Native American News

Report: Native Vets Still Lack Adequate Health Care Sevices

On April 26, the Government Accountability Office released an alarming report titled VA and IHS: Further Action Needed to Collaborate on Providing Health Care to Native American Vets.

Health and Harmony in the Tribal Workplace: What Messages Is Your Body Language Sending?

Rolling your eyes, tilting your head, folding your arms, tapping your fingers, playing with your hair, slouching, sighing, or speaking softly or loudly, sends powerful messages to others. From your facial expressions to your body movements, the things you don’t say convey volumes of information.

Alaska’s New Dental Teams

This article was produced and provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Americans are familiar with dental teams consisting of dentists, hygienists and assistants, who work under the leadership of the dentist to care for patients. Alaska’s Dental Health Aide Therapists (DHATs) bring additional skills and strengths to the team. The DHATs maintain close communication with the supervising dentist and other team members through phone calls, email, advanced teledentistry equipment and shared charting software.

Oral Health Disease Takes a Heavy Toll on Children, Adults

This article was produced and provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. New studies at Pine Ridge, Santo Domingo Pueblo, reveal startling rates of tooth decay

Trying a New Approach in South Dakota

This article was produced and provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Not-for-profit dental insurance provider Delta Dental of South Dakota is responding to the critical need for better access to dental services by adding 24 registered dental hygienists and community health representatives to treat, educate, and coordinate dental care for American Indian mothers, young children, and diabetics. The approach is being supported with a $3.4 million innovation award from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Dental Insurance, but No Dentists

This article was provided to Indian Country Today Media Network by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The author, a physician, was the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services from 1989 to 1993. This article appeared in the New York Times on April 8, 2012. Used by permission.

A Promise to Our Children: Better Oral Health

This article was produced and provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. When I was a young girl growing up in a small Yup’ik Eskimo village in southwest Alaska, children en- joyed a strong sense of community thanks to special promises made on our behalf by every parent to every other parent in the community:

Health Concerns From Mold Closes Navajo Nation Administration Building 2

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly signed a resolution declaring a public health state of emergency for Administration Building Two because of fungi found in the building.

Sanford Health Hiring Two Indigenous Healers

Sanford Health, the country’s largest rural, nonprofit hospital system with locations in 126 communities in seven states, is trying to bridge the cultural divide between Indigenous and mainstream health care.

Pink Shawls Help Fight Cancer

The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) has recently launched the Pink Shawl Project to raise awareness about breast cancer in Indian country. The project provides Native women with educational resources, a community forum for discussing health issues, access to free mammograms, and the opportunity to honor cancer survivors.

Feds ask court to throw out hospital lawsuit

The federal government has asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit filed by a South Dakota hospital trying to collect more than $1.65 million in fees for care provided to members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

AAIP Teams With Four Corners Alliance For Pre-Med Workshop

The Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) is teaming with the Four Corners Alliance – a partnership between the medical schools of the University of Arizona, Phoenix, the University of Arizona, Tucson; the University of Colorado; the University of New Mexico and the University of Utah – to host a pre-admission workshop (PAW) March 21-24 in Phoenix. The annual PAW is designed for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in the allied health or medicine.

UIHI Launches Native Generations Campaign to Protect Native Babies

For every 1,000 American Indian and Alaska Native babies born in U.S. cities, as many as 15 die before their first birthday*. To raise awareness and share valuable health and prevention messages about this problem, the Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) has launched Native Generations, a campaign addressing the high rates of infant mortality among American Indians and Alaska Natives. The campaign was made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health.

Indian Health Services Video Features Innovative Dentistry to Reduce Cavities

A Cherokee Nation dentist is being featured in a national Indian Health Services video. Dr. Mechelle Speed was chosen for her innovative early childhood dentistry program that has helped lower the cavity rate among preschoolers.