Responding to environmental health needs unique to tribes.
Mission: To support ATSDR in developing policies, procedures, funding, and research that address the environmental health needs of American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Vision Statement: To utilize the knowledge passed down from our ancestors and the advances of modern science to protect mother earth for future generations.
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- To consult with tribes before taking action
- To form partnerships with tribes
- To be reliable in all ways
- To utilize the power of diversity
- To be an advocate of native culture, history, sovereignty, values,
and principles
- To respect indigenous science, traditional knowledge, environmental
balance, and the importance of observation
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History: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR) Office of Tribal Affairs (OTA) was established in 1999
in response to tribal requests. Since that time, OTA has been assisting
with tribal-specific environmental health needs resulting from exposure
to hazardous waste sites and pollution. ATSDR has established a firm
commitment to working with American Indian/Alaska Native governments,
organizations, and communities.
Tribal Policies: The following policies developed by OTA, with appropriate tribal consultation, set the foundation for ATSDR's work with tribes:
ATSDR Policy on Government-to-Government Relations with Native
American Tribal Governments. This policy provides guidelines
on the implementation of the government-to-government relationship
with the tribes' policy on
government-to-government relations with American Indian tribal governments.
This policy was developed in response to the Memorandum
on Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal
Governments FR 96-20702.
ATSDR Consultation and Coordination Policy with Indian Tribal
Governments.
The agency established the Office of Tribal Affairs and prepared this
policy to ensure that regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration
with tribal governments occur in the conduct of the agency's public health
activities: Consultation
and Coordination Policy with Indian Tribal Governments FR 99-19677.
Consistent with these policies, ATSDR
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Respects and honors the sovereignty of tribes, the responsibilities
and rights to self-governance, and the differences between tribal
nations and individuals. |
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Consults with tribal governments to ensure community concerns and impacts
are carefully considered before the agency takes action or makes decisions
affecting tribal communities. |
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Maintains government-to-government relationships with tribal governments. |
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Ensures ongoing communication with tribal governments, communities,
and individual tribal members to define concerns about possible health
impacts from exposures to hazardous substances. |
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