Page 6

All County Letter No. 25-93 Page Five IHCIA Definitions Per FNS guidance, the following definitions must be used to establish an exemption under this criterion. Self-attestation that a household member is Indian, Urban Indian, or California Indian per the definitions below is sufficient to grant the exemption. Self- attestation may be captured verbally or in writing. If the household verbally attests that they are Indian, Urban Indian, or California Indian, the county must note it in the case record and must not seek additional verification, unless questionable. Indian (25 U.S.C. 1603(13)) An individual is considered an “Indian” if they are a member of an Indian Tribe. An Indian Tribe includes any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including Alaska Native villages, groups, or regional or village corporations established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, that is recognized as eligible for federal programs and services provided to Indians because of their status as Indians. This definition of “Indian” is narrower than the definition of “Indian Tribe” at 7 CFR 271.2. Urban Indian (25 U.S.C. 1603(18)) An individual is considered an “Urban Indian” if they reside in an urban center and meet at least one of the following: 1. They are a member of a Tribe, band, or other organized group of Indians, including groups terminated since 1940 and those recognized now or in the future by their State, or a first- or second-degree descendant of such a member; 2. They are an Eskimo, Aleut, or other Alaska Native; 3. They are determined to be an Indian under regulations issued by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior; or 4. They are determined to be an Indian under regulations issued by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. An urban center is any community with a sufficient urban Indian population with unmet health needs to warrant assistance under subchapter IV of the IHICA, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. California Indian (25 U.S.C. 1679(a)) An individual is considered a “California Indian” if they meet at least one of the following: 1. They are a member of a federally recognized Indian Tribe; 2. They are a descendant of an Indian who resided in California on June 1, 1852, provided they are a member of the Indian community served by a local Indian Health Service program and are regarded as an Indian by their community; 3. They are an Indian who holds trust interests in public domain, national forest, or reservation allotments in California; or