Priorities in Tribal Environmental Health
Authors: Annabelle Allison, Ivana Castellanos, Surili Sutaria Patel
Publication Year: 2018
Last Updated: 2019-10-09 10:22:06
Journal: American Journal of Public Health
Keywords: environmental injustice, health equity
Short Abstract:
In 2010, 5.2 million people, about 1.7% of the United States population, identified as
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN), either alone or in combination with one or more other races. Out of this total, 2.9 million people identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 0.9% of the U.S. population.1 There are 567 federally recognized Tribes in the U.S., yet the majority of Americans remain unaware of tribal public and environmental health concerns. American Indian and Alaska Native people have long experienced poorer health compared to other Americans. It is alarming to realize that American Indians and Alaska Natives live on average 4.4 years less than other Americans. They also experience higher rates of premature death compared to other Americans from diabetes, chronic liver disease, intentional self-harm and suicide, and chronic lower respiratory diseases.
Tribal Public and Environmental Health Think Tank
Since the group’s inception in 2011, the Tribal Public and Environmental Health Think Tank
has worked to promote the voice of tribal communities across the country as a strategy to
raise awareness about and achieve improvements in the unique environmental health, and
more recently public health, challenges faced by tribal communities.
Understanding the social and cultural contexts for why American Indian and Alaska Native peoples suffer from some of the highest disparity rates for public and environmental health is key in grappling with resulting tribal public and environmental health issues. The Think Tank therefore identified the following six public and environmental health priorities to continue to bring visibility to:
1. Food Sovereignty and Access
2. Infrastructure and Systems Development
3. Climate and Health
4. Resource Extraction
5. Clean Air
6. Clean Water
The Think Tank, with support from CDC and APHA, has identified strategies and products to produce over the next three years. The intention of these next steps is to promote the voice of Tribes across the country and raise awareness of the issues that disproportionately impact the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Think Tank’s goals include:
ï‚· Advance principles of sovereignty through education
ï‚· Provide outreach and technical support to Tribes
ï‚· Promote the need for data equity among Native populations
ï‚· Engage with partners to broaden its impact
Abstract:
The Think Tank therefore identified the following six public and environmental health priorities to continue to bring visibility to:
1. Food Sovereignty and Access
2. Infrastructure and Systems Development
3. Climate and Health
4. Resource Extraction
5. Clean Air
6. Clean Water
The environmental injustices and lack of health equity that impact Indian Country need recognition, partners and action to remedy the deeply rooted causes of poor health to achieve a healthier future. The Tribal Public and Environmental Health Think Tank, commissioned by CDC and supported by the American Public Health Association, takes seriously the challenges faced by Tribal communities. It is imperative that this country’s national, state and local government officials, health professionals and citizens at large learn, understand, acknowledge and act on behalf of America’s indigenous peoples, who remain disenfranchised and endangered by historical maltreatment and persistent neglect.
The Think Tank, with support from CDC and APHA, has identified strategies and products to produce over the next three years. The intention of these next steps is to promote the voice of Tribes across the country and raise awareness of the issues that disproportionately impact the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Think Tank’s goals include:
ï‚· Advance principles of sovereignty through education
ï‚· Provide outreach and technical support to Tribes
ï‚· Promote the need for data equity among Native populations
ï‚· Engage with partners to broaden its impact
File Download:
Source: Link to Original Article.
Funding: cooperative agreement U38OT000131 between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Public Health Association.
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