Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board

The Great Lakes area has been most underfunded of all Indian Health Service areas. The Center for Disease Control has awarded a Comprehensive Approach to Good Health & Wellness in Indian Country grant in 2015. This was awarded to the Great Lakes Inter-tribal Epidemiology Center for the initiative called "Bemidji Area Leaders Acting for Change".
All tribal communities will benefit: it will assist American Indian communities in all 3 states in addressing health disparities and ultimately aid in the prevention of chronic disease. BALAC also funds the promotion of the Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board.

Health Boards are a critical way in addressing the health needs in Indian Country and the promotion of the Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board will empower communities through culturally congruent approaches that focus on sustaining holistic health.

Board members include 2 representatives from each state in the Great Lakes area:
Minnesota: Sam Moose (Mille Lacs), vacant/pending seat
Wisconsin: Randy Samuelson (LDF), Melinda Danforth (Oneida)
Michigan: Phyllis Davis (Gun Lake), Carole LaPointe (Keewenaw Bay)
AND
Ashley Tuomi, American Indian Health & Family Services, Detroit (Urban representative)
Scott Vele, Executive Director of the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (Stockbridge-Munsee)