distribution of American Rescue Plan Act Funds
On November 22, the Indian Health Service (IHS) released a Dear Tribal Leader Letter to initiate Tribal consultation regarding the allocation of new funds. These funds include $210 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (2021), $3.5 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021), and $2.35 billion currently under consideration by Congress in the Build Back Better Act. These funds will be used to support a variety of needs including public health workforce activities; sanitation facilities construction; health care facilities construction and maintenance; behavioral health; and more. NIHB was actively engaged with Congressional staff during the legislative process and advocated for Indian Country's inclusion in these sources of funding. For more detail on the new funding, click here.
The virtual Tribal consultation will take place on December 14, 2021, from 1:00PM to 3:00PM EST. To join the consultation on December 14, click here. NIHB will provide talking points and support for the consultation. Written comments on the distribution of these funds are due December 23, 2021 and can be emailed to [email protected]
Posted November 19, 2021
Recap of the White House Tribal Nations Summit 2021
This week, the White House hosted the first Summit of Tribal Nations since 2016. Tribal leaders convened virtually with leaders from the Biden-Harris Administration, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Read NIHB's Recap of the Summit
View the Recording of Day 1, 11/15/21
View the Recording of Day 2, 11/16/21
Posted November 11, 2021
RESCHEDULED: National Tribal Health Information Technology (IT) Summit: The Rise of Technology to Revolutionize Indian Country
The National Indian Health Board's National Tribal Health Information Technology (IT) Summit – presented by Leidos—has been rescheduled and will now take place on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, from 12:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern.
To learn more and to register for the Summit visit bit.ly/NIHBHITSUMMIT. If you have any questions, please contact A.C. Locklear at [email protected].
Posted November 8, 2021
Congress Passes Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Securing $3.5 Billion for Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction
The Chairman of the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), Chief William Smith, Vice-President of the Valdez Native Tribe, applauded final passage of the Bi-partisan Infrastructure bill, H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, late Friday night, November 5, 2021. It was passed by Congress by a vote of 228-206. The bill will now head to the President to be signed into law.
This bill is intended to carry out portions of the President's domestic agenda related to infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and broadband. This bill contains $550 million in new spending and additional funding for existing programs. The Indian health care-related provisions include $3.5 billion for the Indian Health Service (IHS) sanitation facilities construction program and an additional $2 billion for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program in which telehealth is an allowable use. This sanitation funding should address the known projects of the program.
Read more
Posted November 3, 2021
National Indian Health Board Sends Letter to Atlanta Braves and Commissioner of Baseball
Asks for Name Change and Abandonment of Native Imagery
WASHINGTON, DC—November 3, 2021— On the first day of National Native American Heritage Month the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) wrote a letter to the Atlanta Braves over concerns regarding their name and mascot. The letter from NIHB's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stacy A. Bohlen who is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, calls for the Atlanta Braves to acknowledge their role in perpetuating harmful behaviors and attitudes towards American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people, change their name, and abandon their usage of Native inspired imagery.
The letter can be viewed here.
Posted November 1, 2021
National Indian Health Board’s Chairman, William “Bill” Smith and Vice Chairman, Nickolaus Lewis Appointed to the Inaugural Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
WASHINGTON, DC – November 1, 2021 – The National Indian Health Board's (NIHB) Chairman William "Bill" Smith, Chief of the Valdez Native Tribe of Alaska, and NIHB Vice Chairman, Nickolaus Lewis, tribal member of the Lummi Nation in Washington State were appointed to the first-ever Veterans Affairs (VA) Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs. Chief Bill and Lewis join 13 other appointees that will give guidance to the Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary relating to Tribes and Native American Veterans.
Serving in an advisory capacity, the committee will assist the Department to better provide for Native Veterans relating to programs and services of the Department. This includes identifying the unique and evolving issues of relevance to Tribal communities. By doing so, the committee will propose clarifications, recommendations, and solutions to address the issues in a forum dedicated to discussing proposals for changes to the Departments regulations, policies, and procedures. Having NIHB executive board members Chairman Smith and Vice Chairman Lewis serve on the VA's committee will allow advocacy to the highest level at the VA on priorities and provide advice on appropriate strategies for health care for our Native veterans.
Chairman Bill Smith is a Vietnam Army Veteran and knows firsthand the barriers that exist around VA programs and services. He served multiple tours during his military career, including Vietnam. He retired from the service in August of 1977 and moved home to Alaska and eventually became the Vice President of the Valdez Native Tribe. As a veteran, Chief Bill has expressed his concerns around access to VA benefits, billing, reimbursements, and travel strains. Smith advocates for Indian Health Service (IHS) and the VA to "tear down their walls" and work collaboratively to address the health care needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Veterans.
"The formation of the advisory committee is encouraging as a Native veteran who has served this country and relies on IHS and the VA for health care services," said Chairman Smith. “We must hold federal agencies accountable for upholding their responsibilities to AI/AN people. The brave men and women who protected our freedoms deserve the option to receive health care without worrying about the absorbent financial payments. Our Tribal leaders and advocates should be included when the VA makes policy decisions. The VA Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs is one step in ensuring Native veterans are covered, and our care is coordinated.”
Vice Chairman Lewis, a Navy Veteran, said, "Something that was always important as a veteran was knowing the sacrifice that our veterans have made on behalf of all of us in this country. As a veteran, knowing that over the past few years I was able to be part of some amazing work on behalf of our veterans, with work back in Washington, DC with people like Nate Tyler, William Smith, Andy Joseph Jr. (Euuhootkn Scalx), Henry Cagey, Lawrence Solomon, and so many more who have always made the effort to advocate for our brothers and sisters who wore the uniform." When informed of his appointment, Vice Chairman Lewis said, “This was a result of so many peoples work across the country, and it's an honor to receive this from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs today officially, and regardless of what the future holds in the near term, that for the next two years will be able to serve our veterans in this capacity still.”
The VA estimates there are roughly 334,000 AI/AN Veterans, with Native
servicemembers enlisting at higher rates than any other ethnicity nationwide. Veterans are highly respected throughout Indian Country, in recognition of their sacrifices to protect Tribal communities and our homelands. Yet despite the bravery and sacrifice, AI/AN Veterans continue to experience among the worst health outcomes, and among the greatest challenges in receiving quality health services. It is imperative to have representation from NIHB on the advisory committee to ensure Tribal health boards, agencies, organizations, and advocates have a voice in the guidance and recommendations.
NIHB advocated for the passage of the legislation that established this committee and applauds the establishment of this important committee for our Veterans.
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