ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Television and movie actor James Van Der Beek, who died Wednesday at age 48, previously revealed he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. No official cause of death was given.
In Alaska, the threat of that kind of cancer is more grave than most the country.
By Hannah Lee, Lars Hanson and Joey Klecka
February 11, 2026
The need for this toolkit was first identified in 2008 by the CSTE Tribal Epidemiology Subcommittee as a way to improve public health surveillance in Indian Country. The first toolkit was published in 2014. In 2023, CSTE collaborated with the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board to update the toolkit to include current issues in Tribal public health epidemiology and provide new resources to CSTE members.
The goal remains the same: To improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people through epidemiology.
Link to tool: https://tribal.cste.org/
The Navajo Epidemiology Center (NEC) has renewed its data-sharing agreement with the New Mexico Department of Health, strengthening access to updated vital records and improving the ability to monitor health trends within the New Mexico portion of the Navajo Nation.
Using newly available data from 2018-2024, NEC conducted an updated mortality analysis. Findings show that unintentional injuries, chronic liver disease, and COVID-19 are among the leading causes of death in the region.
This partnership supports more timely, accurate public health data and helps inform community-driven prevention efforts, resource allocation, and health planning to better serve Navajo communities.
View/Download the report to learn more and explore the full findings. (PDF 1 MB)
The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) is now accepting applications for Tribal Health Departments interested in serving as a host site for the ASPPH/CDC Tribal Health Department Fellowship Program. This program places Master of Public Health–level graduates in Tribal Health Departments for an 11-month, full-time applied learning and training program focused on projects identified by the host site. Fellows will serve at host sites from September 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027.
Through these efforts, more than 700 STI testing kits and “Undetectable = Untransmittable” educational materials were distributed to providers, people living with HIV, and community members.
These educational materials are intended to reduce stigma related to HIV, STIs, and HCV while encouraging testing and awareness.
In addition to the educational campaign and workforce development activities, CTEC developed a Health Equity Dashboard that highlights trends in STI prevalence across California and serves as a data resource for Tribal communities.
Together, these initiatives strengthen Tribal capacity to turn data into action and support long-term wellness in American Indian and Alaska Native communities across California.
To learn more about CTEC’s ongoing work to advance health equity and improve the AI/AN health across California, visit CTEC’s website.
