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 AI/AN suffer from among the worst public health disparities in the U.S; and

WHEREAS, there is a shortage of AI/AN health professionals trained in public health; and

WHEREAS, most public health training programs do not focus enough attention to or prioritize AI/AN health issues; and

WHEREAS the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at North Dakota State University (NDSU) has started the first American Indian Public Health specialization track in the nation; and

WHEREAS the NDSU MPH Program Director is the only American Indian MPH Director in the U.S.; and