By YVETTE TUELL
Office of Public Affairs
The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) provides updates and summaries of congressional legislative and policy updates to the tribes in the northwest.   This is the latest summary provided from Laura Platero, who is the Executive Director of the NPAIHB, that identifies the current discussions occurring in various congressional committees.

This fall, Congress has been working on numerous appropriation bills on tribal health care.  Congress is now on recess for the Thanksgiving holiday and both the House of Representatives and the Senate will reconvene on November 30. (cont.)

PHOENIX (AP) — The executive director of the Navajo Nation Department of Health has been named a member of President-elect Joe Biden's COVID-19 advisory board.

Dr. Jill Jim was among the board members announced Saturday as part of Biden's transition team preparing to implement the president-elect's coronavirus containment plans, KPHO-TV reported.

Jim's work has focused on preventing chronic diseases and addressing healthcare and health disparities involving Native Americans and Alaska Natives, a statement from the transition team said. (cont.)

FORT HALL — The Tribal Office of Emergency Management (TOEM) officially reports the weekly number of COVID-19 cases on the Fort Hall Reservation. The total number of tribal members impacted by COVID-19 is currently at 569 cases (this number includes positives and recovered) since the pandemic started. Of the 569 cases, 57 are currently positive and being monitored, 501 have recovered, 1 is currently hospitalized, and 11 reported deaths due to COVID-19. (cont.)

By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Two Idaho State University students who are Shoshone-Bannock tribal members, Tyson Shay and Kaycee Dixey, placed second in the U.S. Bank Pitch Off earning $1,000.

In addition, another tribal member Jessica Rodriguez placed third with her partner Melissa Sema from Aberdeen winning $500. Rodriguez is majoring in business graduating in spring of 2021 with two degrees in marketing and management and a minor in advertising/public relations. Their pitch was hat spray. (cont.)

By YVETTE TUELL
Office of Public Affairs
FORT HALL — In the regular coordination call on Wednesday, November 18, between the Idaho Governor and the leadership of the five tribes of Idaho, all parties reported on their respective COVID19 situations.

Chairman Devon Boyer said “Thank you all for calling in. It is important for our brother tribes and the Governor to talk to each other because it is necessary to help each other and work together now.”  (cont.)

Submitted by YVETTE TUELL
Office of Public Affairs
FORT HALL — The Fort Hall Business Council works closely with the Mapetsi Policy Group who is hired to advocate on behalf of the Tribes on federal policy issues in Washington D.C.

This report summarizes the work that Mapetsi has helped with the Tribes within the past year. As the new Biden Administration transition team starts to gear up for the January 20, 2021 inauguration, the Tribes expect to address additional issues, then these listed topics. (cont.)

FORT HALL — The Tribal Office of Emergency Management (TOEM) reports there are 69 current positive COVID-19 cases being monitored on the Fort Hall Reservation.

TOEM officially reports the weekly number of COVID-19 cases. The total number of tribal members impacted by COVID-19 is currently at 506 cases (includes positives and recovered) since the pandemic started in early April 2020. Of the 506 cases, 423 have recovered, 3 are currently hospitalized, and there are 11 reported deaths due to COVID-19. (cont.)

By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL —The Idaho Food Bank conducted their first mobile pantry distribution November 19 in Fort Hall where over 200 families were served.

The distribution was in cooperation with the Tribal Health and Human Services Diabetes project, the 477 programs, the Tribal Office of Emergency Management and Tribal Planning and Housing Opportunities program.

Kia Shaw, Idaho Food Bank branch manager in Pocatello for the eastern region said they’ve been trying to do the distribution for many months. “We were so excited to do this – we served over 200 families our first shot,” noting there were supposed to be distributing until 7 p.m. but they went though it in less than an hour and a half, she said. (cont.)

BOISE (AP) — Hunting license sales in Idaho are up as more residents seek a way to safely get out of the house without contracting COVID-19, but that has led to inexperienced hunters misidentifying and killing moose and a grizzly bear, wildlife officials say.

In addition, blatant poaching has increased in northern Idaho.

“Hunting is that outdoor activity that follows all the COVID recommendations and gets people outside,'' Idaho Department of Fish and Game Enforcement Chief Greg Wooten said Friday. “They're doing what they're being asked to do. They just need to comply with the (wildlife hunting) laws.'' (cont.)