Our land acknowledgement statement
Along with many other Washington state agencies and public education organizations, we strive to continuously build better government-to-government relations with members and elders of Washington's federally recognized tribes.
We respectfully acknowledge that the land our facilities are on is traditional territory of many indigenous tribes consolidated into the 29 federally recognized tribes of Washington. We honor those tribes and bands whose voices have been lost over these last few centuries, acknowledging their enduring connection to this region and recognizing historical and ongoing contributions to our community. We have benefited and continue to benefit from living, working, and occupying these ancestral territories. We acknowledge that the dispossession of land was often committed through coercion, violence, dishonorable intentions, or blatant disregard of treaties.
We'd like to explicitly express our deep gratitude to the people indigenous to this region. We commit to building better, more meaningful relationships with you. As we do this work, we recognize the importance of supporting your tribal sovereignty and self-determination. We endeavor to include more voices from your communities in our work.
Our government-to-government framework
Three primary documents define and guide our relationship with tribal leadership, as well as a Memorandum of Agreement with some tribes.
The 1989 Centennial Accord
The Centennial Accord was established to enhance and improve communication and to help resolve issues between the state government and tribal entities. The accord also commits the parties to tasks that will translate to “more efficient, improved and beneficial services to Indian and non-Indian people” and encourages and provides for agreements “to address or resolve specific issues.”
RCW 43.376: government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes
Chapter 43.376 RCW codified much of the Centennial Accord into state law. In the spirit of this law, we strive to:
- Make reasonable efforts to collaborate with tribes in the development of policies, agreements, and program implementation that directly affect tribes, including requirements to offer consultation with tribes on certain actions.
- Designate a tribal liaison who reports directly to the commissioner as head of our agency.
- Ensure liaisons and executive staff receive training according to this chapter.
- Submit an annual report to the governor on the implementation of this chapter and our activities involving tribes.
OIC Policy 5: tribal consultation and collaborative process
This policy, with a basis in the Centennial Accord and Chapter 43.376 RCW, provides general requirements and specific procedures for engaging with tribal leadership. It also provides a sample consultation letter, tribal party response form, and a list of Indian tribes, Urban Indian Health Programs, and Organizations for Consultation.
Policy 5: tribal consultation and collaborative process (PDF 2.69MB)
Health insurance protections for American Indian enrollees and health care providers
In Washington state, health insurance issuers must comply with all state and federal laws governing their business practices and the health benefits they offer. These regulations ensure that Native American enrollees and healthcare providers are protected. They include guidelines for all insurance companies and specific rules for certain health plans. However, these requirements do not apply to Medicaid or Medicare-managed care organizations.