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, behavioral health and public health services to AI/ANS and for the fulfillment of the Federal government’s trust responsibility to AI/AN Tribal governments; and

WHEREAS, the NIHB is duly elected to serve the sovereign rights of all Federally recognized Tribal governments, to promote the highest levels of health for AI/AN people, and to advise the Federal government in the development of responsible health care policy; and

WHEREAS, Since the formation of the Union, the United States (U.S.) has recognized Indian Tribes as sovereign nations; and

WHEREAS, A unique government-to-government relationship exists between Indian Tribes and the Federal Government and this relationship is grounded in the U.S. Constitution, numerous treaties, statutes, Federal case law, regulations, executive orders, and the political and legal relationship that Indian Tribes have with the Federal Government and is not based on race; and