Wahzhazhe Health Center CEO Mark Rogers recently testified before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources about the positive and life-saving effects that self-determination agreements have had for tribes.
The oversight hearing titled, “Examining 50 years of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in Indian Country,” was held on April 4 at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City.
“Our funding via a compact with the U.S. government … has brought incredible economic viability, stability and services to the people of the Osage Nation and other tribal members we service,” Rogers said.
He was among the seven individuals asked to testify, which included Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton, Quapaw Nation Chair Wena Supernaw, Muscogee Creek Nation Principal Chief David Hill, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President Martin Harvier, and the Executive Director of the Tulsa-based Self Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium Jay Spaan.
A focus on health and life
In Rogers’ remarks, he noted the positive impacts for health programs on the Osage people, families and the community “through the life-changing impacts of self-governance and self-determination in Oklahoma’s largest county, Osage County, located in the Pawnee Service Unit.”
He said the services have life and death consequences for many of the people they serve, from diabetes to dental, two medical mobile units, to social services case management. The issues he outlined as priorities to address included the fact that people are “often suffering from geographic loneliness, food and transportation insecurity whilst residing in these remote parts of our area.”
A representative who was not on the committee but had driven up from Texas to be there out of interest, Rep. Jake Ellzey of Texas’s 6th Congressional district, shared that he was very troubled by the low life expectancy of Native Americans.
“Right now, I think it’s sitting around 64, certainly in the Western states, not including California and Washington … it’s the one ethnic group that has not recovered since the end of the pandemic … Listening to all of those tribes, it’s generational tribes, it’s poor food, the loss of culture, poor water, lack of education, law enforcement and the lack thereof, medical care and clinics that aren’t able to see enough patients or are too far away; Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People, followed by despair and a lack of hope,” said Rep. Ellzey.
Rogers did not reply to Ellzey’s comments, which came later in the hearing, and Ellzey’s comments did focus on law enforcement questions.
In Rogers’ overview, however, he noted that a noteworthy safety-focused program was “the Osage Nation’s … tribal response to the 2024 Barnsdall Tornado emergencies during multiple declared federal, state and tribal national states of emergency.”
“Self-governance,” Rogers said, “has provided not only more services to the tribe in the area but has also generated incredible economic opportunities for both Native American and non-Native citizens alike.”
“Everyone prospers in the community when the Osage Nation prospers. Self-governance has provided this ability to deliver these programs and services to the people in a more robust, decentralized manner … for the Osage Nation to leverage these vital programs and services as a result.”
His comments echoed those of Rep. Teresa Isabel Leger Fernandez of New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional district, who said in opening remarks that non-Indians and non-Indian neighbors also benefit from the health of health clinics. She said so, amidst remarks that the Trump Administration has not yet shown a commitment to the spirit of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, but hopes that will be a “not yet.”
Amidst Rogers’ other remarks, he said that construction of the new Wahzhazhe Health Center in downtown Pawhuska, assisted living, primary residential treatment (PRT), and grants were all contributions that help provide jobs, contribute to education and add to housing market stability.
Regarding health care, the Congress drew specific attention to Indian Health Services’ (IHS) suffering under recent Medicaid cuts of $880 billion during comments from Rep. Fernandez. “Indian self-determination does not exist in a vacuum … you were relying on third-party funding … on those Medicaid dollars to come in so that you could increase services because sadly, we underfund IHS,” she said.
Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional district had a direct question for Rogers regarding IHS, asking, “Can you walk me through your compacting negotiations with IHS? Were there specific delays or hurdles that you encountered in that process that Congress should be aware of?”
Due to the compacting taking place prior to his hiring with the Osage health system, Rogers could not speak to the process personally, but he nonetheless attested amidst remarks, “there was a lot of consultation … A lot of the tribes help each other through that process.”
In terms of collaboration and empowerment, Rogers also shared that vocational programs and higher education programs are examples of self-determination that benefit the tribe, producing future workforces and “keeping the next generation home with the future and thus bending the curve of outward migration from decades past.” He also talked about the Nation’s private school, Daposka Ahnkodapi, and its responsibility to strengthen and preserve language and culture through education, calling the effort “important.”
Celebrating Indian Self-Determination
Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas’ 4th Congressional district asked, “How many laws has Congress passed that people come back 50 years later and celebrate?”
Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia’s 10th Congressional district celebrated the government’s move away from “the federal government [who] in their infinite wisdom put you on a piece of land, told you to ‘stay there, don’t move, and we’ll take care of you.’ Thank God we can do something new, and you can do 638 contracts. And I really didn’t know what a compact was, but I’ve figured it out since your testimony …” he said.
Rep. Gosar said, “To be truly sovereign, our tribal communities need a hand up to secure economic development for their future. We need to clarify and define where our trust obligations begin and where it ends with both Indian Country and with the federal government … Rogers, how could this self-determination act really help us in the new administration’s wellness and preventative aspects?”
Rogers shared that being aware, appropriating resources appropriately, communicating the challenges that arise “as a result of any changes,” and the self-determination compacting for tribes, which stabilizes programs and allows planning multiple years out, would help tribes achieve wellness and prevention.
“It is with great honor that I share my experiences with you on behalf of the great Osage Nation and its proud people, and to present this testimony today before this committee as requested. Thank you again for this opportunity and thank you to the United States Congress for all it has done, and continues to do, in advancing the recognition, economic needs, and self-determination of all Native Americans. We-wi-nah (Thank you).”
