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The National Tribal Health Conference got underway Tuesday in Anchorage.
About 1,200 tribal health advocates from across the country are meeting to deal with almost every facet of Indian health care – from operating clinics to serving veterans – fighting diabetes as well as looking at the impact of climate change on health.
The Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB) is working with the National Indian Health Board to host this year’s gathering.
Alberta Unok (Yup’ik) is head of ANHB and says this year’s theme is: “Culture Heals. Culture Knows. Culture Leads.”
“Prior to health being provided by Public Health or the Indian Health Service or the federal government, traditional health was a key component of our communities. So, we utilize traditional healers, traditional plants.”
Unok is orginally from Kotlik, a community on the Lower Yukon River in Southwest Alaska.
She says the conference draws members from twelve regional health boards around the nation.
“The National Indian Health Board brings together great minds in one place, that fuel creative energy, Collective action. We talk about health innovation to elevate the health of all American Indian and Alaskan Native people.”
The first day of the conference will wrap-up with a culture night, showcasing Alaska’s Indigenous peoples.
Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK/citizen of the Cherokee Nation) vetoed a bill yesterday that would have allowed students to wear tribal regalia at school functions.
Senate Bill 429 passed the Oklahoma legislature last week, 90 to 1, and would have ensured Native students in all schools are allowed to wear tribal regalia at high school graduations and other ceremonies throughout the state.
Gov. Stitt justified his decision saying if the bill becomes a law, it would open additional efforts by other groups to push their agendas.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, in 2020, there were approximately 156,000 American Indian students who were enrolled in at least one of the 39 Tribal Nations of Oklahoma.
Tribal leaders and a California state lawmaker shared concerns at a hearing and a news briefing Tuesday in Sacramento, about Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.
Despite new resources, California has two tribes so disturbed by violence, they’ve declared a state of emergency.
State Rep. James Ramos (Serrano/Cahuilla/D-CA) discussed the need for the State to take immediate action.
“We are here to spotlight the crisis in Indian country which has led two tribes, the Yurok and the round valley tribes to declare states of emergency here in the state of California. The crisis is growing, and sadly we’re going backwards in the state of California in reducing the violence to our people.”
Vice Chairman Raquel Williams of the Wilton Rancheria tribe said that while there is still so much to be done, a lot has also been accomplished.
“Incredible progress is made in such a short amount of time. And we’ve brought so much awareness to this. From additional budget allocations to the newly enacted Feather Alert. I am confident and optimistic.”
The Feather Alert, co-authored by Rep. Ramos, acts like an Amber Alert providing law enforcement with resources they need to provide public with information to help recover Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.
Many of the people who spoke during the press conference expressed the need for bill Assembly bill 44, a bill to allow tribal officers to have access to information state law enforcement receives.
The press conference was the start to a week-long event shedding light on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People including candlelight vigils and flower dropping.
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