National Indian Health Board reminds federal, congressional partners of treaty obligations at National Tribal Public Health Summit
Social determinants of health, health disparities and racism impact tribal public health
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News Release
National Indian Health Board
April 28, 2021—At today’s National Indian Health Board (NIHB) virtual National Tribal Public Health Summit, plenary guest speakers, which included an official from the Administration for Native Americans and two members of Congress, each touched on three factors that impact tribal public health: social determinants of health, health disparities and racism.
“The many health inequities and disparities among American Indian and Alaska Native people are results of decades of racist policies and neglect of the federal trust responsibility, and I can say with certainty that the National Indian Health Board is committed to addressing the health disparities and systemic racism that impact tribal communities,” said National Indian Health Board Vice Chairman Nickolaus Lewis who is also a Councilman with the Lummi Nation and Chairman of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.