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 and for the fulfillment of the Federal government’s trust responsibility to AI/AN Tribal governments;

WHEREAS, the goal of the NIHB Tribal Youth Advisory Committee (TYAC) is to provide a complimentary venue wherein Tribal youth representatives will share information about public health issues in Indian country, identify urgent public health needs in AI/AN communities, and provide youth driven approaches to addressing these issues and needs;

WHEREAS, the TYAC will be comprised of youth representatives from the twelve IHS service areas to provide a youth perspective of Tribal public health issues; and

WHEREAS, the TYAC will provide an established, re-occurring venue wherein Tribal youth leaders will advise the NIHB Board and staff of the public health issues facing youth in Indian country. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NIHB does hereby encourage the development of a TYAC to provide a youth perspective to Tribal public health; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NIHB supports the need for a TYAC to identify and develop a youth driven strategic plan to address Tribal public health.