At a glance
- The Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances (OTASA) has a mission to affirm the government-to-government relationship between CDC/ATSDR and AI/AN tribes by advancing connections and providing expertise to improve tribal communities’ health.
Federal-Tribal Relationship
The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with American Indian and Alaska Native tribal nations (AI/AN) as provided in the Constitution of the United States, treaties, and federal statutes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR) are committed to working with federally recognized tribal governments on a government-to-government basis and strongly support and respect sovereignty and self-determination for tribal governments in the United States.
OTASA focuses on activities that reflect the agency's role in helping to ensure that AI/AN communities receive public health services that keep them safe and healthy.
Our mission is to affirm the government-to-government relationship between CDC/ATSDR and the 574 federally recognized AI/AN tribal nations (variously called tribes, nations, bands, pueblos, communities, and native villages) in the United States[1] by advancing connections and providing expertise to improve tribal communities’ health.
Our Work
OTASA Liaises, Guides, and Consults. We...
- Serve as CDC/ATSDR's principal contact for public health activities impacting Indian Country
- Facilitate activities of the CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee
- Support and collaborate with tribal-serving organizations and public health partners
- Provide assistance to CDC/ATSDR programs on conducting various forms of tribal engagement
- Advise CDC/ATSDR leaders about tribal health issues, policies, activities, and strategies
- Coordinate CDC/ATSDR tribal-related partnerships with HHS and other federal agencies