The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Tribal Health Research Office (THRO) will host a listening session on the NIH Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy currently under development. The session will provide a forum for Tribal Leaders and designees to offer guidance and share perspectives, concerns, and recommendations as NIH develops the policy. NIH seeks input on how NIH funding announcements, grant mechanisms, and research activities should recognize and uphold the inherent sovereignty of Tribal Nations over data generated by, about, and within their communities.
The October 20 event is a listening session, not a Tribal Consultation, and will not substitute for Tribal Consultation on the NIH Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy. NIH will conduct a separate Tribal Consultation before the policy is finalized. Information about that Tribal Consultation will be announced separately.
Meeting Details
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Location: In-person at the National Congress of American Indians 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace, Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Room: To be determined
About the Listening Session
NIH is developing a Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy to inform how NIH funding announcements, grant mechanisms, and research activities recognize and uphold the inherent sovereignty of Tribal Nations over data generated by, about, and within Tribal communities.
THRO leadership will hear directly from Tribal Leaders and designees and consider their input as NIH develops the policy, including potential funding opportunity announcement language and grants administration practices.
Providing Written Input
Written input regarding the NIH Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy may be submitted to [email protected].
The October 20 event is a listening session rather than a formal Tribal Consultation. NIH will separately solicit Tribal testimony when the Tribal Consultation on the NIH Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy takes place.