December 2022 | Issue 21
As we celebrate a year of resilience and great progress in improving quality in health care, we also honor the American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) traditions of the season. Here are just a few examples of celebrations happening at this time of year:
  • The Hopi celebrate the winter solstice with a Prayer Offering and rituals that last more than two weeks and include music, dance and gift giving.
  • The Iroquois celebrate the start of the spiritual year with a midwinter ceremony.
  • The Zuni Pueblo hold a multiday celebration that includes a prayer ritual for rain, blessings and balance for the coming seasons.
  • The Blackfoot Tribe gathers for the winter solstice to dance and play games.
  • Many AIAN communities also include Christmas celebrations and customs during the season, including dances on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Listen to this beautiful rendition of O Holy Night sung in Navajo by Jana Mashonee.

However you and yours are celebrating this time of year, we wish you the very best the season can bring. Thank you for your partnership!
JANUARY OBSERVANCES: TOOLS AND RESOURCES
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
According to the National Indian Council on Aging, American Indians are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer compared to white women and four times as likely to die from it. Here are a few tools and resources to promote understanding and the importance of testing.
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National Glaucoma Awareness Month
American Indians suffer disproportionately higher rates of preventable and treatable eye conditions. Managing prominent health conditions can help avoid complications that impair vison. Get tools and resources from the Indian Health Service (IHS) Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention (DDTP), including fact sheets and Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) toolkits. Here are a couple other resources for glaucoma awareness:
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Thyroid Awareness Month
January is also Thyroid Awareness Month. Get more information about thyroid disease and thyroid cancer from the American Thyroid Association, including printable patient information brochures and guidelines and quick-reference tools for health care professionals.
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National Blood Donor Month
We can all help save lives during National Blood Donor Month. Help community members find a local blood center where they can give blood. A diverse blood supply helps save more lives!
WHAT'S NEW FROM PATH
TJC New Standards Tracking Dashboard 2023 | Check it out
Developed by the Partnership to Advance Tribal Health (PATH), this guide is provided
to support preparation efforts for implementing and sustaining compliance around
new/updated The Joint Commission (TJC) standards. 
IN THE KNOW
New Maternal Health Resources for AIAN Communities | Learn more
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the CDC and Office
of Minority Health (OMH), launched a new Hear Her campaign segment to improve AIAN
maternal health outcomes by raising awareness of life-threatening warning signs during and after pregnancy and improving communication between health care providers and patients.
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Affordable Health Care Coverage for AIAN People | Learn more
Each January, countless people resolve to take better care of themselves in the new year.
Having health coverage can make it easier to keep that resolution. Please download and share the Tribal version of Road Map to Better Care, which explains health care coverage and how to use it.
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Toolkit to Promote Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination | Check out toolkit
To promote flu and COVID vaccination in Native communities, a social media toolkit
is now available on the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health website.
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My Advance Care Plan and Guide for Native Americans | Check out product
To help older Indigenous people plan for health issues and end-of-life decisions,
the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative at the Center for Rural Health at the
University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences developed this guide.
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Online Training and Education | Learn more
Stay informed about quality online trainings from the CDC, other federal agencies and
federally funded partners with CDC Learning Connection. Free continuing education credits
IHS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Naloxone Keeps the Circle Strong:
Combatting the Opioid Epidemic in Indian Country
The opioid epidemic has received quite a bit of media attention and rightfully so. On average, 250 Americans die every day from an opioid.
This opioid crisis has hit Tribal communities particularly hard. In just one year (2019 to 2020), overdose death rates increased by 39% among American Indian and Alaska Native persons.

While confusion exists on how we can help, there is something we can do! Here is a two-fold approach we can take to impact this staggering statistic and ensure families are kept together.
PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE TRIBAL HEALTH (PATH) | Visit the PATH website
This material was prepared by Comagine Health for the American Indian Alaska Native Healthcare Quality Initiative under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. NQIIC-AIHQI-306-12/20/2022