Transmittal Notice 24-17

BACKGROUND:

The Indian Health Service (IHS) and Indian Tribes share the goal of health equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives by ensuring that their access to critical health services is maximized to achieve optimal health status.  To achieve this goal, it is essential that Indian Tribes and the IHS engage in diplomatic relations to ensure open, continuous, and meaningful Tribal Consultation.  True consultation is an ongoing process that leads to information exchange, respectful dialogue, mutual understanding, and informed decision-making.  Additionally, consultation requires that information obtained from Tribes be given meaningful consideration, and the IHS should strive for consensus with Tribes or a mutually desired outcome, to the extent practicable and permitted by law.  The importance of consultation with Indian Tribes has been affirmed through Presidential Memoranda in 1994, 2004, 2009, 2021, and 2022, as well as, Executive Orders (EO) in 1998 and 2000.  This policy implements the requirements of EO 13175 and the President’s Memorandum on Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation, signed November 30, 2022, which further strengthen IHS’s consultation practices with Indian Tribes.

MATERIAL TRANSMITTED:

The new Part 6, Chapter 6, “IHS Tribal Consultation Policy,” IHM.

MATERIAL SUPERSEDED:

IHS Circular No. 2006-01, “Tribal Consultation Policy,” IHM, dated January 18, 2006.

MANUAL MAINTENANCE:

Remove IHS Circular No. 2006-01, “Tribal Consultation Policy,” IHM, dated January 18, 2006, in its entirety.  Log and file the attached copy of Part 6, Chapter 6, “IHS Tribal Consultation Policy,” IHM, including the chapter Table of Contents and this Transmittal Notice in sequential order.

Distribution:  IHS-Wide
Date:  11/04/2024