2025 National Tribal Health Conference
September 26, 2025
Jeston Morris
Community Newsperson
PHOENIX — The 2025 National Tribal Health Conference (NTHC) hosted plenary sessions and panel discussions Sept. 9 at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass. The conference theme was “Culture Is Medicine and Community Is Healing,” and the week-long event drew record attendance.
The conference opened with a prayer, posting of colors, and remarks from plenary speakers. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis welcomed attendees, followed by A.C. Locklear, CEO of the National Indian Health Board, who provided an update. Caprice Knapp, acting director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, delivered a health care briefing.
Gov. Lewis’ Welcome
Remarks
“In tribal health care, there is much work to be done, and we have to be flexible,” Gov. Lewis said. “Remember, our current care system grew out of the Department of War, which existed for a century and a half. In the late 1940s, it became the Department of Defense. We turned a health care system that was forced upon Native Americans into one that is tribally driven and based on tribal sovereignty.”
Lewis emphasized the importance of culturally relevant care and unity among tribal nations.
“If we all stand together, lift each other up, and share our model of success, never forgetting where we came from, all tribes will be able to adapt to any changes that come,” he said.
He welcomed attendees to the Gila River Indian Community and expressed gratitude to tribal health care leaders, veterans, and the Ira Hayes Post 84 Color Guard.
“Please enjoy our hospitality and amenities. God bless all of you. Thank you,” Gov. Lewis said.
Culturally Responsive Care Panel Mark Cruz, senior advisor to the secretary of Health and Human Services, moderated the panel, which included Lewis; Sandra Pattea, president of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation; Walter Murillo, CEO of Native Health; and David Reede, executive director of the San Carlos Apache Tribe’s Department of Health and Human Services. “This morning, we are joined by leaders whose work reminds us that health is not only about treating illness, but also about honoring traditions, preserving language, and carrying forward ancestral wisdom,” Cruz said.
He asked panelists how their nations’ cultural values shape their vision for health care.
Pattea spoke about the significance of sunrise dances in her community.
“It’s a traditional dance that Apache and Yavapai have. The sunrise dance is a staple for our tribe,” she said.
Lewis reflected on the Gila River Indian Community’s connection to the river and the impact of historical trauma.
“Our water was stolen from us over 150 years ago. That cycle of inter-generational trauma, of surviving and trying to thrive, is part of our incredible history,” he said. “You can see that in the evolution of Gila River Healthcare.”
Reede emphasized the importance of community-based wellness.
“My father used to say, ‘If you go to the ER, you’re not going to get well.’ Wellness comes from within the community,” he said. “Our Izee’ Baa Gowah is the medicine house.”
Murillo discussed the role of urban Indian health programs and the legacy of community activism.
“These programs started in the 1960s and ’70s because health care and cultural awareness weren’t being provided in urban cities,” he said. “Community activists founded nonprofit Native-oriented centers like ours to address advocacy. That spirit remains.” Lewis concluded by reaffirming the role of tribal sovereignty in health care. “Native American health care is an innate trust treaty responsibility. As tribal nations, we must ensure the federal government fulfills its obligation,” he said.
Cruz closed the panel by thanking participants.
“You’ve shown that integrating cultural values into health care is not just about honoring our past—it’s about building a healthier, stronger future for generations to come,” he said.