C-NACHE attends 29th Annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day
The C-NACHE Team heads to Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day 2023. In the photo from left to right: TJ Riggs, Nicolette Teufel-Shone, Lena Fowler, Joyce Tovar, Ann Garcia, Rosemary Sullivan, Carmenlita Chief, and Jennifer Hudson.
On the 2nd Wednesday of January every year, the Governor’s Office on Tribal Relations collaborates with Arizona Tribal Nation representatives to hold Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day (INTLD) at Arizona’s capitol. State legislators, Governor Katie Hobbs, and other elected officials were invited to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Native American peoples, while providing primary access to policymakers to discuss issues of common interest. Staff and leadership from the Center for Native American Cancer Health Equity (C-NACHE) along with some members of their community advisory board (CAB) joined the event to provide information and knowledge about the center and Native American cancer health equity.
Sally Ann Gonzales speaking on legislation and policy at the 2023 Annual Inter-tribal Cancer Health Equity Forum.
The Center for Native American Cancer Health Equity (C-NACHE)
One of the main goals for C-NACHE is to alleviate the unequal burden of cancer for Native populations in Arizona and one large component of achieving this goal is to inform public policies that affect cancer outcomes for Native American communities. C-NACHE successfully held the inaugural Arizona Inter-tribal Cancer Health Equity Forum (AICHEF) in September, and invited a Native American Arizona legislator, Sally Ann Gonzales (Pasqua Yaqui), to speak on policy processes and offer perspective on enacting change through legislation. Gonzales spoke to the group about the legislative process and stimulated C-NACHE to attend legislative opportunities in Arizona.
“What we’re learning is there is a policy component that needs to be addressed to alleviate the cancer burden,” said Jennifer Hudson, community program coordinator for C-NACHE. “We can conduct surveys and interventions, but the legislative component is where big picture solutions can happen.”
District 5 Supervisor, Lena Fowler, addresses the CAB
The evening before INTLD, the CAB convened to discuss key elements for the following day, and invited Lena Fowler (Navajo), Arizona’s Coconino County District 5 supervisor, to present important topics on being successful in communicating with legislators. The next day, Fowler joined the CAB once more for breakfast ahead of the event and provided tips on how to approach legislators and key policymakers. Fowler’s contributions to the success of C-NACHE advocates will have lasting impacts on how C-NACHE addresses this legislative component.
Carmenlita Chief and Senator Sally Ann Gonzales in the post event joint protocol session hosted by the Arizona State Representatives.
C-NACHE attends INTLD
C-NACHE staff including Hudson, Carmenlita Chief, and Nicky Teufel-Shone, along with several CAB members, attended INTLD for the first time and were able to make meaningful connections. Chief, Senior Research Coordinator with C-NACHE spoke with State Senator Gonzales directly at the conclusion of the event’s joint protocol session hosted by the Arizona State of Representatives.
“We have so much appreciation for strong Native health champions in our state like Senator Gonzales. To honor Native cultural protocols which place an emphasis on relationality, it was important for me to thank her, within the framework of Indigenous kinship, for spending time with us at the AICHEF event last fall and illuminating ways to amplify Native American voices and perspectives on cancer health equity in Arizona’s health policy arena,” Chief said.
“The knowledge she shared inspired us at C-NACHE to create impactful ways for Native cancer health leaders to engage with state decisionmakers and inform them on the realities of cancer care access in their communities.”
The team took the opportunity to identify tribal representatives and state legislators who may be considered to speak at future cancer forums and Native cancer health equity webinars, and in tandem identified another Tribe to include in community assessment surveys facilitated by C-NACHE.
Looking to next year
The C-NACHE team gained valuable knowledge, connections, and legislative insight in attending the 29th Annual INTLD and hope to attend annually to shed light on Native American cancer health equity and what legislators can do to ease the cancer burden on Native communities in their state. As the center passes its first year, the team is proud that C-NACHE has sparked meaningful advancement toward cancer health equity in Arizona.
See you next year at the Capitol!