In 2015, GPTCHB was awarded a cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase colorectal cancer screening rates within 18 tribes in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa.  

The goal of the cooperative agreement is to provide support in increasing the rates of Colorectal Cancer Screening in our tribal communities. In the United States, Northern Plains American Indian men and women have the highest and second-highest cancer incidence rate among all American Indian/Alaskan Native population groups.  

The initiative will address colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with activities in partnerships and program coordination, priority evidence-based interventions (EBI’s) and community-clinical linkages throughout the Northern Plains American Indians regions. 

Staff 

• Gina Johnson – Program Manager – Oglala Sioux  
• DeAnna Howe-Swan – Program Assistant – Crow Creek Sioux 

Learn More about Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is cancer of the lower part of the digestive system (the colon or large intestine and rectum). Most colorectal cancer starts as small noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called polyps.

What is a polyp?

A polyp is a benign growth, over time polyps can change to cancer. A polyp begins in the colon or rectal lining and often bleeds when stool passes through.

What are the Signs of Colon Cancer?

• There may be no symptoms
• Rectal Bleeding
• Unexplained Weight Loss
• Weakness or Fatigue
• Change in diarrhea or constipation
• Persistent abdominal discomfort
• A feeling that your bowel does not completely empty

Who Should Be Screened for Colorectal Cancer?

Adults ages 50-75. Colorectal cancer occurs most often in people aged 50 or older. The risk increases with age. Both men and women can get colorectal cancer. If you are 50 or older, talk to your doctor about getting screened.

Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors

• Family History of Colorectal Cancer
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer
• Commercial tobacco use
• Poor Diet & lack of Physical Activity
• Sun & UV Exposure
• Radiation Exposure
• Pollution

American Indians and Colorectal Cancer

• 3rd most common cancer for Great Plains American Indians.
• Occurs more often in Great Plains American Indian tribes than in non-Hispanic whites & American Indians in other regions of the U.S. except for Alaskan Natives.
• Most likely to affect American Indian men and women over the age of 50.

Screening Saves Lives

Screening can find polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening can also find colorectal cancer early when the chances of being cured are best. These screenings include FOBT, FIT, Sensitive Guaiac, Sigmoidoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

Programs

Great Plains Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative

The program assesses participation in colorectal cancer risk assessment for colon cancer and promotes the career development of individuals who have historically been underrepresented in cancer screening and prevention research.

Tori Whipple (Sicangu Lakota) serves as the Vice President of Organizational & Workforce Development at the Great Plains Tribal Leader's Health Board in South Dakota. Her leadership and experience drive positive change throughout the Great Plains region. Known for her contagious enthusiasm and passionate belief in people, Tori inspires individuals to become prouder, stronger, and more valuable contributors to their organizations.

Tori's career has been dedicated to public service within tribal communities. She began in behavioral health, focusing on young teens and adults, providing suicide prevention and leadership training. Her work evolved into violence prevention and public health roles, eventually leading to her current administrative position. Tori's primary goal has always been to close the health disparities gap and promote awareness and education in tribal communities.

Her academic accomplishments reflect her commitment and hard work. Tori earned a Bachelor of Science in Wellness Management from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD, and a Master of Science in Administration from the University of South Dakota. Beyond her professional life, Tori is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and a proud mother of three boys, Kobe, Kruz, and Tyger.

Sunny Colombe, Rosebud Sioux, joined the organization in 2011 as a NARCH program administrator. In the years following she has worn a variety of hats including Chief Operations Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and  GPTEC Program Director.  In addition,  she participates in numerous Great Plains Area health workgroups and committees to provide guidance on area-wide health issues to promote sustainable and solution-based practices.  Her new position is Senior Vice President of Financial Operations. Sunny’s professionalism and exemplary performance as a financial manager have resulted in the GPTLHB becoming a fiscally sound organization with a running streak of clean audits.

She received her master’s degree in business administration from National American University. Prior to her work at GPTLHB, Sunny served as a health system administrator at the Rosebud Indian Health Service. Sunny has been with the health board since August 2011. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her three children.

Jerilyn Church was born and raised on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. She graduated with honors from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree with an American Indian specialization and was a recipient of the national Morris K. Udall Scholarship. She obtained her Master of Social Work degree with a Management in Human Services concentration from the University of Michigan where she was a Child Welfare Fellow and was awarded internship support from the Nonprofit and Public Management Center for her work with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Health Department.

Before her appointment as CEO at GPTCHB, Jerilyn served as the Executive Director of American Indian Health and Family Services of Southeastern Michigan, Inc. (AIHFS). AIHFS is an Urban Indian Health Center that provides primary care services to the American Indian and Alaska Native populations residing in the seven-county region of metropolitan Detroit.

Her public service commitments include the Medicare and Medicaid Policy Committee (MMPC) of the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Tribal Technical Advisory Group (CMS TTAG) Great Plains representative. Church also provides technical assistance for the Great Plains tribal leader representative to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC).

Jerilyn has been recognized for her leadership as a recipient of the National Indian Health Board’s (NIHB) Area/Regional Impact Award in 2014 in recognition of her outstanding service to advance American Indian and Alaska Native health.  Church was also honored with the University Of Michigan School Of Social Work’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017.

Although the Oyate Health Center is a tribal healthcare facility managed by the Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board, many tribal communities in the area are serviced by the Indian Health Service. 

Run by Great Plain Tribal Leaders' Health Board

Oyate Health Center

3200 Canyon Lake Dr. - Suite 1
Rapid City, SD 57702
map it
605-355-2500
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
https://www.oyatehealth.com/ 

Services: Urgent Care, Primary Care, Optometry, Dental, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Laboratory Services, Radiology, Physical Therapy

Oyate Lacrosse (Behavioral Health)

725 N. Lacrosse St
Rapid City, SD 57701
map it
605-718-5095
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
https://www.oyatehealth.com/ 

Services: Behavioral Health

Healthcare Facilities in the Great Plains

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Indian Health Service 

24276 166th St. Airport Road - P.O. Box 590 
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
map it
(605) 964-7724
Cheyenne River Health Center | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Full-Service Hospital, including Emergency Services

Fort Thompson Indian Health Service

1323 BIA Route 4
PO Box 200
Fort Thompson, South Dakota
Phone: 605-245-1500
FAX: 605-245-2384
Fort Thompson Service Unit | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov) 
Services: Urgent Care, Primary Care, Optometry, Dental, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Laboratory Services, Radiology, Physical Therapy

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Health Clinic

403 West Broad Avenue
Flandreau, SD 57028
605-997-2642
DENTALDIR| Indian Health Service (IHS) 
Services: 

Lower Brule Indian Health Service

601 Gall Street
Lower Brule, SD 57548
Phone: 605-473-5526
FAX: 605-473-0607
Lower Brule Service Unit | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Urgent Care, Primary Care, Optometry, Dental, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Laboratory Services, Radiology, Physical Therapy

Pine Ridge Indian Health Service 

East Highway 18
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
Phone: 605-867-5131
Pine Ridge Service Unit | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Full-service hospital, including Emergency Department

Kyle Indian Health Service 

P.O. Box 540
Kyle, SD 57752
Phone: 605-455-2451
Pine Ridge Service Unit | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Primary Care, Optometry, Dental, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Laboratory Services, Radiology, Physical Therapy

Wanblee Indian Health Service 

210 First Street
Wanblee, SD 57577
Phone: 605-462-6155
Lower Brule Service Unit | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Ambulatory Outpatient Health Services; Pharmacy, Dental, Optometry, Radiology, Behavioral Health, IT, and part-time Podiatry, Public Health Nursing and Women's health.

Great Plains Area Youth Regional Treatment Center

P.O. Box 680
Mobridge, SD 57601
Phone: 605-845-7181
Great Plains Youth Regional Treatment Center | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov) 
Services: Urgent, emergent, general medical care, and other ancillary health care support are provided through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Standing Rock Service Unit IHS hospital, health center, and clinics.

Rosebud Indian Health Service 

P.O Box 400
Rosebud, SD 57570
Phone: 605-747-2231
Rosebud Service Unit | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Comprehensive medical/surgical hospital

Woodrow Wilson Keeble Memorial Health Care Center

100 Lake Traversie Drive
Sisseton, SD 57262
Phone: 605-698-7606
Woodrow Wilson Keeble Memorial Health Care Center (WWKMHCC) | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Primary Care, Optometry, Dental, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Laboratory Services, Radiology, Physical Therapy

Fort Yates Indian Health Service 

10 North River Road
Fort Yates, ND 58538
Phone: 701-854-3831
Standing Rock Service Unit | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Urgent Care, Primary Care, Optometry, Dental, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Laboratory Services, Radiology, Physical Therapy

Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Health Care Facility

Moonlight Drive Highway 5
Belcourt, ND 58316
Phone: (701) 477-6111
Turtle Mountain Service Unit | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Urgent Care, Primary Care, Optometry, Dental, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Laboratory Services, Radiology, Physical Therapy

Yankton Indian Health Service 

111 Washington Ave NW
Wagner, SD 57380
Phone: (701) 477-6111
Yankton Service Unit | Healthcare Facilities (ihs.gov)
Services: Urgent Care, Primary Care, Optometry, Dental, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Laboratory Services, Radiology, Physical Therapy

The Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board offers a variety of professional development and training opportunities. Choose from time-spaced courses, seminars, or online delivery.

Our Programs  

Emergency Operations Center

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC), established in 2020, serves as an EOC for 17 tribal nations and one service unit across a four-state region and provides training on disaster mitigation to individuals from these areas. The EOC also develops and implements culturally responsive public health emergency management plans and procedures to support Great Plains Area tribal communities.

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Great Plains Health Insurance Exchange (HIE) Navigator Program

The Great Plains Navigator Program aims to increase knowledge of the Health Insurance Exchanges and resources and assist uninsured American Indians living in He Sapa Catchment counties and urban Rapid City to navigate the Health Insurance Exchanges and enroll. The outreach area includes Oglala, Rosebud, and Cheyenne River Sioux tribal communities.

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Learn More About...

Training and Education Department

Updates and resources for tribes and tribal communities in the Great Plains area about the COVID-19 outbreak.

As a public health authority, the Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center has been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and outbreak in the Great Plains Area. We stand as a public health authority and epidemiology center for tribal nations in Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. We are creating resources, for tribal leaders, communities, healthcare providers, and community leaders which are meant to be shared broadly to keep our community members safe and healthy and stop the spread of COVID-19.

We continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 and provide information and fill gaps that are identified. Please see our Data Dashboard for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the Great Plains area and tribal nations within.

View Our COVID-19 Dashboard

SUPPORT SERVICES

Providing information, data, and technical assistance are at the core of our Epidemiology Center’s mission and services. Click below to find out more.

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Up-to-date information and resources for individuals, families, communities, healthcare, and businesses preparing for and responding to COVID-19 in the Great Plains Area.

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Finding the right health data for your tribal organization.

We provide data services to help with your funding applications, strategic planning, and community outreach.

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Finding solutions for your tribal community health needs.

We provide training, program support and development, best practices, facilitation, and connection to experts.

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Learn More About...

Tribal Epidemiology Center Department