Victor Joseph receives a national tribal health advocacy award

Victor Joseph, chief administrative officer of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, received the National Indian Health Board's 2026 Sovereignty in Action Award for advocacy, TCC announced Tuesday. The award is one of two the board gave for the first time this year, and the board calls it among its highest national honors, recognizing work that advances tribal sovereignty and tribal health systems.

Joseph, a member of the Native Village of Tanana, has worked for the Interior Alaska tribal consortium for decades and led it as chief and chairman from 2014 to 2020. He also chairs the Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee, which advises the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Indian health policy.

He accepted the award at the board's Heroes in Health banquet during the National Tribal Health Conference. TCC's announcement did not include the board's citation or Joseph's own remarks.