Representing Bemidji Area Office as Primary Delegate for HHS Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee

“Jamie has long been an advocate for health care issues,” said NHBP Tribal Vice Chairperson Dorie Rios, who nominated NHBP Tribal Chairperson Jamie Stuck for the position of Bemidji Area Office Primary Delegate.

Announced in January 2023, NHBP Tribal Chairperson Jamie Stuck has been selected to serve on the Health and Human (HHS) Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) as the Bemidji Area Office Primary Delegate. His two-year appointment began immediately.

“As Primary Delegate, I will utilize my healthcare knowledge and experience to serve the Bemidji Area to bring meaningful partnership and government-to-government relationships between Indigenous communities and HHS,” said Stuck. “It is an honor to represent NHBP at this level and a great opportunity to be involved with STAC.”

Stuck’s nomination from Rios states that he views healthcare in a holistic manner: “Jamie believes that it is essential for people to be involved in determining the goals and methods of their wellness plans, as well as choosing their support group for the implementation of their plans.”

His nomination was fully supported by many government officials, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, who expressed their renowned support for Stuck in a letter addressed to STAC:

“We view Chairperson Stuck as a valuable partner and believe he would be a valuable voice on your Committee. Chairperson Stuck would bring a steady and thoughtful voice to the Committee and would assist the Committee in fulfilling its purpose and strengthening the Department’s relationship with tribal nations.”

Other officials who backed Stuck was Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel, who said: “While his efforts target taking care of his own citizens, Stuck also looks at the bigger picture of how Native Americans receive health services and are counted within the systems that track their data. He has helped the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to turn our focus to improving the quality of data related to Native American populations and ways we can better share that data with Tribal Governments and our Urban Indian Organization providing health care in the metropolitan Detroit area.”

As Chairperson of NHBP, Jamie actively oversees the NHBP’s health care programs serving 3,500 people. Stuck has also served as Chair of Tribe’s Journey to Wellness Committee since 2010. He chairs NHBP’s Health Compliance Board, which assists the Tribe in fulfilling its compliance responsibilities. Like the vast majority of the Tribal nations within the Bemidji Area, NHBP operates its health care clinics through self-governance compacts with the Indian Health Service.

“Stuck is very familiar with the issues that impact the Bemidji Area Tribal nations,” Rios’ nomination continues.

In place since December 2010, the STAC’s efforts assure that Stuck’s participation as a Primary Representative on this committee is instrumental to moving its work and partnership forward. In this capacity, Stuck will participate in forums, meetings and conversations between federal officials and elected Tribal leaders. His participation will help advance consensus, exchange views, share information, and provide advice and recommendations.

“The STAC creates a department-wide strategy to incorporate Tribal guidance on HHS priorities, policies and budget, as well as improve the Government-to-Government relationship between HHS and Tribes,” said representatives of STAC to Stuck in a congratulatory email.

The Bemidji Area Office for the Indian Health Service (IHS) provides service and support to 34 Federally-recognized Tribes and four Urban Indian Health programs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Tribes in the Bemidji Area include Ojibwe (Chippewa), Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Mohican, Oneida, Odawa, Potawatomi and Sioux.