Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council

Indian Affairs leadership highlights public safety, education, economic development, and energy independence during Montana visit

cody.brockel — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 20:35:51 +0000

Dates: April 22, 2025 12:00pm to 12:05pm

Scott Davis, senior advisor to the Secretary of the Interior, and other leaders from Indian Affairs wrapped up a multi-day visit to Montana where they engaged with tribal leaders on administration priorities. Davis, an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, is exercising the delegated authority of the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs.

Davis spoke at the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, where he met with leaders of tribes in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho and shared the administration’s vision for a relationship between the federal government and tribal nations that prioritizes efficiency, accountability, and results over bureaucracy. Davis also met individually with tribal leaders to discuss important issues such as gas and oil development, economic development opportunities and furthering self-governance. Additional discussions included further support of law enforcement efforts and resources as well as the need for expanding tribal education programs.

Davis and Richard “Glen” Melville, an enrolled member of Makah Tribe of Washington who leads the BIA Office of Justice Services, then met with U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Kurt Alme to discuss law enforcement issues for Montana Tribes. Davis and Melville discussed the importance of federal collaboration in addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis. Alme discussed his work during the first Trump administration on the DOJ MMIP Task Force with Operation Lady Justice and his intent to work with BIA to address the issue. Alme also shared that his office would be looking at all illegal drug cases that come to the United States Attorney’s Offices in Montana, regardless of the quantity of drugs involved.

Davis and Melville also visited the Hardin Detention Facility to discuss the current and future needs of facility, and to meet and thank the staff for their contributions to public safety in Indian Country.

Davis and Bureau of Indian Education Director Tony Dearman, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, toured Chief Dull Knife College, a tribal college on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Lame Deer, and Little Big Horn College, a tribal college on the Crow Indian Reservation in Crow Agency. The Bureau of Indian Education provides grants to 29 tribal colleges and universities, which are among the most affordable higher education options in the United States. Compared to national averages for public, four-year universities, BIE institutions and tribal colleges and universities offer significant savings, with some costing less than $1,000 a semester. Many students graduate with little to no debt.

Leadership from both Chief Dull Knife College and Little Big Horn College emphasized their role in training students for high-demand careers that support local workforce needs. Programs in nursing, agriculture, information systems, public safety, and addiction studies prepare graduates to serve their own communities. This focus aligns with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum’s Order 3419 by advancing economic resilience, reducing service gaps, and lowering long-term costs through locally driven workforce development. These efforts help strengthen tribal and rural economies while promoting self-sufficiency.

They also visited Northern Cheyenne Tribal School, a tribally controlled K-12 school located in Busby, Montana, where they toured classrooms and engaged directly with students and educators. School leaders shared updates on academic programs, community partnerships, and efforts to support student success. The visit highlighted the importance of locally driven education, and the critical role tribal schools play in preparing the next generation of leaders.

Read the original story here.

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Tribal Epidemiology Centers: Strengthening American Indian and Alaska Native Public Health through Data, Collaboration, and Innovation

cody.brockel — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:58:42 +0000

This comprehensive report is a collaborative and positive representation of the shared mission of the twelve Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people. This publication provides updated examples of their projects, successes, challenges, and best practices in the hope that public health activities meet the needs and are culturally representative of the people they serve.

Read the full report

This report provides an update to the original 2013 publication and represents a collaborative effort among the national network of TECs. It builds on the first publication and shares more examples of best practices that TECs employ when working with Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Urban Indian Organizations. Our gratitude to the Tribes, Tribal organizations, Urban Indian Organizations, Tribal communities, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for assistance.

To learn more about Tribal Epidemiology Centers and the crucial role they fill, visit https://tribalepicenters.org/.

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2023 – 2024 Flu Vaccination Kickoff Call

gphillips213 — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 17:17:24 +0000

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) welcomes you to join us for the first webinar in a 4-part series of webinars and training in August in recognition of National Immunization Awareness Month to highlight and recognize the importance of immunizations.

To help kick off the 2023-2024 flu season, Ms. Elise Balzer will provide an overview of the last flu season, the most recent flu vaccination coverage data for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, and the upcoming flu season, including the flu vaccine recommendations for this season.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss the increased risk that individuals with chronic health conditions face with a flu infection,
Review current information about the flu season, and
Identify strategies for messaging and promoting flu vaccination with a COVID-19 booster

If you have any questions, please contact Audrianna Marzette, Public Health Policy and Programs Manager, at amarzette@nihb.org.

What: Webinar on 2023-2024 flu vaccine recommendations

When: Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Eastern Time

Who should attend?

Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants, medical students, Tribal immunization programs, and other Tribal health professionals interested in learning about the benefits of vaccinations.

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NEW Funding Opportunity!

gphillips213 — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:54:39 +0000

Award Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: August 18, 2023

Funding Description

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is accepting applications for two funding opportunities that can assist Tribes and Tribal organizations to scale up and strengthen their local response and preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks and future pandemics.

Total funding available ranges from $1,000 – $75,000. Applicants are not guaranteed a maximum amount of funding. Applicants may not apply for both funding opportunities at the same time. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the funds are expended.

For assistance or questions, submit your question to Audrianna Marzette, amarzette@nihb.org, no later than Wednesday, August 18, 2023, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Who Should Apply?

Tribes, Tribal organizations, inter-Tribal consortiums, or Tribal health care facilities/health systems as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended, interested in preparing for and responding to emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats in clinical or community settings.

Infection Control Grant

The Infection Control Grant allows healthcare systems to access the training and information the facility needs about infection prevention and control (IPC). Facilities interested in developing an infection control program or expanding frontline employee knowledge on IPC guidelines, COVID-19, and other infectious disease precautions and best practices are encouraged to apply. Applicants are required to complete an Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) assessment.

Application Here

Infectious Disease Grant

The Infectious Disease Threats Grant seeks to build Tribal public health capacity, address vaccine hesitancy using electronic health records, and leverage new or existing collaborations to expand or improve access to health-related resources. Applicants are required to recruit a vaccine champion and host up to 2 vaccine/testing events.

Application Here

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Healthy Air Project: Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke

gphillips213 — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 14:47:29 +0000

Join the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Environmental Health Program in the third of five webinars to address real-world environmental health issues in Indian Country during our 2023 Environmental Health Webinar Series. The monthly webinars focus on sharing environmental health resources and tools to strengthen Tribes and Tribal organizations’ capacity to adopt/adapt or implement guidance and best practices for preventing and controlling environmental threats.

ORANSI’s Ben Khandan-Barani and Peter Mann will join us on Tuesday, June 27, to discuss air purifiers/indoor air quality in response to the recent wildfires.

Learning Objectives:

Share key strategies for mitigating virus risks in public spaces, including school systems.
Explain how aerosols can be deadly and how you can eliminate them.
Review how Tribes can apply for a free HEPA air purifier through NIHB’s Air Purifier Program.

For questions about this webinar, please contact Aliza Bolling, CDC PHAP, Public Health Policy and Programs, at abolling@nihb.org.

NOTE: CE credits will not be offered for this webinar.

What: Webinar on NIHB’s Healthy Air Project: Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke

When: Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Eastern Time

Who should attend?

Tribal leaders, Tribal environmental programs and staff, environmental health specialists, health educators and other Tribal public health professionals interested in learning about air quality, air purification and mitigating air-borne viruses.

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Advancing Health Equity: Strengthening Community Engagement and Partnerships

gphillips213 — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 14:51:45 +0000

Description

Join us as we share culturally centered practices, strength-based approaches, and equitable solutions that are making a positive impact on the health and well-being of Native families, children, and communities.

Date & Time

Aug 8, 2023 11:00 AM
Aug 9, 2023 11:00 AM

Join us to discover practical strategies, gain valuable insights, and learn how to foster stronger partnerships to promote health equity. Dr. Melissa Lewis and Kathy Sierra will share their experience and expertise with ᏧᎾᏍᏗᎢ ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ ᎤᏂᎦᏔ (Little Cherokee Seeds) program. This session will explore actionable steps and highlight community-based and culturally grounded approaches for improving maternal and child health outcomes in Tribal communities.

ᏧᎾᏍᏗᎢ ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ ᎤᏂᎦᏔ (Little Cherokee Seeds) program is a language and cultural immersion program for Cherokee infants and their mothers. This program was created through the knowledge and experience of Cherokee elders and speakers using Cherokee values and therefore the program curriculum centers around everyday living experiences in a home environment focusing on seasonal, traditional Cherokee activities. With less than 1500 fluent Cherokee speakers alive, most over the age of 65, and no fluent speakers created in decades, it has become an urgent priority to save the language by teaching learners from birth in a natural Cherokee setting. Five mothers and their infants participate 5 x week and live together with 5 Cherokee speakers and advanced learners through cooking, cleaning, singing, playing games, gardening, foraging, making textiles, etc., all in the Cherokee language. In the first 6 months of the program, mothers and babies have begun using the Cherokee language and are becoming knowledgeable in traditional Cherokee lifeways.

Please Register Here

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Notice of Funding Opportunities

gphillips213 — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 14:36:03 +0000

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is pleased to announce three open funding opportunities focused on improving maternal health outcomes. Tribes and Tribal organizations are eligible to apply to these opportunities. You can find more details at grants.gov and on our webpage, as well as summary information below.

Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Capacity (closes May 9)

The purpose is to support state and regional capacity to implement AIM patient safety bundles and expand the reach, depth, and quality of AIM implementation throughout the United States.

AIM Technical Assistance (TA) Center (closes May 9)

The purpose of this program is to expand implementation and reach of AIM program activities by funding the AIM TA Center to support all 50 states, D.C., jurisdictions, U.S. territories, tribal communities, and birthing facilities that are participating in the AIM program.

Integrated Maternal Health Services (IMHS) (closes May 24)

The purpose of the IMHS initiative is to improve maternal health outcomes in the U.S. by increasing access to quality, equitable, comprehensive care for pregnant and postpartum people.

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Medicaid Eligibility Redeterminations are Happening NOW – What you need to know and what you can do to retain coverage

gphillips213 — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 14:35:20 +0000

Up to 236,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives are expected to lose Medicaid coverage after a provision that allowed for continuous enrollment in the program ended Saturday. The provision was enacted in 2020 to help individuals who were losing their jobs retain health insurance during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the continuous enrollment provision has ended, and state Medicaid programs have returned to normal eligibility redetermination activities, meaning individuals can be disenrolled if they are deemed ineligible for coverage.

All Medicaid enrollees will be reviewed for eligibility over the next 12-14 months, so the disenrollments will be staggered across the country depending on each state program’s timeline and available resources, so some individuals will be disenrolled before others. The most important thing to pay attention to is your mail. Be on the lookout for mail coming from your state Medicaid program! They should be contacting you to update or verify your income, contact information, and more. If you have moved over the past three years, contact your state’s Medicaid office, and provide them your new information as soon as possible so you don’t miss anything that could impact your eligibility.

If you have questions about your coverage, please contact your local Indian Health Service (IHS),

Tribal, or Urban health facility so that a Tribal Enrollment Assister or Patient Benefit Coordinator can help you. You can also find out how to renew your Medicaid or CHIP coverage, how to find coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace if you no longer qualify for Medicaid, and how to contact your state’s Medicaid office through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Division of Tribal Affairs HERE.

For more information and additional resources on Medicaid unwinding process, please visit NIHB’s Medica id Unwinding webpage. For questions about how to effectively educate and inform your community on the unwinding, please contact NIHB’s Tribal Health Care Outreach and Education Policy Coordinator, Kristen Bitsuie at kbitsuie@nihb.org or 202-507-4084.

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Veterans Administration Issues Final Rule on Copayment Exemption for Indian Veterans

gphillips213 — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 14:34:40 +0000

On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adopted a final rule to exempt American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) veterans from copayment requirements for some health care received at VA facilities. The final rule will reimburse eligible AI/AN veterans for copayments made from January 1, 2022 through April 3, 2023. Exempting Indian veterans from paying copays for VA health services is important to address inequities in health care access, create parity across federal sources of health care, and live up to the federal trust responsibility. Beginning April 4, AI/AN Veterans can submit documentation to qualify for the copayment exemption. Eligible Veterans include any Veteran who meets the definitions of “Indian” or “urban Indian” under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act – including Veterans who are members of an American Indian Tribe, certain Veterans who are descendants of Tribe members, Alaska Native Veterans, and more.

Services Included in the Exemption:

The final rule will exempt AI/AN veteran copayment requirements for most hospital care and medical services, including all urgent care visits. In our submitted comments, NIHB emphasized the importance of including copayment exemptions for all urgent care visits.

Next Steps for Eligible Veterans: The VA will begin identifying eligible AI/AN veterans and start outreach and education efforts about the benefit. As NIHB staff learn more about this process, we will continue to keep you informed on developments.

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FDA Approves Over-the-Counter Naloxone to Help Reduce Opioid Overdose Deaths

gphillips213 — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 19:05:03 +0000

On March 29, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first naloxone product for over-the-counter (OTC), non-prescription use: Narcan, 4mg nasal spray. Naloxone is used to reverse opioid overdose and prevent opioid overdose deaths. It is important to note that only Narcan has been approved so far for OTC use; other formulations of naloxone will still require a prescription.

American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest, age-adjusted drug overdose rates of any population. Opioid overdose deaths, particularly due to fentanyl and fentanyl-laced drugs, have taken destructive tolls on our Tribal communities. Expanding access to products such as Narcan is a welcome addition to Tribal harm reduction and opioid overdose prevention efforts that hold the potential to save Native lives.

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