Today, the Indian Health Service is announcing recipients for the Fiscal Year 2022 Tribal Self-Governance Planning Cooperative Agreements, administered by the Office of Tribal Self-Governance, and two tribes that have entered the IHS Tribal Self-Governance Program.
These annual IHS cooperative agreement awards support tribes and tribal organizations with the planning and preparation necessary to assume responsibility for providing health care to their tribal members through the Tribal Self-Governance Program. The Planning Cooperative Agreement funding can assist with legal and budgetary research, internal tribal government planning, and organization preparation relating to the administration of health care programs.
“With today’s announcement, the Indian Health Service is emphasizing our commitment to tribal self-governance,” said IHS Director Roselyn Tso. “We will continue to work with self-governance tribes and those interested in entering self-governance compacts to support our shared goals of providing quality health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives across Indian Country.”
The following tribes received awards for FY 2022:
· Cherokee Indian Nation – Tahlequah, Oklahoma – $180,000
· Eastern Shoshone Tribe – Fort Washakie, Wyoming – $180,000
· Northern Arapaho Tribe – Fort Washakie, Wyoming – $180,000
The Tribal Self-Governance Program expresses the nation-to-nation relationship between the U.S. and tribes. Strong federal-tribal partnerships are critical to the program’s success. Through the program, tribes can assume IHS program funds and manage them to best fit the needs of health care to their tribal communities.
Joining the program are the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Mashantucket, Connecticut, and the Tanana Tribal Council of Tanana, Alaska, which entered into self-governance compact and funding agreements on October 1, 2022. Adding these two tribes to the program brings the total number to 110 compacts and 137 funding agreements.
The Office of Tribal Self-Governance serves as the primary liaison and advocate for tribes participating in the Tribal Self-Governance Program. The office develops and oversees the implementation of tribal self-governance legislation and authorities within the IHS. They also provide information, technical assistance, and policy coordination in support of IHS self-governance activities, with input from IHS staff and workgroups, tribes and tribal organizations, and the IHS Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee.
The IHS, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.7 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states. Follow the agency via social media on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
