WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serves all Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal governments by advocating for the improvement of health care delivery to AI/ANs, as well as upholding the Federal government’s trust responsibility to AI/AN Tribal governments; and

WHEREAS, the national crisis of the opioid epidemic has disproportionately affected Indian Country, with American Indians and Alaska Natives experiencing the highest age adjusted drug overdose rates and the highest rates of increase in opioid overdose deaths over the past ten years of any group; and

WHEREAS, the trafficking and use of illicit fentanyl has created numerous public health and public safety issues across Indian Country, requiring cross-agency and subject matter expertise collaboration for effective strategic planning, policy development, and program implementation; and

WHEREAS, the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) has initiated a summit of national scope and has invited key partners across Indian Country to collaborate for the implementation of effective policy and programs to address the opioid epidemic generally and the fentanyl crisis particularly in a Tribally driven and culturally informed manner that honors Tribal sovereignty; and

WHEREAS, the NIHB’s mission, activities, and resources are dedicated to supporting national policy and programmatic work that supports positive health outcomes for American Indians and Alaska Natives, including substance use and opioid overdose prevention; and

WHEREAS, the NPAIHB has invited the NIHB to join the national fentanyl and opioid summit as an active partner.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NIHB supports the NPAIHB in the development of the national fentanyl and opioid summit; and