WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serves all Federally recognized American Indian and 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, NIHB has done extensive work to understand, document and report on the state of health disparities amongst AI/AN populations in order to advance policy efforts, support appropriate resource allocation, and stimulate informed planning and decisions making at both the Tribal and federal levels; and

WHEREAS, across almost all diseases, AI/ANs are at greater risk than other Americans. AI/ANs are 520% more likely to suffer from alcohol-related deaths; 450% more likely to die from tuberculosis; 368% more likely to die from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis; 207% greater to die in motor vehicle crashes; and 177% more likely to die from complications due to diabetes. Infant mortality rates for AI/ANs is 8.3 per 1,000 live births compared to the overall U.S. rate of 6.6. Cancer rates in Indian Country are 12% higher than the rest of the country, and AI/AN cancer patients are 26% more likely to die from cancer than the rest of the population. Suicide rates for AI/ANs are nearly 50% higher compared to non-Hispanic whites. CDC and SAMHSA state that AI/ANs saw a fivefold increase in overdose deaths between 1999 and 2014; a higher increase than any other group.