Understanding and Addressing the Health Care Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives

Abstract

This month, the Journal partners with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation to feature articles that resulted from a call for papers on the health policy challenges affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives. The intent was to bring greater visibility to an important but often overlooked public policy issue—how to more effectively address the health care needs of this nation’s first citizens. This collection of articles represents the first theme issue of the Journal devoted to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) health policy and provides an opportunity to examine the extent to which health challenges are being addressed in Indian communities. With the September 2004 opening of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian, many of us have taken time to celebrate the history and culture of Native Americans and their contributions to America. The museum provides an opportunity to inform Americans about chapters in the nation’s history that are often misrepresented. It also provides an opportunity to reflect upon and assess how well the United States has lived up to its trust responsibility to provide for the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives.