The Bemidji Area Office (BAO) of the Indian Health Service (IHS) is located in Bemidji, Minnesota. It provides health care and funding to support health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives residing in five states with tribal facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana; and urban centers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. Currently, there are 34 federally recognized tribes in the BAO geographical area, with more tribes seeking recognition by the federal government. Ojibwe (Chippewa) Indians are the most numerous of the 34 tribes served by the Bemidji Area. Still occupying areas today, where they earlier settled, are the Ottawa, Potawatomi, Menominee, Ho-Chunk, and Sioux. Only the Oneida, a member of the Iroquois of upstate New York, and the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Band (originally from Massachusetts) were resettled in the area from greater distances. Most of the land is heavily glaciated and remains forested as part of forested lowlands. Some of the nation's record low temperatures and some of the record snowfalls are recorded in these northern places.

The total population served by the Bemidji Area IHS exceeds 90,000 individual patients. The population is based on the official 2001 Headquarters User Population data of federally recognized Indians who use IHS services.

For more information visit the Bemidji Area Website.

	Craig Morin Director, SFC Indian Health Service Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction 522 Minnesota Ave., NW Bemidji,  MN 56601 Phone: (218)444-0504