New Tribal Consultation Policy Issued
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NIH issued a new Tribal Consultation Policy, marking an important step that reflects NIH’s commitment to:
- sovereign Tribal Nations
- a transparent and consistent Tribal Consultation process
- supporting the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives through biomedical and behavioral health research.
With an emphasis on trust and shared responsibility, Tribal Consultation is a formal government-to-government process for open and free exchange of information. At NIH, it is a foundational opportunity for the scientific community to listen and learn from Tribal leaders and respectfully consider the rights, knowledge, priorities, concerns, history and culture of Tribal Nations before developing research priorities, policies and programs that have significant implications for Tribal communities. Regular, meaningful engagement with Tribal partners helps ensure American Indians and Alaska Natives are well-represented in research and benefit from its outcomes.
“We care deeply about the relationships we are building with American Indian and Alaska Native communities and are grateful for the incredible efforts of Tribal leaders and Tribal members, researchers and policymakers who advocate for Tribal Nations to guide biomedical and behavioral research on behalf of their people,” said Dr. David R. Wilson, director of NIH’s Tribal Health Research Office and a member of the Navajo Nation.
“We look forward to continued discussion and work in the coming months to help NIH institutes, centers, offices and other components exceed the new policy’s expectations and goals and to ongoing conversations with Tribal leaders about how NIH can uphold Tribal sovereignty and respond to the interests and priorities of Tribal Nations.”
The NIH Tribal Consultation Policy requires all parts of NIH to engage in Tribal Consultation before any actions with significant Tribal implications are taken.
Learn more about the new policy and Tribal Consultation at NIH: https://go.usa.gov/xzPUw.