WASHINGTON, D.C.— For more than 50 years, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) has been working to improve the health of American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Now NIHB is demonstrating its commitment to global indigenous health by working to transform global understanding and efforts regarding the health of Indigenous People.

In April, NIHB addressed the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UN PFII) to support a worldwide adoption of the Indigenous Determinants of Health (IDH). The IDH report was crafted through an international collaboration of indigenous peoples from academia, Tribes and stakeholders, and indigenous serving organizations, including NIHB.

Last week, NIHB traveled to the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland to support a World Health Organization (WHO) resolution sponsored by Brazil to prioritize the health of Indigenous people worldwide. The WHO successfully adopted Resolution  A76/A/CONF./ The Health of Indigenous Peoples on May 29, which calls on member states to develop, fund, and implement national plans for Indigenous health. In addition, the resolution calls on the WHO Director-General to develop a Global Plan of Action for the Health of Indigenous Peoples for consideration at the 79th World Health Assembly.  

“We add our hands to those of our brothers and sisters around the globe to carry this basket of hope, justice, healing, and restoration together,” said Stacy A. Bohlen, CEO of the National Indian Health Board and citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. “This action is just the beginning. Now the work begins to reclaim and re-cut the trail of Indigenous health and wholeness deliberately over-planted with colonization’s bitter, thorny brambles.”

NIHB will continue to support this work both in the U.S. and globally. As part of this work, NIHB sponsors Geoffrey Roth, Standing Rock Tribal Descendant, as the Expert Member from North America and a Vice Chair of the UN PFII. Mr. Roth’s work at the UN and WHO has been vital to these global efforts.

Read the full report to the UN PFII on the Indigenous Determinants of Health. 

Read the WHO resolution on the Health of Indigenous Peoples.

For more information or to speak with Ms. Bohlen or Mr. Roth, please contact NIHB Director of Communications, Ned Johnson at [email protected].