WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serves allFederally 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, NIHB has a strong history of advancing the emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native people through the support of regulatory and Congressional action, advocacy for increased funding for behavioral health in Indian Country, creation of national venues to discuss behavioral health issues (such as suicide and substance use), and creation of educational and programmatic materials for Tribal public health professionals; and

WHEREAS, culture has been defined as the “complex ensemble of emotions, beliefs, values, aspirations . . . that together make up behavior,” taken from (Sanchez-Way, R. 2000); and

WHEREAS, culture is carried from generation to generation through language. Culture also encompasses the stories, songs, art, and ceremonies of our people. It is the framework and the essence of our being and which childhood socialization takes place; and