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;

WHEREAS, through the cession of lands and execution of treaties, the federal government took on a trust responsibility to provide for the health and welfare of Indian peoples;

WHEREAS, all branches of the United States government have this unique and special responsibility to Tribes to provide health care to AI/ANs as recognized through the Constitution, Treaties with Indian Tribes, Supreme Court decisions and federal legislation;

WHEREAS, the Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is the principal federal health care agency that administers health care to 2 million AI/ANs residing in Tribal communities in 35 states, directly, or through contracts or compacts with Tribes and Tribal organizations under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA);

WHEREAS, basic health services available to meet the needs of AI/AN people vary from geographic Area to Area and for health care not available at IHS or Tribal facilities, the IHS and Tribes purchase health care from the private or public sector under the contract health services (CHS) program;