Making the Connection at the Local Level: Tribes Bridging Environment and Health Data

A little more than two years ago, Tribal, state, Indian Health Service and area environmental advocacy groups formed the Bemidji Area Tribal Environmental Public Health Advisory Committee. The committee seeks ways to understand area environmental concerns experienced by Tribal communities and link resources to build community capacity to address risk to community health and wellbeing. As a result of participation with the National Tribal Environmental Health Think Tank, new opportunities emerged to explore the feasibility and interest in Tribal environmental health tracking. Session participants will hear about the process and challenges faced in three Bemidji Area Tribal communities who took initial steps in connecting environmental issues to human health outcomes.