Native Health, Mental Health & Wellbeing

"Healing Spirit" shown with permission by Mallery Quetawki (Zuni Pueblo)

Strengthening Native health—an extension and reflection of culture & heritage—is a priority for Native kids in care! Find many resources below. Please also reference our other Tribal-specific pages Adoptee & Foster Native Voices, ICWA/ORICWA, Jingle Dance & Powwows, Native Heritage, Parenting Native Children and Tribal Library Collection for more resources.

Healing Spirit. 2018. 30x40 in. Acrylic on Canvas. Mallery Quetawki (Zuni Pueblo).

With Native EH Equity and METALS Tribal communities in mind, this painting was created to signify the connectedness to the land, air and water that these Tribes hold dear. Read full description here!

This painting may not be reproduced without express permission from the artist.

Websites

Healthcare clinics specific to the 9 Federally recognized Tribal Nations in Oregon

Health local/nearby to Oregon

Great Spirit United Methodist Church
Future Generations Collaborative
Indigenous Wellness Research Institute National Center of Excellence (University of Washington)
Mental Health Providers
- Jessie Kaleikau, LPC (Tsimshian) - Tualatin Hills Counseling
Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA)
Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA)
- Culture, Education & Wellness
- Health Equity
Native Wellness Institute
Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (OHSU)
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
- Healthy Native Youth - many resources for adults & caregivers!
- WeRNative - for youth
- Weave-NW
Red Lodge Transition Services - for women returning from treatment or incarceration
We Are Healers - featuring indigenous healers

Health

Capacity Building Center for Tribes
- Healing & Wellness
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Tribal Health
Center for Indigenous Health
Center for Native Child & Family Resilience
Change to Chill - mental health for indigenous youth
Dr. Joseph Gone - psychologist with so many articles + videos
Healthy Native Youth - many resources for adults & caregivers!
Indian Health Service
Mental Health by NAMI
Mental Health - an ORPARC Resource page
Native American Research Centers for Health
Native American Resources on Healing Indigenous Trauma by Utah Native American Trauma Academy
Native American Therapist Directory Search - Psychology Today
Native Hope
National Indian Council on Aging
National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
- NativeLove for Youth - many resources!
National Native Children's Trauma Center
Native Youth Sexual Health Network
The Society of Indian Psychologists
Sovereign Bodies Institute
Stronghearts Native Helpline - for domestic and sexual abuse
Trauma & Healing by Tribal Information Exchange
Trauma & Resiliency by Capacity Building Center for Tribes
Tribal Health Research Office, National Institutes of Health
Unity - for Native youth
- Wellness Warriors
Urban Indian Health Institute - assorted resources
Zero Suicide - resources for Native American & Alaska Native populations

Food-specific

Ancestral Food-Ways & Recipes by Well for Culture
Decolonizing What We Eat by Katie Severson & Rebecca Thomas (Mi’kmaq Nation)
Diversifying MyPlate: North American Indigenous Cuisine by Sharon Swampy (First Nations Cree)
FoodIssues/Nutrition - an ORPARC Resource page
I-Collective - Indigenous food sovereignty
Indigenous Foods by the NICOA
Indigikitchen - so yummy, so fun!
Sean Sherman’s (The Sioux Chef) 10 Essential Native American Recipes by The New York Times

LGBTQ+ specific

Recommended Books & Articles

Native Health-related materials in ORPARC's library, including Emotional Literacy, Health & Healing, Nutrition, Mental Health and Trauma plus the full Tribal Collection.

Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing: Indigneous - many articles!
Acknowledging the Winter Solstice is a Decolonial Act for Indigeous People by Sarah Sunshine Manning (Shoshone Paiute/ Chippewa Cree), NDN Collective
American Concentration Camps: Unangax Loss & Resurrection by Project 562 - book in ORPARC's library
Autism: Indigenous Resources
Becoming Adzaan: The Gift of Diné Womanhood by Jaclyn Roessel (Diné), NDN Collective
Conversations About Historical Trauma: Part I featuring Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart, PhD (Lakota) by NCCTS
The Cree Medicine Wheel by Annie Wenger-Nabigon, Native Social Work Journal
Decolonizing Thanksgiving and Reviving Indigenous Relationships by M. Karlos Baca (Tewa/Diné/Nuucio), NDN Collective
Fitness & Movement in Indigenous Languages by Well for Culture (+video)
Four Directions Teachings by Lillian Pitawanakwat (Ojibway/Powawatomi)
From the Ground Up: Indigenizing Medical Humanities & Narrative as Medicine by Michele Demarais (Métis) and Regina Robbins (Cherokee)
Helping Native American Children with Autism Poses Challenges for Schools by VOA
How Trauma Gets Passed Down Through Generations by Native Hope
Indigenous Ancestral Values & Social Media by Well for Culture
Indigenous Poetics & Narrative Medicine by Arden Hegele and featuring Lewis Mehl-Madrona (Cherokee/Lakota) - author in ORPARC's library
Narrative Medicine: Relationships, Story & Healing by Lewis Mehl-Madrona (Cherokee/Lakota)
Native American in Philanthropy
- Generation Indigenous
- Strong Hearts & Minds Centering Indigenous Women & Girls
- THE INDIGENOUS LIFECOURSE: Strengthening the health and well-being of Native youth
Performance as Medicine by Brandi Douglas (Puyallup/Muckleshoot/Nooksack), NDN Collective
Podcast by & for Native Americans shines light on disability, mental health by Cherokee Phoenix
Project 562 - book in ORPARC's library
- Our Wounds Can Heal
- The Power of Frybread: An Alaska Native's Story of Survival
- The Seeds of Revival: Electa Redcorn (Pawnee & Yankton Sioux)
Reinforcing Resilience: How Parent Centers Can Support American Indian & Alaska Native Parents by Joann Sebastian Morris (Cayuga/Sault Ste. Marie Ojibwe), NAPTAC
Self-Care: Resources to Help Address Burnout & Increase Wellness in Tribal Welfare Professionals by Capacity Building Center for Tribes
Tips by Native Aunties for Mental Health by Dr. Michelle Johnson-Jennings (Choctaw) and Dr. Karina Walters (Choctaw)
Understanding Disabilities in American Indian & Alaskan Native Communities Toolkit Guide by National Council on Disability
Understanding the Healing Power of Storytelling by Native Hope
Walking Through Truth: Indigenous Wisdom and Community Health Equity by Donald Warne (Oglala Lakota)
Yana Achek - where darkness and light meet (a personal mental health art narrative) by Eli Farinango (Kichwa) for IllumiNative

ORPARC General Health-related Resource pages

ADHD, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum, Bullying, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Parent & Professional Care & Self Love, Sexual Abuse & Behavior Supports, Specific Needs/Neurodiversity, Substance Use/ Addictions, Suicide & Self Harm, Trauma

Videos & Podcasts

The Adolescent Mental Health Crisis: Community Spotlight Indigenous Youth by Aspen Global Leadership Network
Building Resilient Communities TedTalk by Nick Tilsen (Oglala Lakota Nation)
Cherokee Youth Council Teen Pregnancy Film with First Nations Development Institute (video)
Celebrating Indigenous Family and Cultural Strengths & Promoting Health Equity by Dr. Melissa Walls (Anishinaabe)
Cultural Appropriation in the Wellness Space by Native Governance Center (video)
Embodying the Ancestral Wisdom of the Medicine Wheel by Susan Beaulieu (Anishinaabe - Red Lake Nation) NDN Collective (video)
A Flute Like Medicine: Interview with Morgan Fawcett (Tlingit/Haida) with FASD Part I and Part II by FASD Elephant Podcast
Future Generations Collaborative (video)
Healing Indigenous People with Dr. Eduardo Duran by Paula Fontenelle - author in ORPARC's library (video)
Healing the Soul Wound with Dr. Eduardo Duran Conversation by Two Feathers NAFS (video)
Healing Trauma, Attending To Grief - Native Wellness Institute & Jillene Joseph (Gros Ventre) by Grief Out Loud Podcast
IllumiNative On-Air podcast
#IndigiLOVE by WeRNative (video)
Indigenous Wellness Research Institute National Center of Excellence
- Indigenous Digital Storytelling (videos)
Indigenous Healing Series by Capacity Building Center for Tribes (video series)
The Interconnectedness of Culture & Science by Dr. Donald Warne (Oglala Lakota) (video)
Native American Youth & Cultural Adversity by Christopher Lobanov-Rostovsky & Tatewin Means (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota/Oglala Lakota) (video)
Northwest Native American Center of Excellence
- Native American Health Seminar Series - many topics (videos)
- Visual Stories of Healers - visual stories health series (videos)
On the Autism Spectrum - Native American Community (video)
Place Matters (videos)
- Native Americans know how place affects health
- Scott Kalama: Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Re-imagining mental health services for American Indian communities by Dr. Joseph Gone (Aaniiih)
Sacred Tobacco, Sacred Children by Best Start Resource Centre (video)
Tatanka Means - laughter is good for you! (videos)

Words of Healing

You Are the Medicine by Asha Frost (Chippewa)

Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States by Devon A. Mihesuah (Chocktaw)

Medicine Wheel Workbook by Carrie Armstrong (Métis)

Trauma and Resilience in the Lives of Contemporary Native Americans by Hilary Weaver (Lakota)

Coyote Medicine: Lessons from Native American Healing by Lewis Mehl-Madrona (Cherokee/Lakota)

I Am Like a Tree: Seeds & Leaves, A Story about Survival & Belonging by Kerry Armstrong & Terri Mack (Da’naxda’xw Awaetlala)

We Dream Medicine Dreams by Lisa Boivin (Deninu K'ue First Nation)

Siha Tooskin Know the Best Medicine by Charelene & Wilson Bearhead (Nakota)

Grandmothers of the Light by Paula Gunn Allen (Laguna, Sioux)

Mother Earth Plants for Health & Beauty: Indigenous Plants, Traditions & Recipes by Carrie Armstrong (Métis)

Narrative Medicine: The Use of History and Story in the Healing Process by Lewis Mehl-Madrona (Cherokee/Lakota)

All Our Relations US Edition by Tanya Talaga (Anishinaabe)

Kisepāyāwi Nikamowin Nanāskamowin Kistikān (Morning Song) by Randy Morin (Big River First Nation)

Keetsahnak - Our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Sisters by many authors

Healing & Mental Health for Native Americans: Speaking in Red by Editors Ethan Nebelkopf & Mary Phillips (Laguna Pueblo)

Celebrating Our Magic; Resources for American Indian/Alaska Native transgender and Two-Spirit youth, their relatives and families, and their healthcare providers by Alessandra Angelino