Our Nations Our Journeys: 2018 Indigenous Public Health Forum
2018 Forum
The 2018 Our Nations, Our Journeys Indigenous Public Health Forum was convened on August 29-30, 2018, in St. Paul, MN. The theme, “Transforming Our Health Systems” was about aligning Indigenous approaches to health and healing with our public health services and health care delivery. Indigenous approaches to health and healing are holistic, encompassing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Despite this holistic view, our health services are often delivered in silos, without connection or coordination. Health system transformation occurs when public health (community focus) and health care (individual focus) services are connected and aligned with Indigenous values, beliefs and practices.
At the forum, we listened to expert panels and presentations highlighting health system transformation activities occurring in tribal and urban Indian communities.
Hear what the keynotes speakers had to say below.
Elva (Cookie) Allan, Owner, Advanced Management Strategies/Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Lindsey Holt, MSW, Marimn Health’s Behavioral Health Department
Raquel E. Aviles (Yaqui), Pascua Yaqui Tribe Health Services
View Slides >>
Resources & Presentations
Explore the presentations and other resources from the forum.
Indigenous Pathways to Health
- Integrating Traditional and Modern Medicine to Improve Health Outcomes – Don Warne (Oglala Lakota), MD, MPH, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota
- Transforming Health Systems: A Yaqui-Centered Framework for Public Health Practice – Christina Oré (Quechua-mestiza), DrPH, Pascua Yaqui Health Services Division
- The Interconnectedness of Wellness and Culture – Thosh Collins (On Akimel O’Otham/Haudenosuanee), Well for Culture Chelsey Luger (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe), Well for Culture
- Providing Cultural and Social Services that Reconnect Indigenous People to their Heritage: An Overview of the Home Visitation Model in the Northwest Region – Myra Parker (Mandan/Hidatsa), JD, MPH, PhD, Seven Directions: A Center for Indigenous Public Health
Data as Knowledge
- Decolonize Data: Restoring Culture. Building Beauty – Abigail Echo-hawk (Pawnee), MA, Urban Indian Health Institute
- Indigenous Epidemiology: An Introduction to the Urban Indian Health Institute’s Data Dashboard for Identifying Health Priorities among Urban Native Populations – Adrian Dominguez, MS, Urban Indian Health Institute
- Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country: Indigenous Evaluation and Collaboration – Rose James (Lummi), PhD, Urban Indian Health Institute
- Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Indigenous Health – Don Warne (Oglala Lakota), MD, MPH, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota
Governance for Health
- The Elephant in the Room: One Tribe’s Data-Driven Approach to Re-entry and Population Health Through Collaboration – Elva (Cookie) Allan, Advanced Management Strategies/Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Lindsey Holt, MSW, Marimn Health’s Behavioral Health Department
- Maximizing Collaboration to Achieve Collective Impact on Improving Cancer Outcomes Across American Indian Communities – Anne Walaszek (White Earth Band of Ojibwe), MPH, American Indian Cancer Foundation, Amber Ruffin (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara), MPH, American Indian Cancer Foundation
- Strengthening Indigenous Research Pathways at Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) – Deborah His Horse Is Thunder (Assiniboine), EdD, American Indian Higher Education Consortium
- Improving Population Health Through Partnerships and Collaboration – Wayne Weston (Oglala Lakota), Sanford Health USD School of Medicine, Elva (Cookie) Allan, Advanced Management Strategies/Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Lindsey Holt, MSW, Marimn Health’s Behavioral Health Department
Performance & Innovation
- Hiak Hitevi Kari (The Healer’s House) – Raquel E. Aviles (Yaqui), Pascua Yaqui Tribe Health Services
- When the Standards Align: Developing a Process of Performance Management and Quality Improvement for Public Health and Clinical Health Care – Carrie Sampson (Umatilla, Walla Walla, Cayuse), Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, Beverly J. Larson, MPH, RN, CPHQ-Retired, Grayhorse Strategies, LLC
- Evidence-Based Practices in Tribal and Urban Indian Public Health and Health Care – Chelsey Saari, MPH, Public Health Accreditation Board, Michelle Adelmann, MPH, American Indian Cancer Foundation, Amber Ruffin (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara), MPH, American Indian Cancer Foundation
- Clinic Team Strategies to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Across American Indian Communities – Anne Walaszek (White Earth Band of Ojibwe), MPH, American Indian Cancer Foundation, Sambridhi Shrestha, MPH, American Indian Cancer Foundation
About Our Practice
The Seven Sacred Directions
Seven Directions was born from a desire to create greater connectivity across the many tribes, communities and organizations that have the health and wellness of American Indian and Alaska Native people at the heart of what they do. We are guided by the “seven directions” of practice: Integration & Holistic Wellness, Culture & Identity, Families & Communities, Respect for Sovereignty, Service, Indigenous Knowledge, and Tribal Governance.
The Seven Sacred Directions serve as an indigenous framework for presenting the strategic directions for the public health agenda.
