PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH Honored with 2020 Heroes in Health National Impact Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Meredith Raimondi, 202-932-6615, mraimondi@ncuih.org

Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2020) – On October 14, 2020, the National Indian Health Board honored and awarded the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) with an Outstanding Service Award for National Impact. The National Impact Award is given to individuals, programs and organizations who led health advocacy efforts across Indian Country to improve the lives and health of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

“The National Council of Urban Indian Health is honored to receive this award for our work on COVID-19,” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), NCUIH CEO. “Since February, NCUIH has been fighting to ensure that all of Indian Country receives the necessary resources to combat this pandemic that is killing our people every single day. Due to our advocacy, resources for urban Indians were included in all legislation addressing COVID-19.  With our partners, we continue to apply pressure to Congress to ensure appropriate resources are included in every legislative packages on COVID-19.  We are working to ensure that frontline health heroes in Indian Country must receive access to PPE, supplies, and testing, as they risk their lives every day. We will continue to hold this Administration and Congress to their trust and treaty obligations.”

NCUIH commends urban Indian health leader Toni Lodge, CEO of the NATIVE Project in Spokane, Washington for being recognized for a 2020 Area and Regional Impact Award.

Other National Impact Awardees include Dr. Donald Warne, Dr. Winifred Booker, Indian Health Service, Division of Environmental Health Services, Strong Hearts Native Helpline, and Native American Research Internship in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah. The 2020 Heroes in Health Award Gala, which was held virtually this year, is an annual event as part of the National Tribal Health Conference.