Indigenous Social Determinants of
Health Training Modules & Report

Indigenous Social Determinants of Health Training Modules

A Training to Guide Native Nations, Indigenous Communities, and their partners through Mapping Indigenous Social Determinants of Health

Prepared by Seven Directions: A Center for Indigenous Public Health, 2023

Report Description

‍The World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) social determinants of health frameworks and models(CDC, 2022-a; Solar & Irwin, 2010) illustrate how socioeconomic and political policies and subsequent conditions can have greater impact on health status and outcomes than individual genetics, behavior, or direct care from the health care system (CDC, 2022-b). Equally impactful are Indigenous communities’ traditional ways of life (DeBruyn et al., 2020), knowledge systems (Lines & Jardine, 2019), and connection to the land, one another, and the surrounding environment (Johnson-Jennings et al., 2020). Both Western and Indigenous determinants of health frameworks were examined in the development of this training.  

Mapping the important social determinants of health for a particular Indigenous, Alaska Native, or American Indian community will provide a comprehensive understanding of how different forces may shape community health and well-being, which in turn offers an array of possible solutions to address the health needs of the community.

This set of six training modules offers a path toward mapping these important conditions. The aim of which is to strengthen and restore the beneficial conditions unique to our communities. At the same time, identify and remove or buffer those conditions that are harmful to our health and well-being.

This training is the embodiment of a movement to celebrate our stories and experiences, and uplift and center Indigenous knowledge. It offers a step toward achieving healthy equity and inclusion for Indigenous peoples within public health, research, and policy through the representation of lived experiences and storytelling.

Acknowledgments & Dedication

Seven Directions would like to thank:

We would like to thank our community partners and advisory board who joined us in 2021 to develop and complete the Indigenous Social Determinants of Health (ISDOH) project. We extend our gratitude to community members who have joined Gathering Grounds, community of practice, over the years and those who joined us from across the country for Our Nations, Our Journey conference in June 2023. We appreciate the time and contributions from the ISDOH advisory board over the years: Stephanie Russo Carroll, DrPH; Ilima Ho-Lastimosa, MSW, MoA; Felicia Mitchell, MSW, PhD; Lydia Jennings, PhD; Myra Parker, MPH, JD, PhD. We are only starting our relationships and connection with each other in our shared work for Indigenous peoples’ aspirations and community realizations.

Finally, we’d like to thank and acknowledge the amazing work being done already in this area of Indigenous social determinants of health that was shared while piloting the trainings. We thank the teams from Marimn Health serving the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the Pascua Yaqui Health Services Division for piloting the training modules with us. This is dedicated to all the community members and relatives working for Native nations and Indigenous communities healing, health and well-being with passion, dedication and commitment, may it be a resource that supports the good work you are already doing!