Indigenous Health Indicators

Indigenous Health Indicators (IHIs) are community-based indicators of indigenous health specific to a Native American tribal community. IHIs provide a tangible evaluation method for a Tribe to demonstrate their respective health and wellbeing priorities, based on their worldviews and cultures. By constructing a more complex, narrative set of indicators beyond the physiological for tribal communities, a more accurate picture of health status is gained with which to better evaluate and manage Tribal public health risks and impacts.

For this project, Mr. Larry Campbell and Dr. Jamie Donatuto are co-producing IHIs with two California Native American Tribes, Pechanga Band of Indians and Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians (see Tribal Partners page). The IHIs will serve as invaluable tools the Tribes can use to identify and advocate for their health/wellness priorities and interests during the state/local environmental decision-making process.

More information on IHIs:

• "Developing Responsive Indicators of Indigenous Community Health," 2016, Jamie Donatuto, Larry Campbell, and Robin Gregory
• "Indigenous Community Health and Climate Change: Integrating Biophysical and Social Science Indicators," 2014, Jamie Donatuto, et al.
• Swinomish Indian Tribal Community's IHIs:
  • Indigenous Health Indicators Site
  • Explanatory video featuring Mr. Campbell and Dr. Donatuto

Support for this project was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Policies for Action program. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.