National Native American Heritage Month |
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November is National Native American Heritage Month. Although every day is a good day to be Indigenous, this particular month marks an annual coordinated national effort to elevate the American Indian and Alaska Native voice with pride, presence and resilience.
For good medicine, watch the “IndigiLOVE begins with I” campaign video HERE and witness what our Native youth are doing to stay strong, resilient and indigenous! #indigiLOVE
In this month’s issue, find helpful Healthy Native Youth information, curricula updates, community partnership news and inspirational resource tools for native youth, families and communities with a native lens – Native Lives Matter!
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The Power of Culturally Relevant Health Education
Native Youth, Families & Communities
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The incorporation of culture and existing community resources when addressing issues of health and well-being is especially critical in indigenous public health. Tribal health educators across the United States have found it challenging to locate engaging, culturally-relevant sexual health curricula and resources for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth. In response to the unmet need, We R Native multimedia health resource and the Healthy Native Youth online educator portal emerged. Blending adolescent sexual health education with cultural relevance proved both effective in evidence as well as ignited a Native youth-led wellness movement in We R Native.
How? Cultural pride! Watch here.
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The time for native sexual health education is here by incorporating indigenous ways of knowing, training health educators in culturally-relevant sexual health curricula to empower our native youth as they embark on their health and wellness journeys. Hear from a male voice and a female voice, both native educators who are making a difference, lifting up their voices to not let fear of teaching about sensitive topics take hold, but to embrace it as an opportunity to transform the lives of their youth by sharing,
“You Are Native. You Matter. You can change our world.”
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Announcing Talking Is Power Text Messaging Campaign for Parents & Caring Adults |
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The Healthy Native Youth collaborative launched a Talking is Power campaign this spring to help American Indian and Alaska Native parents and caring adults initiate difficult conversations about sexual health topics with their teens and young adults. Click HERE to view recruitment video.
Caring adults can text the word “EMPOWER” to 97779 to receive weekly text messages that include culturally appropriate tips and resources, covering sexual health, pregnancy, HIV/STDs, condoms, and consent. We know that talking to teens about sensitive health topics is never easy, but it’s important to talk openly and honestly. To date, approximately 200 parents have signed up for the service. Among those who’ve completed the series, 84% reported that the messages helped spark sensitive conversations with their child.
One parent commented:
“Thank you for this service! I think it will be a good reminder to keep these important conversations going with our children.”
All of the campaign tips and tools are available online HERE. Sign up today, embrace the awkward and get ready to grab the moment with your youth this holiday season and winter break!
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Healthy Native Youth Curricula Highlight |
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Native It’s Your Game (Native IYG) is a web-based HIV, STD and pregnancy prevention curriculum for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth ages 12-14. Native IYG is comprised of thirteen 30-50-minute interactive lessons, which can be used in the classroom, or as an extracurricular program. NIYG teaches about healthy relationships, life skills, communication, and refusal skills using interactive activities, video games, personalized “journaling” activities, tailored feedback and individually tailored activities. NIYG also emphasizes abstinence, but also teaches learners how to protect themselves from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections using medically accurate information.
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NIYG 2.0 Coming! Modernization & Updates in Spring 2021 |
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NIYG is currently undergoing an update as it is transitioned from Flash to HTML to keep the program available to current users and future users. The update is scheduled to be up and running in the spring of 2021 as Flash will be ending at the end of 2020.
With this transition, we may experience some delays in the program for the remainder of the fall. However, after the update the program will be better than before! The update will allow users more navigational control through the program giving facilitators and the students more flexibility as they explore the program.
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Click here to access NIYG
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An example of a 2SLGBTQ+ factsheet here
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A NIYG Elder Blessing here
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HNY Project Partner Spotlight:
University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston
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November 18th:
Mental Health & Wellness: Suicide Prevention
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Join the discussion with Tribal Health: Reaching out InVolves Everyone (THRIVE) & our First Nations relatives on how we can best support mental health and wellness with our youth. First Nations presenters will discuss the newest addition to the HNY portal, the First Nations Youth Suicide Prevention Curriculum, and provide information about its contents. Participants will also engage in an interactive activity that you can do with youth in your communities. Text HEALTHY to 97779 or find connection info here.
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The month of October’s Community of Practice focused on the topic of domestic violence in households during this COVID-19 era and how to support youth living under these disturbing, yet real conditions. Learn from topical experts and plenty of takeaways! |
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Alaska Native News & Resources |
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Unveiling the new and updated Iknowmine.org website |
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iknowmine.org provides Alaska Native and rural Alaska youth holistic health education and additional resources to promote healthy lifestyle choices. The website distributes educational materials, condoms, and safe medicine supplies and offers the I Want the Kit STD at-home testing to Alaska-based addresses. Check out iknowmine.org and their social media & YouTube channels!
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Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Produces a Short Video in Support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October |
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Alaska Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program partners with multiple statewide and regional partners to identify resources for assistance. The video itself promotes a culturally relevant approach to healthy relationships. It is a critical time for anyone facing domestic and sexual violence to know you are not alone.
If you are in need of immediate assistance, call the domestic violence crisis line at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 911. Visit their website to view the short video and find resources in Alaska at www.anthc.org/notalone.
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Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Produces a Short Video in Support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October |
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Traditional stories keep our traditions alive. Koahnic Broadcast Corp and Rising Indigenous Voices Radio partnered together to create a 10-part interactive, multimedia series called The Storyteller, hosted on nativestoryteller.net.
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Perseverance Theater Live Streams Play
Written and Directed by Tlingit Playwright Frank Henry Kaash Kataasse
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On a family vacation to their cabin nestled in the beautiful wilderness of Alaska, Tlingit twins Kaash and Shaa find themselves on the adventure of a lifetime! Join these clever kids on their journey as they face ferocious Wolves, rap battle the fast-talking Raven, reason with the dramatic Bear, and search for the elusive Spirit of the Valley. Visit Perseverance Theater’s website for more info and to make a reservation.
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Stories From The Field
Native Resilience, Native Next Gen
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Indigenous Futures Project - The keystone of this project is the Indigenous Futures Survey (IFS). The first survey in Indian Country and Alaska that provides an opportunity for all Native peoples to be a part of shaping our future, offering a platform for understanding critical issues impacting Indian Country that can be used to motivate change.
Native Youth Are Medicine campaign - promoting healing, wellness, and tools to live in balance. A partnership of the Center for Native American Youth, Native Wellness Institute and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board adolescent programs. Text NATIVE to 97779.
There’s Heart Here - Roller derby champion. Activist. Cyclist. Follow three indigenous members of the Two Spirit and LGBTQ community as they journey toward self-acceptance, supportive healthcare, and communities that celebrate them.
#indigiLOVE Begins with I campaign video playlist - Native youth and young adults developed the campaign slogan focused on mental health, self-love and wellbeing utilizing various culture based intervention methods to capture three generated themes in video messaging to peers.
Brothers, the latest public service announcement as part of a series of safe distancing campaign videos led by the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence at OHSU, We Are Healers, We R Native and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.
Northwest Native American Center of Excellence believe in a new generation of indigenous health professionals and in the unlimited potential and strengths of Native youth. NNACoE guides Native Americans to achieve their dreams along the path to a career in healthcare. Text HEALER to 97779.
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In Closing:
Words of Wisdom from HNY Trusted Advisor
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Michelle Singer (Navajo|She/Her), Healthy Native Youth Project Manager, shares her words of wisdom about yesterday, today and tomorrow – as we aspire to collectively raise healthy native youth!
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