Advertising in Tribal Communities
Tribal community advertising brings public health messages into the places American Indian and Alaska Native community members gather and seek care: Tribal Community Centers, Indian Health Service (IHS) locations, and venues on reservations. PlaceBased Media plans and runs these campaigns as a fully managed service, with creative shaped by community guidance.
500,000+ locations · 300+ U.S. markets · Alliance for Audited Media (AAM)-audited delivery · English, Spanish + 15 more languages · Fully managed
PlaceBased Media is a place-based OOH and DOOH advertising network. We put tribal outreach messages on posters, screens, and take-ones inside the trusted places where people live, learn, work, shop, and seek care. Many media companies specialize in impressions. We specialize in impact.
Start With Respect
There is no single "Native audience." IHS serves about 2.8 million American Indian and Alaska Native people from 575 federally recognized Tribes across 37 states (Indian Health Service). Each Tribe is a sovereign nation with its own government, culture, language, and health priorities.
Geography varies too. In the 2020 Census, 9.7 million people identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination with another race (U.S. Census Bureau), and IHS reports that 70% of American Indian and Alaska Native people live in urban areas (IHS). Reservation and Tribal venues are one part of a plan. Urban clinics, community centers, and rural community hubs may be others.
As a general good practice, campaigns in Tribal communities should:
Involve Tribal health departments, Tribal leadership, or community advisors early, before creative is final.
Get permission for placements on Tribal land and in Tribal facilities.
Let the community shape and review the message.
We don't speak for any Tribe, and no campaign should.
Campaign Topics
Health gaps in Native communities are not about culture. IHS describes the causes of persistent inequities as "rooted in a complex history of federal-Indian relations, policies, and systemic barriers" (IHS). Good messages point to resources and strengths, not blame.
Health equity and access. Enrollment, local care options, telehealth, and how to get help navigating care.
Substance use. Overdose prevention, naloxone, and treatment and recovery resources. American Indian and Alaska Native people had the highest drug overdose death rate of any group in 2024, 51.6 per 100,000, though it fell from 65.0 in 2023 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC). Substance use prevention guide
Diabetes and chronic disease. Screening, prevention programs, and care management. In 2021–2023, 15.7% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults had diagnosed diabetes, compared with 7.1% of White adults (CDC).
Vaccines. Flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and childhood immunizations. Vaccine and immunization advertising guide
988 and mental health. Awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and local support. Suicide rates were highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people in 2023, but fell 15.3% from 2021 to 2023 (CDC). 988 campaign guide
Maternal health. Prenatal and postpartum care, and support for new parents. Maternal health campaigns
Creative That Respects the Community
These are general good practices, not rules for any one Tribe:
Build it with community guidance. Community members and Tribal health staff know what will land and what won't.
Show real, present-day life. Feature community members, with permission, in everyday settings. No stereotypes, sacred symbols, or generic "Native-inspired" designs.
Use the community's own terms. Name the Tribe only where the Tribe has approved it.
Handle language with care. Use Native-language text only when the community wants it and provides or approves the translation.
Lead with strength. Focus on resilience and on clear, practical next steps.
Point to local resources. Where appropriate, name the Tribal or IHS program people can contact.
How a Campaign Works
Planning. We map Tribal, IHS, and reservation venues to your priority communities, alongside rural and urban venues where they fit.
Production. We format your creative or help build it, with room for community review.
Installation. We coordinate every venue and replace anything damaged or missing during the flight.
Reporting with photo proof. Time-stamped, geo-tagged photos for every location and delivery reporting you can share with Tribal partners.
Learn more in our guide to Native American advertising on reservations, and see the full range of venues and topics on our public health advertising page. Our case studies include a national naloxone education and fentanyl awareness campaign that reached Tribal communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you place ads in IHS locations and on reservations?
Yes. Tribal, IHS, and reservation venues are part of the PlaceBased network. Availability varies by area, so your plan lists exact locations before you commit.
Do we need Tribal approval?
As a general good practice, yes. Placements on Tribal land and in Tribal facilities should have the Tribe's or facility's permission, and creative should reflect community input.
Can creative be in a Native language?
Yes, when the community wants it. The translation should come from or be approved by that community.
Can you reach Native people who live in cities?
Yes. Plans can add urban clinics, community centers, and multicultural venues alongside Tribal and reservation placements.
Who runs campaigns in Tribal communities?
Tribal health departments, state and federal health programs, nonprofits, and the agencies that serve them.
Do you target individuals?
No. We target by location, venue type, and geography. We never use personal or health data.
Let's Talk
Tell us which communities you want to support and what you hope people will do. We'll come back with venue options, a plan that leaves room for community guidance, and an honest read on what your budget can do.