National Native American Heritage Month
We Are Still Here!
It’s November and it is National Native American Heritage Month – a time to celebrate indigenous voices and Indian self-determination.  
 
This month’s issue includes celebrating Native Heritage, highlighting the new INSPIRE text message campaign, tools for cultural empowerment and stories from the field of native youth making a difference in tribal public health. Our ancestors’ dreams are happening
We INSPIRE Campaign
Igniting Public Health Pathways for Youth
Lifting Up Indigenous Voices to INSPIRE
Text INSPIRE to 94449

Over the last year, the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, We R Native, and We Are Healers worked in partnership to create the INSPIRE public health pathways text message campaign. The campaign features Native professionals working in a variety of public health roles. Help teens and young adults sign-up for the text messages using their cell phones in classrooms, career readiness programs, and community health centers to inspire the next generation of public health heroes.
Text INSPIRE to 94449:
A Text Message Campaign for Teens and Young Adults
The places where we learn, work, and play all have an impact on our health. To hear diverse Indigenous voices, and the pathways you can take to work in public health, text INSPIRE to 94449. Throughout the series, we share tips and ideas to help youth on their academic journey.
 
Simply text INSPIRE to 94449 to sign up.
Health Native Youth Stand-Alone Lesson:
Public Health 101 Internship Guide
To support the campaign, the Board developed Public Health 101 Fact Sheets for students and Mentoring Guides for health educators. The fact sheets cover core public health concepts and topics with an Indigenous-lens.

The guides are designed for adults hosting student interns, and are tailored for each grade-level (middle-school, high-school, and college/graduate-level).
They can also be found on Healthy Native Youth’s Stand-Alone Lesson page:

We INSPIRE: Internship Stories from the Field
This summer was a busy one for students and mentors who tested the guides by hosting community-based public health internship projects. Here is a snapshot of their efforts.

Middle School (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde): Students reviewed the Native It’s Your Game 2.0 curriculum and provided feedback to the curriculum developers, to help modernization the program.
High School (Confederated Tribes of Siletz): Students learned about health communication and filmed health promotion videos using TikTok to promote mental health for youth in their community.

College (OHSU-PSU School of Public Health): Students helped design an Indigenous Public Health course that will be offered on campus as part of OHSU-PSU’s School of Public Health program.
Healthy Native Youth Implementation Tool Spotlight
Curricula Comparison Chart
In October, we highlighted the Community Needs and Resource Assessment implementation tool to GATHER youth and community feedback to identify their health priorities, resources and needs. Now you are ready for the CHOOSE phase! Use the HNY Comparison Chart to select an age-appropriate health curriculum that aligns with your goals and setting. HealthyNativeYouth.org houses culturally responsive evidence-based curricula designed to celebrate American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth of all ages.
Community of Practice
Coming Up: November 9
Join us to learn about the latest adolescent health tools & resources for your native youth local programming!
In Case You Missed it in October
Sexual Health in Indian Country & Alaska Today
On 10/26, the conversation centered on the latest regarding tackling sexual health in schools today and the exchange of ideas of how to build confidence in advocating for our youth at home. Tune in to HNY YouTube for the recorded session!
Coming Up in December
Year End Recap
Spread the Word
Share the Healthy Native Youth Newsletter!
1. Share this email with your colleagues.
2. Sign up for HNY updates by texting HEALTHY to 94449.
3. Follow us on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

QR Code for HNY: LinkTree

Connect with us