DESCRIPTION OF THE REPORT

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) hosted the 2025 Tribal Health Data Symposium (THDS) in Washington, D.C. on March 4 and 5, 2025. More than 750 attendees participated in the Symposium in-person or online.

The major topic areas of the Tribal Health Data Symposium were:

Advancing Tribal Data Sovereignty:

Discussions focused on barriers to accessing federal and state data, Tribal governance over health data, and ensuring Indigenous communities control their own narratives.

Reforming Tribal Health Data Infrastructure:

Panelists examined systemic challenges in federal data-sharing policies, racial misclassification, and the lack of Al/AN-specific dashboards for real-time public health insights.

Empowering Communities Through Indigenous Evaluation:

Sessions highlighted culturally grounded approaches to data collection and research, ensuring that AI/AN communities define success on their own terms.

Using Data to Identify Gaps and Solutions:

Experts explored disparities in AI/AN health, from chronic disease to maternal health, emphasizing the need for stronger data-driven policies and funding.

Building Tribal Data Workforce Capacity:

Presenters emphasized the importance of investing in Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), training epidemiologists, and creating sustainable career pathways in health data.

Throughout the two days of the Data Symposium, a number of consistent themes emerged as priorities from Indian Country that can help Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other policymakers develop more effective, relevant, and ethical data policies, data systems, and data products. Based on these themes, NIHB makes the following recommendations.

Implement Training & Guidance for CMS Operational Divisions This training or guidance should be co-created with Tribes and include the following elements: