Infectious Disease

Project Materials

National Vaccination Project: GPTEC worked with national and regional partners,  subject-matter experts,  community health representatives (CHRs), and the Great Plains and National CHR Associations to develop materials to promote adult vaccination in tribal communities. Materials include YouTube video PSAs, posters, reference materials, and others.

Substance Abuse & Hepatitis C MessagingThese materials were developed following extensive collaboration with representatives from the Indian Health Service, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, and KAT Communications. They highlight the nature of substance abuse as a chronic disease, highlight its relationship to Hepatitis C, and advocate for a response to both.

Universal Precautions for Sundance Ceremonies Brochure: GPTEC is pleased to disseminate an updated version of a brochure promoting the application of Universal Precautions for Sundance Ceremonies, which help to prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C during these sacred ceremonies. The original version of this pamphlet was developed in the 1990s in close collaboration with Sundance leaders, and was well-received as a result. For over a decade, local universal precaution practice trainings were held by Indian Health Service and tribal HIV Coordinators and available funds were utilized to support the dissemination of related supplies. Unfortunately, funding to support these initiatives and associated efforts have dwindled, though the need for them has not.

This new brochure provides the original language alongside contact tribal contact information and sources for the much-needed supplies to support these efforts.

In providing this updated resource, we would also like to strongly encourage local staff to assist us in sharing this information with your community and especially those leading and participating in Sundance Ceremonies. Where possible, we also would encourage local staff to supplement this information with training for Sundance leaders and Sun Dancers.

Follow this link to view and download the 2019 Universal Precautions for Sundance Ceremonies Brochure

GPTEC is also able to print copies of this brochure by request. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request printed copies or for more information.


 Tribal Public Health Codes

“The term ‘public health law’ is often used to refer any statute or rule that protects public health and establishes a Public Health Authority to enforce the code… The code identifies a person who is in charge of receiving reportable disease data and responding to the information with the appropriate action. As sovereigns, Tribes have the power to act on data from their community in a way that protects the community. Without Tribal public health laws the Tribes may have difficulty responding to surveillance results.”

(Tribal Public Health Code Forum Report, May 2015)

Background Information (from the Tribal Public Health Code Forum – May 16, 2015)

Sample Codes

Last modified on: Tuesday, October 25th, 2022 @ 11:53 am

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Member Tribes

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Flandreau Sioux

Flandreau Sioux

Lower Brule Sioux

Lower Brule Sioux

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate

Yankton Sioux

Yankton Sioux

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Meskwaki Nation

Meskwaki Nation

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

Trenton Indian Service Area

Trenton Indian Service Area

Santee sioux nation

Santee sioux nation

Standing Rock Sioux

Standing Rock Sioux

Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation

Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Spirit Lake Tribe

Spirit Lake Tribe

Omaha Nations

Omaha Nations

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