For more information about Native American child health issues www.nativechild.com

For more about research concerning native peoples, try www.ihs.gov/NonMedicalPrograms/Research

The Indian Health Service (I H S) is an agency within the U S Dept. of Health and Human Services and is responsible for providing federal health services to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally recognized tribes grew out of the special government to government relationship between the federal government and Native American tribes. This relationship, established in 1787, is based on Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, and has been given form and substance by numerous treaties, laws, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Orders.

The I H S is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Native American people, and its goal is to assure that comprehensive, culturally acceptable personal and public health services are available and accessible to Native Americans and Alaska Native people. The I H S currently provides health services to approximately 1.5 million Native Americans and Alaska Natives who belong to more than 557 federally recognized tribes in 34 states.