American Indians and Alaska Native in the U.S. are more than 4 million people representing 569 federally recognized tribes, and an additional number of state-recognized tribes and tribes without formal recognition. Their diverse traditions and culture continue to be a part of our country's rich heritage and add to the mosaic of America today. Native communities are more than just reservations. They thrive in their rural and urban settings of every state. Its people are our teachers, students, healers, farmers and law makers. Proudly, they are patriots and protectors. They have served in greater numbers per capita than any other ethnic group in our country. Fighting honorably in every U.S. conflict, from the American Revolution to the war in Iraq. They are the first Americans and they are facing the worse health crisis of any group in our country. (Adapted from the National Indian Health Board WIN Initiative Health Disparities video. To view the complete video online click here )

Notable American Indians and Alaska Natives

Charles W. Grim, D.D.S., M.H.S.A.
Assistant Surgeon General
Director
Indian Health Service
Charles W. Grim, D.D.S., is a native of Oklahoma and a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. As the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), he is an Assistant Surgeon General and holds the rank of Rear Admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service. He was appointed by President George W. Bush as the Interim Director in August 2002, received unanimous Senate confirmation on July 16, 2003, and was sworn in by Tommy G. Thompson, former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), on August 6, 2003, in Anchorage, Alaska.

As the IHS Director, Dr. Grim administers a nationwide multi-billion dollar health care delivery program composed of 12 administrative Area (regional) Offices, which oversee local hospitals and clinics. As the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, the IHS is responsible for providing preventive, curative, and community health care to approximately 1.6 million of the nation’s 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Robert G. McSwain, M.P.A.
Deputy Director
Indian Health Service

As the Deputy Director of the IHS, Mr. McSwain shares responsibility with the Director for the total management of a $3.8 billion national health care delivery program responsible for providing preventive, curative, and community care for approximately 1.8 million of the nation’s estimated 3.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. This also includes the setting of overall agency priorities, policies, and strategic direction. Mr. McSwain provides significant input in managing the formulation, presentation, justification, and execution of the agency budget. His participation influences program and resource allocation decisions that impact the total Agency budget. Mr. McSwain is responsible for the development and justifications for testimony presented to Congressional appropriation and legislative committees. Along with the Director, he is a principal witness before such committees. Mr. McSwain also supervises the 12 IHS Area Directors

Ben Nighthorse Campbell
United States Senator from Colorado
Elected to the U.S. Senate November 3, 1992, the first American Indian to serve in the Senate in more than 60 years, Republican Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell is also a Northern Cheyenne chief. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado in 1987 and served in the U.S. Senate from 1992–2004. Campbell was a leader in policy dealing with natural resources and public lands and initiated legislation to found the National Museum of the American Indian within the Smithsonian Institution. He declined running for a third term in the Senate, citing health and personal reasons, but in November 2004, hinted at a possible run for Colorado governor in 2006. A three-time U.S. judo champion, Campbell was captain of the U.S. Olympic judo team in 1964. He is also a rancher, horse trainer, and jewelry designer.

Yvette Roubideaux, MD, MPH
Director of the Indians Into Medicine (INMED) Program at the
University of Arizona, in partnership with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.
Yvette Roubideaux, MD, MPH, (Rosebud Sioux) assistant professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health, received the "Indian Physician of the Year" Award from the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) at their 33rd Annual Conference in July.

The award recognizes her contributions to the AAIP organization and her work in Indian health on diabetes related efforts. She is the Chair of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) American Indian Workgroup and helped lead its efforts to develop the "Control your Diabetes for Life" campaign, and the "Move It" campaign directed toward increasing physical activity among Native youth.

Robideaux recently helped launch the NDEP American Indian Workgroup’s new diabetes prevention campaign based on the recent research results from the Diabetes Prevention Program. She previously served in the Indian Health Service as a Medical Officer and Clinical Director on the medical staff at the San Carlos Indian Hospital in San Carlos, as well as the Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital on the Gila River reservation in Sacaton.

Quick Facts on the Health Status of American Indians and Alaska Natives

As time has past and natural resources have become more difficult to utilize, the overall health status of AI/AN people has unfortunately worsened like many other racial and ethnic minority groups, while at the same time, improvements have been gained in areas where AI/ANs once lagged far behind.

Cancer

• In 2001, American Indian/Alaska Native men were 30% less likely to have prostate cancer as non-Hispanic white men.
• In 2001, American Indian/Alaska Native women were 30% less likely to have breast cancer as non-Hispanic white women.
• American Indian/Alaska Native men had a 30% higher chance of being diagnosed with stomach and liver cancers than white men.
• American Indian Women were 1.9 times as likely to die from cervical cancer compared to white women.
  For more statistics on American Indians/Alaska Natives and cancer, please click here

Diabetes

• American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 2.3 times as likely as white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes.
• American Indians/Alaska Natives were 1.9 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes in 2002.
• American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 1.6 times as likely as White adults to be obese.
• American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 1.3 times as likely as White adults to have high blood pressure.
  For more statistics on American Indians/Alaska Natives and diabetes, please click here

Heart Disease

• American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 1.2 times as likely as White adults to have heart disease.
• American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 1.4 times as likely as White adults to be current cigarette smokers.
• American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 1.6 times as likely as White adults to be obese.
• American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 1.3 times as likely as White adults to have high blood pressure.
  For more statistics on American Indians/Alaska Natives and heart disease, please click here

HIV/AIDS

• American Indian/Alaska Natives have a 40% higher AIDS rates than non-Hispanic white counterparts.
• American Indian/Alaska Native men have a 30% higher AIDS rate compared to non-Hispanic white men.
• American Indian/Alaska Native women have 2.4 times the AIDS rate of non-Hispanic white women.
  For more statistics on American Indian/Alaska Natives and HIV/AIDS, please click here

Immunization

• In 2002, American Indian/Alaska Native children ages 19 to 35 months were less likely than non-Hispanic white children to have received the recommended doses of vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, polio, and chicken pox.
• In 2002, American Indian/Alaska Native adults ages 18 to 64 years were slightly more likely than their non-Hispanic white counterparts to have received the influenza (flu) shot in the past 12 months.
  For more statistics on American Indian/Alaska Natives and immunization, please click here

Infant Mortality

• American Indian/Alaska Natives have 1.5 times the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites.
• American Indian/Alaska Native babies are 2.2 times as likely as non-Hispanic white babies to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and they are 1.4 times as likely to die from complications related to low birthweight or congenital malformations compared to non-Hispanic whites babies.
• American Indian/Alaska Native infants are 3.6 times as likely as non-Hispanic white infants to have mothers who began prenatal care in the 3rd trimester or did not receive prenatal care at all.
  For more statistics on American Indian/Alaska Natives and infant mortality, please click here

Stroke

• In general, American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 60% more likely to have a stroke than their White adult counterparts.
• American Indian/Alaska Native women have twice the rate of stroke than White women.
• American Indian/Alaska Native adults are more likely to be obese than White adults and they are more likely to have high blood pressure, compared to White adults.
  For more statistics on American Indian/Alaska Natives and stroke, please click here

Need more information on American Indian/Alaska Native health? Contact the Office of Minority Health Resource Center http://www.omhrc.gov or 1-800-444-6472

Additional Resources

2005 Poster

Heritage Month 2005 Calendar of Events

Brief History on the Creation of National American Indian Heritage Month

Searchable Web Sites

National Congress of American Indians
Serves to protect the rights of American Indian Nations and Native governments.

Alaska Native Heritage Center
Gathering place that celebrates, perpetuates, and shares Alaska Native tradition.

Programs and Information

Consumer Health Information
A Web site designed for American Indian/Alaska Native people. This site presents links to easy to read health information that will help you learn more about your health.
For more information click on: http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/consumer-health/

IHS National Diabetes Program
The IHS National Diabetes Program develops documents and sustains a public health effort to prevent and control diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
For more information click on: http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/Diabetes/index.asp

Native American Cardiology Program
The Native American Cardiology Program was developed in 1993 as a Center for Excellence in Cardiology by the Indian Health Service, collaborating with the University of Arizona, the University Medical Center and the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. The program has developed additional collaborations with the Flagstaff Medical Center and has focused its priorities on national CVD issues among Native Americans.
For more information click on: http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/Cardiology/index.cfm

Maternal and Child Health
Information for IHS providers and consumers about American Indian and Alaska Native contraception, pregnancy, gynecology, cancer, menopause, peri-menopause, adolescence, obstetrics, infertility, incontinence, midwifery, family planning, immunization, infectious disease, development, infant, pediatrics, genetics, and birth defects.
For more information click on: http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/MaternalChildHealth/MaternalChild.asp

Women’s Health
Information for Indian Health Service providers and consumers about American Indian and Alaska Native access to care, violence against Native women, and adult female cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, cardiovascular disease, and other health issues.
For more information click on: http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/MaternalChildHealth/WomensHealth.asp

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