In recent visits to indigenous groups in Arizona and New Mexico, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized their proactive strategies to combat chronic illnesses among Native Americans and Alaska Natives, an issue he cites as a primary concern. However, conspicuously absent from his public discourse was any mention of a native healthcare initiative that leverages traditional medicinal practices and diet to combat unusually high rates of diseases such as diabetes and liver ailments. The initiative in question, known as the ‘Healthy Tribes,’ recently experienced significant cutbacks as part of this month’s federal health redundancies.
The lack of addressing the status of this initiative has led some indigenous leaders to question the motives behind the decisions, as they grapple to reconcile Kennedy’s public statements with his omissions. Due to insufficient information, there is speculation among them whether the downsizing of the Healthy Tribes initiative may be a part of the larger Trump administration’s stance against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The uncertainty also extends to the remaining operational status and staffing of the Healthy Tribes initiative, an 11-year-old program that was previously apart of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, under the purview of Kennedy’s department. This program was responsible for distributing $32.5 million annually.
As reported by The Associated Press, tribal leaders and health officials consider the recent downsizing to Healthy Tribes as yet another breach of the federal government’s legally obligated ‘trust responsibility’ towards tribal nations, as stated in treaties, legislation, and other actions. These responsibilities encompass areas including healthcare, education, and public safety for the individuals of the 574 federally recognized tribes.
Historically, allocation of federal funding has consistently fallen short in terms of adequately addressing these obligations, which has resulted in dependence on supplementary grants and programs such as Healthy Tribes by tribal governments.
In a missive sent by a CDC representative on April 1, several tribal facilities were notified about the elimination of a significant number of roles within the Healthy Tribes initiative. The government has a legal obligation to engage in consultations with tribes concerning decisions that could impact them directly – an obligation tribal leaders assert is not currently being met.
Lack of such consultations could potentially lead to tribes taking legal recourse against the U.S., citing the federal government’s failure in upholding its trust responsibilities. When probed about the cuts to Healthy Tribes, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not provide a response but assured via email that the Indian Health Service was not affected by the recent workforce reductions.
This communication also indicated that there are no intentions to merge any of its offices. The Healthy Tribes program in Seattle instrumentalizes its funding in supporting ‘GATHER,’ an initiative aimed at incorporating traditional tribal medicinal practices into mainstream health care.
The Seattle Indian Health Board allows its providers to use remedies made from plant-based materials grown in community gardens. The consultative team for each patient includes a traditional native medicine apprentice or healer.
Native communities have been compelled to push back against administrative efforts to slash DEI programs, equipped with the assistance of legal representatives, policy analysts, and watchdogs to highlight instances where the government may be failing in maintaining its trust responsibilities.
Stephen Roe Lewis, governor of the Gila River Indian Community, reportedly conveyed to Kennedy privately the importance of engaging with tribes in a respectful partnership as a fundamental aspect of the federal government’s obligation to uphold the trust responsibilities.
With the Trump administration progressively executing significant workforce reductions at the federal level, tribal leaders have found themselves needing to reiterate to newly instated federal officials that services provided to tribes aren’t race-based, but contingent on the political status of the tribal nations.