The $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill signed last week by President Joe Biden includes money for the Indian Health Service (IHS) and housing initiatives for Indians. It also includes land put into trust for two Arizona tribes.
National Council of Urban Indian Health President Sonya Tetnowski told Indian Country Today that the funding “is a historic moment for Indian Country over a decade in the making.” Critics of the federal government have said the IHS is underfunded.
Tetnowski added, “We are confident that we can build on this win and continue our work toward full and mandatory funding for the Indian Health Service, fulfilling the promises this country made to our people over two centuries ago.”
William Smith, president of the National Indian Health Board, added, “This historic decision comes not a moment too soon as Indian Country continues to be plagued by an ongoing health crisis that affects all of our communities.”
The bill also includes more than $1 billion for housing for Indians, including funding for the Indian Housing Block Grant Program, Indian Community Development Block Grant Program and Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program.
Another $350 million would be allocated for Indigenous language and cultural preservation and $74 million for water projects on the reservation.
The omnibus bill also included the Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer Act, which added 55.3 acres to the reservation of the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona.
Stephen Roe Lewis, governor of Gila River Indian Community, hailed the development: “The history of this parcel is important to the entire Community and especially to the residents of District 1 – the Blackwater District.” He added, “The ability to have these lands restored as part of the community’s reservation is especially significant to the Community and we thank Senator Sinema for prioritizing this legislation at the end of this session of Congress.”
Another section of the omnibus bill is the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act. This act adds land to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe reservation near Tucson, Arizona and allows for gaming on it.
Pascua Yaqui Chairman Peter Yucupicio commented, “Today is a great day for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Old Pascua is an Arizona treasure, and this proposed law will help us maintain our ties to our community and help us strengthen and protect our culture, religion, and the San Ignacio cultural area, consistent with our right to self- determination.”
