Native Heritage, Health & Wellbeing

Heritage and health go together for Native wellbeing. Without one, you cannot have the other. Gathered below are just some examples of cultural wellness and enrichment activities to support Native children and families in your care. Please also reference our Food Issues/Nutrition, Mental Health, Substance Use/ Addictions, Suicide & Self Harm, Parent & Professional Care, and Trauma pages for more resources.

"I want children to know this history...My purpose is to uplift the community." ~Steph Littlebird (Grand Ronde) - author/illustrator in ORPARC's library

Websites

Heritage & Activities

Ancestral Food Ways and Fitness & Movement in Indigenous Languages by Well For Culture
Doyon Languages Online - free online courses in multiple Alaskan Native Languages
IllumiNative
- Be a Myth Buster
- Lesson plans & fun activities for kids!
Indigenous Resources by Building Brains Together - printable stories & more!
Languages List (worldwide) by Native Lands Digital
Native American History & Culture Bingo by Native American Parent Technical Assistance Center - scroll down for this conversation starter activity!
Native Boarding School Healing Coalition - interactive map!
Native Knowledge 360° - many educational resources!
Native Languages - fun & educational activities and printables!
Preserving Native Languages and Cultures by assorted artists for IllumiNative
Project 562 - Native photography of the 562+ federally recognized Tribes & Nations
Study Explores Role of Traditional Parenting Class in Strengthening Native American Families by The Imprint
This is Indian Country by the Oregon Historical Society - printable educational activities
Travel Oregon - Native American Culture
Ways Children Learn Through Storytelling Traditions by Allan Hayton (Gwich'In Athabascan) for PBS, including Molly of Denali (animated video for kids)
What is a Talking Feather (or Stick or Shell or Stone) as retold by Bobbie-Jo Sheren (Eastern Delaware) from Lakota Tradiiton

Health

Capacity Building Center for Tribes
- Healing & Wellness
Center for Native Child & Family Resilience
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Tribal Health
Healthy Native Youth - many resources for adults & caregivers!
Indian Health Service
Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) - Portland-based
Native American Resources on Healing Indigenous Trauma by Utah Native American Trauma Academy
National Indian Council on Aging
National Native Children's Trauma Center
Stronghearts Native Helpline - for domestic and sexual abuse
Understanding Disabilities in American Indian & Alaskan Native Communities Toolkit Guide by National Council on Disability
Yana Achek - where darkness and light meet (a personal mental health art narrative) by Eli Farinango (Kichwa) for IllumiNative
Zero Suicide - resources for Native American & Alaska Native populations

Youth-centered

Center for Native American Youth
- Cultural Practices Within Indigenous Communities that Help Teens Thrive (articles + videos)
Healthy Native Youth - many resources for adults & caregivers!
Indigenous 20 Something Project (I20SP)
Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) - Portland-based
Supporting the Well-being of American Indian Youth by Child Welfare Information Gateway - many articles & resources!
Tribal Colleges & Universities Map
Tribal Youth Resource Center
- Two Spirit & LGBTQ+ Resources
United for Youth - Tribal Populations - many resources
WeRNative - fantastic wealth of resources for Native Youth by Native Youth!

Recommended Books & Articles

Native Heritage & Health-related books in ORPARC's library, including Emotional Literacy, Health & Healing, Nutrition, Mental Health and Trauma

American Indian Resilience by Child Welfare Information Gateway
Cultural Connectedness & Indigenous Youth Well-Being Factsheet by NICWA
Culture is Prevention: We Are All Connected by Capacity Building Center for Tribes
Honoring Indigenous Peoples in Oregon by the Fair Housing Counsel
Oregon's Steph Littlebird on new book and exhibit about Native resilience by Kristi Turnquist, Oregonian

Videos & Podcasts

Against the Current: A Short Documentary About the Culture of Indigenous People by ByKids (video)
IllumiNative On-Air podcast
#IndigiLOVE by WeRNative (video)
Building Resilient Communities TedTalk by Nick Tilsen (Oglala Lakota Nation)
Northwest Native American Center of Excellence - visual stories health series (video)
Reclaiming the Child Welfare Narrative Podcast by Tribal Child Welfare Information Exchange
This Land (podcast)
Touchstones of Hope by NICWA (video series)
Wisdom of the Elders - local Oregon nonprofit (video series)

Indigenous People's Day - 2nd Monday in October

An Advocate's Guide to Supporting Indigenous People's Day by IllumiNative