Weekly News, Funding, Resources, and Upcoming Events in Indian Country

January 30, 2020

NIHB Announces NEW Opportunities to Pilot Online Trainings

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is seeking individuals to pilot two electronic training modules: one educating Tribal leaders on public health and providing supportive materials on Tribal consultation, the other training federal government partners on best working practices with Tribal nations. NIHB requests input from Tribal leaders, current and former Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) members, stakeholders from Tribal organizations/Area Indian Health Boards, and non-Tribal stakeholders such as Tribal liaisons or national/regional organization staff. Piloting is expected to take around two hours but can vary based on each piloter's individual pace. A small stipend may be available for those who meet project requirements. For more information, email [email protected].

Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana Now Federally Recognized

After nearly 90 years of advocacy, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana became the 574th federally recognized Tribe on December 18, 2019. The Little Shell Tribe has over 5,000 members and is headquartered in Great Falls under Chairman Gerald Gray. Read more here.

Making Room and Moving Over: Knowledge Co-Production, Indigenous Knowledge Sovereignty, and the Politics of Global Environmental Change Decision-Making

Thursday, February 13 - Friday, March 20, 2020

Working with Indigenous knowledge-holders is commonly extractive: knowledge is treated as data to be aggregated and understood in abstract and universal form. This assumes that knowledge and governance are separate and gives knowledge co-production the appearance of playing an informative and facilitative role in global environmental change governance. But seeking Indigenous knowledge to inform environmental decision-making implies that Indigenous peoples are stakeholders as opposed to self-determining nations with rights and responsibilities regarding their knowledge systems and lands. Read more here to explore a recent journal publication on these topics.

Combined Prenatal Smoking and Drinking Greatly Increases Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Risk

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Safe Passage Study provides a look at how SIDS—the sudden, unexplained, death of an infant under 1 year of age—is influenced by the timing and amount of prenatal exposure to tobacco and alcohol. Children born to mothers who both drank and smoked beyond the first trimester of pregnancy have a 12-fold increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) compared to those unexposed or only exposed to alcohol and tobacco in the first trimester of pregnancy. Read more here.

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Announces Cooperative Agreement for State-Tribal Environmental Collaboration



The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) recently signed a cooperative agreement that will accelerate restoration of natural resources and traditional Native American uses within the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern (AOC). This agreement is the first of its kind across the United States portion of the Great Lakes and provides a new roadmap for coordinating studies and restoring natural and cultural resource uses between the two government agencies, while recognizing their unique jurisdictions and shared interests, according to the announcement from the DEC. Read more here.

Seeking Native Artist Local to the IHS Bemidji Area!

(Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin)

Submissions due by Friday, February 7, 2020



The National Indian Health Board is seeking to work with a Native artist local to the IHS Bemidji Area (including Tribes in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin) for our 2020 National Tribal Behavioral Health Conference taking place in the Bemidji Area in late spring/early summer 2020. Selected artwork will be featured throughout our conference books, banners, staging, and digital marketing. Artwork can be paintings, drawings, beadwork, crafts, pottery, sculpture, photography, et cetera, and the selected artist will also receive a complimentary conference exhibit booth in our exhibit hall.

Please submit high resolution images of original artwork to Courtney Wheeler,  [email protected]  no later than Friday, February 7, 2020.

Request for Information: Achieving Health Equity in the Advancement of Tobacco Control Practices to Prevent Initiation of Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults

On January 21, 2020, a Federal Register Notice (FRN) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) was published. CDC seeks input from the public to inform future activities that achieve health equity in the advancement of tobacco control practices. The FRN docket will be open for public comment for 60 days. The information gathered will be used to inform activities that support or relate to state tobacco control programming and collaborative work. If you have questions, please direct them to [email protected] . Read more here.

Planning and Developing Infrastructure to Promote the Mental Health of Children, Youth and Families in AI/AN Communities

Applications due Monday, March 9, 2020

The purpose of this program is to provide Tribal and urban Indian communities with tools and resources to plan and design a holistic, evidence and community-based, coordinated system of care to support mental health for children, youth, and families. These grants are intended to increase the capacity and effectiveness of mental health systems serving American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) communities. Circles of Care grant recipients will focus on the need to reduce the gap between the need for mental health services and the availability of such services for the target population. The program has a strong emphasis on cross-system collaboration, inclusion of family, youth and community resources, and cultural approaches. Read more here.

NIHB Wants You on the Team!

NIHB is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:

These positions are based in Washington, DC. NIHB encourages you to apply. Read more here.

SMSC Seeds of Native Health Final Report



The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is pleased to announce the completion of their Seeds of Native Health final report . Launched in 2015, Seeds of Native Health is a five-year, $11 million philanthropic campaign to improve Tribal communities’ nutrition and help Tribes reassert their food sovereignty. Read more here.

Environmental Professional Development Courses: Tribal Strategic Planning & Partnerships and Community Outreach

Thursday, February 13 - Friday, March 20, 2020

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is pleased to offer professional development training to new and seasoned Tribal professionals through interactive online courses. The Tribal Strategic Planning/ETEP and Partnerships & Community Outreach courses will be available February 13 – March 20, 2020 . The two online courses listed here are fee-based and have instructors to ensure your individual questions are answered in a timely manner during the course period. Learn more about the strategic planning course here and the partnerships class here.

Only 47 Days until the 2020 Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit!!

Tuesday-Thursday, March 17-19, 2019 in Omaha, NE

Save money and time! Register by February 14 for Early Bird Rates!

Join NIHB at the 11th Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit (TPHS) on March 17-19, 2020 in Omaha, NE. This premiere Indian public health event attracts over 500 public health professionals, elected leaders, advocates, researchers, and community providers. This event features dynamic national speakers, interactive presentations, a welcoming reception, a fitness event, networking opportunities, an exhibit hall and marketplace, local host activities, and the presentation of the Native Public Health Innovation Awards.

Visit the Summit website to learn more and register!

Exhibitor Information

NIHB welcomes Tribal organizations, institutions, non-profits, vendors, and corporations to host an exhibit or vendor booth at TPHS. Space is limited. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis until full, or by March 6, 2020, whichever comes first. Register early to secure your spot!

For more information, view the exhibitor webpage.

Become a TPHS Sponsor

Sponsoring the National Tribal Public Health Summit provides a great opportunity to elevate the presence and visibility of your organization and work, as well as your commitment to Tribal public health care needs. Most importantly, your financial support helps NIHB advocate for Tribal sovereignty in health to the highest levels of national policy making. We are in Washington, D.C. fighting every day for your Tribe, your citizens and your health.

We have a variety of sponsorship opportunities available. For more information visit our sponsorship webpage.

Join NIHB for Injury Prevention and Surveillance Discussion Sessions!

Join the National Indian Health Board for a series of conversations on injury surveillance and prevention for American Indian and Alaska Native communities! Tribal communities, service providers, practitioners, and subject matter experts are invited to share their insights and expertise during one of the 1.5 day sessions in Spring and Summer 2020. All are welcome to participate.

Registration is expected to open in early 2020. Sign up for our email list to receive updates and information on how to register.

Have questions? Please contact Nina Martin ( [email protected] , 202-548-7299) or visit our website for more information.