Tribal leaders, assistant health secretary meet in Valley Center

By: GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer | Monday, May 23, 2005 9:00 PM PDT ∞

RINCON ---- American Indian tribal leaders from three states met in Valley Center on Monday with the acting U.S. assistant secretary of health to discuss federal policies, high incidences of chronic illness in American Indian communities, and even tribes' concerns about illegal immigration and terrorism.

Acting Assistant Secretary Dr. Cristina Beato said the meeting ---- which began Monday and will continue all day today ---- is the Western state's annual "Region IX Tribal Consultation" and involved tribes from California, Arizona and Nevada.

The concept of the consultation system was established in 1994 by former President Bill Clinton to give Indians an "open and free exchange" on a "government to government" basis about federal health policies. Beato said the number of meetings has significantly increased in recent years, under the administration of President George W. Bush.

She said the meetings, which are held with tribes each year across the United States and Alaska, are meant to improve communication between the federal government and American Indians peoples and to improve the chances that American Indians will efficiently use programs like Medicare.

Monday's gathering at the Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort near Valley Center ---- operated by the Rincon Band of Mission Indians ---- featured presentations about trying to reduce incidences of diseases such as diabetes, drug and alcohol abuse, obesity and cardiopulmonary diseases, which officials said are higher in Indian populations than in the general population.

Officials said the annual consultations have also become a chance for Indian leaders to vent any dissatisfaction with federal officials over the level of health-care assistance they provide to American Indians.

For example, Beato said, many of the estimated 200 American Indian leaders at Monday's meeting said they were very concerned about illegal immigration, and added that they felt medical care given to people in the country illegally was taking aid from American Indians.

"We heard a lot about border security," Beato said by phone Monday afternoon. "They're concerned about drug smuggling and undocumented aliens. One tribe said they had about six tons of trash dumped on their lands. And they were talking about health-care costs that they (tribes) are absorbing for these undocumented aliens."

Deven Parlikar, executive director of the Indian Health Council clinic on the Rincon Indian Reservation, also attended Monday's consultation, before helping take Beato on a tour of the clinic.

"There are tribal leaders upset about the amount of money spent on undocumented immigrants," he said.

Parlikar said that was in large part because Indians feel the U.S. government has never kept its promise to help take care of tribes that they relocated to reservations.

"You have to be Native American to wrap your arms around it," Parlikar said.

Although the U.S. Congress never ratified any of the treaties they struck with American Indians, federal laws passed in the mid 1970s stated that it was the government's policy to "elevate the health status" of American Indians to that of the general population ---- and to give tribes a say in how that was accomplished.

In addition, Parlikar and Beato said, tribal leaders complained about the fact that federal officials dole out Homeland Security funding to local governments through the states, but do not give money to tribes.

However, both Beato and Parlikar said the majority of Monday's meeting was spent talking about health problems on the reservations, and how the federal government might help ease those problems with better education on the reservations about the risks associated with smoking and alcohol abuse, and how to live more healthfully through proper nutrition.

Despite the influx of money into reservations via Indian gaming, Parlikar said many Indians and tribes remain much poorer, and in much poorer health, than the general populations around the country.

The conference continues today with discussions about new Medicare prescription drug benefits, public health and emergency preparedness and mental health and behavioral health issues.

Contact staff writer Gig Conaughton at (760) 739-6696 or gconaughton@nctimes.com.

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