PRESS RELEASE: Health Advocate and Former NCUIH Executive Director, Geoffrey Roth, Appointed as the North American Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Meredith Raimondi
202-544-0344
mraimondi@ncuih.org

Health Advocate and Former NCUIH Executive Director, Geoffrey Roth, Appointed as the North American Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Mr. Geoffrey Scott Roth, a Standing Rock Sioux Tribe descendant, will serve as a Member and Representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).

Washington, DC (July 23, 2019)—The United Nations recently announced the eight new members to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues nominated by indigenous peoples’ organizations for a 3-year term beginning in January 2020. Among those appointed by her Excellency Inga Rhonda King, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is Mr. Geoffrey Scott Roth (Standing Rock Sioux).

“As a longtime health advocate and a former NCUIH Executive Director, the National Council of Urban Indian Health is thrilled to have Mr. Geoffrey Roth join the UNPFII as a Member in 2020.  Given Mr. Roth’s extensive knowledge and long work history with American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) populations in tribal and urban areas, Mr. Roth will represent the interests of all AI/AN at the UNPFII at every level,” said NCUIH Executive Director Francys Crevier.

“I am extremely honored by the outpouring of support for my candidacy to the UNPFII. I am looking forward to listening to and sharing overlooked issues facing our Indigenous brothers and sisters in urban settings as well as tribal and on reservations,” said Mr. Roth.

Currently, Geoffrey Roth serves as an advisor for Indian Health for Urban Indian Programs and a volunteer for Latin American Indigenous organizations. He is highly respected Indian Rights activist with over 20 years of experience- from grassroots to Presidential Appointee (Obama Administration- 2010-2016). Geoff is a specialist in gender diversity, native education and NGO engagement. He is responsible for the first participation of the US Government’s Indian Health Service in the International AIDS Conference (2015). As a Native and LGBTQ2S leader, he has represented the government and coordinated NGOs in/at International Indigenous Working Groups and Bilateral Meetings with Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

As the National Council of Urban Indian Health’s Executive Director, he worked with Congress to permanently reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Affordable Care Act; and helped to mobilize the community to secure US government representation at UNPFII and support for UNDRIP. As White House Tribal Colleges and University Initiative liaison, he worked to fund Tribal and Urban communities. Stepping up when needed in issues overlooked, he became the Executive Director of the Native American Youth Association in Oregon (1998); and President of the Board, National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (2005-2010). Mr. Roth was granted the University of Oregon’s National Public Service Award (2015), and the University of Oregon’s 100 Ducks Who Made a Difference (2019).

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