For thousands of years, Indigenous communities have cared for their people through traditional healing practices like sweat lodges, talking circles, and herbal medicine. These practices are about treating illness and strengthening the mind, body, and spirit.
But when colonization and Western medicine took hold, these healing ways were often outlawed, dismissed, or ignored. This caused harm and disconnection between Native people and their traditional health practices.
Traditional roots
Today, Tribes in Washington state are leading efforts to restore balance by blending traditional and modern health systems. Through a partnership with the Health Care Authority (HCA), Tribal Nations are helping shape a proposed Section 1115 Medicaid waiver that would allow Traditional Indian Medicine (TIM) — traditional health care practices— to be covered by Medicaid. This waiver would support Tribal Sovereignty and ensure that traditional healers and practices are respected as legitimate forms of care.
HCA’s Office of Tribal Affairs (OTA) formed a Traditional Health Care Practices Workgroup, bringing together Tribes to guide the Traditional Health Care Practices waiver process. Meetings are being held through the end of 2025, with the goal of submitting a waiver application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by December 31, 2025. This collaboration ensures the voices and knowledge of Indigenous communities remain at the center of the work.
Strength in cultural identity
Research shows that reclaiming cultural identity and reconnecting with traditional ways can directly improve health and well-being. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Native people who engage in cultural or community-based activities — like tribal ceremonies, language programs, or substance-free events — are more likely to report strong mental health and lower rates of substance misuse. These findings affirm what Indigenous communities have always known: healing happens through culture, connection, and community.
By recognizing traditional medicine as essential to health and making it accessible through Apple Health (Medicaid) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Washington is helping create a future where Native people can heal in the ways that have always worked best for them.