Sovereignty in Health: Our Nations, Our Health

By Francesca Baile

From August 16-21, 2026, Vice President of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Paul Russell, Family Services Director Tamara Hernandez, and Medical Director for Wassaja Memorial Health Center Francesa Baile attended the 2026 National Indian Health Board (NIHB) National Tribal Health Conference. The conference was held at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, AZ.

The NIHB National Tribal Health Conference was a week-long event that served American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes in the space of health, both behavioral and public health. The conference showcased the interconnectedness of policy, advocacy, and Indian health best practices.

The theme of the event was, “Sovereignty in Health: Our Nations, Our Health.” It focused on tribal self determination in public health and medical policy. The new director of Indian Health Service, Mark Cruz, who is a citizen of the Klamath tribes was in attendance as well.

Representatives from our tribal council and health services participated in tribal listening sessions, received hands-on training, and completed workshops on behavioral and public health. The conference also offered consultation sessions, plenary sessions, and workshops that covered timely topics such as funding for Indian health, the business of medicine, health equity, Indigenous determinants of health, Tribal public health, behavioral health, culture, environmental health, and climate change. The conference also included focus areas on Native youth, Tribal veterans, and elders, a fitness event, exhibit hall and marketplace, culture night, poster sessions, and a gala celebration.

Nearly 1,000 tribal leaders, tribal health directors and administrators, tribal public health staff, tribal members, and federal employees from across the greater United States and our brethren from the great state of Alaska attended in droves. The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation was proudly present at represented at the 2026 National Indian Health Board National Tribal Health Conference.