On July 26, 2023, the Indian Health Service (IHS) published a Dear Tribal Leader Letter providing information on the upcoming Tribal Consultation Session on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. This Tribal Consultation is an opportunity for Tribes to provide input on a newly revised version of the IHS Tribal Consultation Policy (Consultation Policy). NIHB will host a Tribal Caucus to help Tribal leaders, delegates, and Technical Advisors prepare for the IHS Tribal Consultation on Consultation Policy on Monday, August 7, 2023, at 2:00 PM ET.

The Dear Tribal Leader Letter also enclosed a Redlined version of the Consultation Policy that clearly identifies areas of newly proposed and revised text. Further detail on the issues involved in this Consultation are available in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter and its enclosures. More information on how to participate in this Consultation is available below.

Why it Matters

For over two years, the IHS Director’s Advisory Workgroup on Tribal Consultation has met to revise the IHS Tribal Consultation Policy. The Consultation Workgroup has now released a revised draft of the Consultation Policy and is seeking input on the draft as well as a few other critical topics. The Tribal Consultation Session and comment period is the final opportunity for Tribes to provide input for IHS to incorporate into the Consultation Policy before it becomes final. Engaging in this Tribal Consultation is an opportunity to exercise Tribal sovereignty and influence the future direction of government-to-government relations between Tribes and IHS.

NIHB Tribal Caucus on IHS Tribal Consultation Policy

NIHB will host a Tribal Caucus to help Tribal leaders, delegates, and Technical Advisors prepare for the IHS Tribal Consultation on Consultation Policy. The Caucus will take place on Monday, August 7, 2023, at 2:00 PM ET. We hope you will join us, and we look forward to providing space for Tribal leaders to prepare for this important Consultation. 

Click here to register for the Tribal Caucus. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We will follow up with a calendar invite for your convenience. Please note, this Caucus is only for Tribal leaders, their delegates, and technical advisors. 

IHS Consultation Session Details

Date: Wednesday, August 9, 2023, 12:00 - 2:00 PM ET

Zoom: Meeting ID: 160 614 4452 | Passcode: 572342

Zoom Link: https://ihs-gov.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItceisqj8vGCqBwKWiCbjlOyje-MqWf8Q

Tribes may also provide their input on the proposed revisions through submitting a comment letter by Monday, September 11, 2023.

IHS Comment Submission Details

Deadline: Monday, September 11, 2023

Email address: [email protected]

Subject Line: “IHS TRIBAL CONSULTATION POLICY”

For more information or questions, please email Alanna Cronk, Government Relations Associate, at [email protected] or Garrett Lankford, Federal Relations Analyst, at [email protected].