July's HNY Newsletter
Though considerable diversity exists throughout Indian Country and Alaska, traditional Native worldviews were often fundamentally different than Western and Eastern worldviews, having unique concepts about health and healing. Traditionally for many American Indian and Alaska Native people, all aspects of life were viewed as intimately intertwined. Mind, body, spirit, and context are connected, requiring balance to promote health and wellbeing.

Today, Native youth are returning to traditional ways of knowing sources of healing – like language, culture, land and ceremony – to reclaim wellness in all its forms.
Culture is Prevention  
Curricula Highlight: Healing of The Canoe
Culturally Grounded Life Skills for Youth (Healing of the Canoe) is a curriculum for Native youth focused on suicide and substance abuse prevention. It was designed to be adapted by Native communities using community-specific traditions and beliefs to strengthen youths’ connection to their communities and cultures, while strengthening their hope and optimism.

Click here for more information on the program and curricula.

The curriculum uses the Pacific Northwest Canoe Journey as a metaphor, providing skills needed to navigate life’s journey without being pulled off course by alcohol or drugs – with AI/AN culture as a compass and anchor. The curriculum template allows each community to use their own metaphors for a successful life journey. View a 3-minute video about the curriculum .
Native Youth Perspective on Diversity
It is hard today to be a young person. It is also a challenging time when you are a youth trying to understand identity. Yet, native youth are empowering themselves by educating others about inclusivity. Click and listen to a 1-minute youth perspective using the power of poetic words!
Special Session
July’s Community of Practice
Social Media Platforms to Reach Youth
Social media use is pervasive for all age-groups in Indian Country and Alaska, connecting families within and across tribes. To meet young people where they are and utilize their preferred communication channels, future health messaging should be designed for social media and text message delivery and incorporate culturally-tailored health messages, images, and videos. Conversely, caring adults and peers need training to develop these skills too.

Save-The-Date! July 8th @ 10am-12pm PST: A special 2-hour Community of Practice that will be split into two parts:

  • Part I: How to Use Social Media
  • Part II: How to Create Content & Keep it Going

Text HEALTHY to 97779 for a day-of-reminder with connection info or view the Healthy Native Youth website for info of how to join!
  
We hope you join and get techy with us!
HNY YouTube Channel Highlights
HNY YouTube Channel: Curriculum Facilitators Playlist
Take some time to hear stories from the field with one-minute testimonials from those who have done it! They share their words of wisdom to encourage others about the importance and impacts of implementing culturally and age-appropriate adolescent sexual health curricula in their home communities.

Click here for stories from the field.
THRIVE
LIVE THRIVE - Virtual Gathering
The suicide prevention project THRIVE (Tribal Health: Reaching out InVolves Everyone) at the NPAIHB organized a virtual LIVE gathering on June 22-26, 2020, for Native youth.

Native youth representing 21 federally-recognized tribes engaged in 1-hour sessions each day that included hands-on skill-building activities with a focus on cultural pride and mental wellness.

Special guest and session facilitators included Steven Paul Judd, Well For Culture - Thosh and Chelsey, Beats Lyrics Leaders J Ross Parrelli, and We R Native's Auntie Amanda and Uncle Paige!

With the help of artist, Steven Paul Judd, the youth completed the first-ever digital art tile piece! The youth was digitally sent a single tile art piece, and they had to draw, color, and copy the tile piece. Once assembled, it came out AMAZING!

Save the date for the in-person 10th Annual THRIVE Conference , June 2021, Portland, OR.

For more information click here !

Coming Next Month
August Focus: Planning for Back To School – Virtually or Not
Under the Tips & Tools for Educators Tab - check out the Community Action Toolkit and don’t forget the Curricula Comparison Chart for a Curricula ! 
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