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"From Cradleboard to Career" Summary Report

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Introduction and Executive Summary " But I think the very strongest strength of our community is the people that are tough. Things have not been good all the time, but we just keep … we just keep pulling until the tide changes." F ifty-one individuals attended the Washington Tribes and Recognized American Indian Organizations Health Priorities Summit (WTRHPS) with representation from 17 federally recognized tribes and 4 Recognized American Indian Organizations (RAIOs) (there are 29 federally recognized tribes and six RAIOs in Washington State). Attendees included tribal council members, tribal leaders, tribal and RAIO/Urban Indian employees, Native Elders, Native community members and youth. Many worked for tribal wellness programs in tribal communities across Washington State. Attendees were randomly assigned to workgroups to provide inter-tribal and multidisciplinary discussion groups which resulted in rich dialogue. Each group focused on the emotional, physical, cultural/spiritual, educational or mental health needs and strengths across the early lifespan of a Native child from prenatal to young adulthood; thus the additional Summit name "Cradleboard to Career". The WTRHPS sessions were audio recorded and professionally transcribed. Audio recordings have been edited into podcasts and are available at adai.uw.edu/tribal/healthsummit. Transcriptions were entered into Atlas.ti, a qualitative software program, and coded for themes and categories unique to each developmental category, as well as overarching themes and categories. This executive summary is followed by findings specific to Maternal Infant, Early Learning, Pre-Teen, Adolescent and Young Adult health. Edited transcripts of the "recap" sessions led by student interns are available at adai. uw.edu/tribal/SummitRecaps.pdf. American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people cherish their children. From remote reservations to urban areas, Native people want their children to be physically, PA R T I C I PA N T Q U O T E "I look at the community and the Elders are what give us the strength to go on. And they always say something to help you with whatever problem, if you bring it to them. I think that's our real strength. " 2 emotionally, mentally, spiritually, culturally and educationally healthy and strong. Unfortunately, centuries of federal and state policies to eradicate, assimilate and strip Native people of their culture, as well as destroy families and communities most recently through the forced removal of Native children to boarding schools, have resulted in AIANs experiencing the most egregious health disparities than any other group in the U.S. This traumatic history created a break in the transmission of culture, knowledge and tradition, and still has negative impacts for individuals, families and communities with regards to health. However, as the quote above states, Native people are tough, strong, courageous, resilient and committed to their future generations. Despite numerous challenges, Native people in Washington State are working hard and working together to continue to improve the health of their young people and future leaders. Although each developmental stage presented unique concerns, challenges, strengths, needs, suggestions and promising programs, there were some overarching themes. This report represents the views from multiple tribes and Native organizations; however it is important to remember that while Native people may share some broad principles and values across communities there is a great deal of diversity with regards to traditions, beliefs, geography, history, etc. That being noted, the importance of culture for the health of Native children and young adults was the strongest theme in all of the discussions. The Native cultural resurgence in Washington State is bringing hope to Native communities and organizations, and is providing a tool to access traditional and ancestral health practices, adapt them if needed, and incorporate them into today's health practices. Building on these strengths that already exist in the community can improve how healthcare is conceptualized, developed and implemented, and service providers who are culturally sensitive and willing to integrate western and traditional health are needed. This includes using Elders, grandparents, aunties and uncles as teachers, mentors and role models — as they are often who people needing healthcare turn to first. The health of a child begins before they are born and is, traditionally, the responsibility of the community in addition to the parents and family. Therefore, we need to provide education and support with regards to birth control, healthy pregnancy and birth, and each subsequent developmental stage at the community level, in addition to targeting young Washington Tribes & Recognized American Indian Organizations (RAIOs) Health Priorities Summit

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