In this episode, we share highlights from the National Council of Urban Indian Health’s recent virtual briefing for Congressional staff on the rising rates of opioid use and Substance Use Disorder in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Jeremy Grabiner, Associate Director of Policy at the National Council of Urban Indian Health, interviews Kerry Hawk Lessard, Executive Director of Native American Lifelines, as the conversation explores frontline interventions, the urgent challenges facing Native communities, and ways Congress can help strengthen resources and support.

Drawing on her experience, Kerry stresses the necessity that Native patients feel seen and respected when addressing stigmatized issues such as substance use disorder and mental health. Culturally grounded care builds trust, increases willingness to seek treatment, and improves health outcomes, while disrespect and stigma can actively drive people away from life-saving services. American Indian and Alaska Native people have the highest overdose death rates in the U.S. and the largest treatment gaps, compounded by systemic invisibility in public health data. Misclassification and undercounting prevent resources from reaching Native communities. Native American Lifelines responds through trusted partnerships, advocacy, and culturally rooted interventions. The episode closes with a discussion on the chronic underfunding for Native health.

For more resources on Substance Use Disorder (SUD), visit NCUIH’s Overdose Prevention Resource HUB at ncuih.org/overdoseprevention.

To learn more about the Native American Lifelines, visit nativeamericanlifelines.org.

In this episode of A Look at Urban Indian Health in Tulsa with Carmelita Skeeter, host Meredith Raimondi, Vice President of Policy and Communications at the National Council of Urban Indian Health, sits down with Carmelita Skeeter (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa. Carmelita shares her remarkable journey as a trailblazing leader in urban Native healthcare, from launching a grassroots clinic in 1976 to building a comprehensive, community-driven health center serving over 14,000 Native patients in Tulsa. Together, they discuss the systemic barriers Native people have faced in accessing care, the power of community-led advocacy, and how Carmelita's decades of leadership have helped shape national policy and promote health equity for urban Indian communities.

To learn more about the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, visit www.ihcrc.org.

In this episode, hosts Alyssa Smith-Longee, MPH, BSN, RN, CPN (Assiniboine/Sioux – Fort Peck), Public Health Program Manager at the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), and Dr. Kimberly Fowler, PhD, Vice President of the Technical Assistance and Research Center at NCUIH, discuss the ongoing efforts to address COVID-19 in Urban Indian communities. Drawing on survey data, polling responses, and listening sessions with Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs), they highlight the challenges, strategies, and best practices identified by providers on the front lines. Their conversation explores key lessons learned, the importance of meaningful dialogue, and how UIOs are managing the evolving COVID-19 landscape to support the health of Native communities across the country.

Alyssa and Dr. Fowler reflect on the five-year impact of COVID-19 and ongoing efforts to support Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs). Alyssa shares her infection prevention work at NCUIH, including a Photovoice project capturing frontline experiences. Dr. Fowler highlights the “Be a Good Relative” campaign, which promoted vaccination through cultural messaging and inclusive visuals.

Alyssa provides an update on current efforts at NCUIH, highlighting their focus on sustainability and identifying what’s needed to better understand and support UIO providers. They released a survey for providers to share their thoughts on various topics around COVID-19. They shared those results during the national conference and got live feedback from the attendees. Based on this feedback, they have now been releasing new materials that support providers.

Alyssa discusses some of the key findings from the survey, including that most of the facilities are still offering COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, but 80% of providers reported still seeing vaccine hesitancy. When they followed up with why, providers reported that their patients feel a general sense of mistrust in the healthcare industry. Alyssa and Dr. Fowler also discuss obstacles in receiving timely diagnosis and treatment for COVID-19, citing delayed patient presentation, limited access to testing, low awareness of available treatments, and inadequate transportation. To address those issues, UIO providers suggested offering take-home testing kits that include educational material for the patients, flyers, social media toolkits, and fact sheets.

Dr. Fowler wraps up the conversation by summarizing how UIOs have found innovative ways to deliver preventive care to their patients. Alyssa finishes by talking about vaccine burnout and connecting the community, and says that remembering that “why” highlights the strength of the urban Indian communities. Dr. Fowler shares access to various resources on the links below.

Learn more:

To access any materials or resources mentioned in this episode, visit NCUIH.org/vaccine.

To stay up to date on current COVID-19 information, visit the “Health Care Providers” tab on the CDC’s COVID-19 Site Index.

For COVID-19 treatment guidance for healthcare providers, visit the CDC’s COVID-19 Treatment Clinical Care for Outpatients.

This episode, Traditional Food Program Successes at Urban Indian Organizations, provides a deep dive into traditional food programming at Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs), expanding on themes from the previous episode. Drawing from NCUIH’s 2024 report and interviews with various health care providers and leaders, hosts Nahla Holland (Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation), research associate at NCUIH, and Alex Sampson (Lumbee), federal relations associate at NCUIH, examine how UIOs are incorporating traditional foods into services such as nutritional counseling, community gardens, and educational opportunities.

Nutritional counseling varies widely across UIOs, with some offering large group sessions that include cooking demonstrations and Native chef partnerships; others provide more personalized or small group support tailored to specific health conditions. These programs promote better physical health and foster cultural reconnection, social support, and emotional well-being—key elements of holistic Indigenous health care.

The conversation continues with a look at community gardens, which serve as a valuable extension of health care by providing fresh, culturally significant produce while promoting physical activity, mental wellness, and community engagement. Gardens offer UIOs flexibility in tailoring traditional recipes to what’s seasonally available and help reduce feelings of isolation. The episode also highlights emerging food and produce prescription programs, where patients receive access to fresh foods through prescriptions from health care providers.

Holland and Sampson highlight the importance of making traditional foods both accessible and culturally relevant within UIOs. While nutritious produce is often available through external food assistance or prescription programs, they stressed that these offerings may not align with Native communities’ cultural food practices or be easy to incorporate into daily meals. UIOs emphasized that direct and consistent access to traditional foods is crucial in addressing both food insecurity and chronic diseases. Programs like the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) were praised for offering culturally informed, community-based approaches to diabetes care. These programs shift the focus from restrictive Western diets to encouraging the inclusion of traditional, nourishing foods, which leads to better health outcomes such as lower blood pressure, reduced A1C levels, and weight management.

Beyond clinical outcomes, the podcast explores how traditional food programming nurtures cultural, emotional, and social well-being. UIOs are creating engaging events like cooking classes, “Chopped”-style competitions, traditional food bingo, and storytelling meals, which foster a deeper connection to cultural identity and community. Some UIOs even provide tangible resources like juicers, gym memberships, and educational materials to support healthy behaviors. The underlying theme across all these efforts is education—not just on disease management but also on traditions, preparation methods, and the nutritional value of ancestral foods. Learn more at https://ncuih.org/research/third-party-billing/#traditionalfood.

The NCUIH Native Healthcast is produced by Jessica Gilbertson, MPA (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), director of communications and events, and introduced by River Carroll, MLS (Cheyenne and Arapaho), policy and communications associate at NCUIH. 

In this episode, hosts Nahla Holland (Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation), research associate at NCUIH, and Alex Sampson (Lumbee), federal relations associate at NCUIH, discuss traditional foods for American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) people, including the way food is considered, the policies supporting access to traditional foods, and foods integral to Indigenous people.

Nahla kicks off the conversation by sharing traditional foods important to the Eastern Pequot Tribe and explains that traditional foods vary from tribe to tribe, as well as the physical properties and benefits of Indigenous food. Food is also a cultural and spiritual connection to the land and facilitates social connection.

The highest rates of food insecurity in the last decade are among AI/AN people because of a lack of access and a possible disconnect from social programs. The relief from historical government distribution programs included food that wasn’t Indigenous to Tribal lands. These included processed flour and canned goods. Traditional foods have nutrients which protect against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health diseases. Indigenous food also reconnects one with the culture through hunting, fishing, gathering, and farming. Gathering food is a social event that connects people with community.

Next, the conversation shifts to Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) and traditional food programs. UIOs are integrating traditional foods into health care through four specific programs: nutritional counseling, the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), community gardens, and food prescriptions.

Federal agencies have taken steps to address food insecurity for AI/AN people. There is a USDA indigenous food sovereignty initiative that uplifts and supports traditional food. It is available for free on the USDA website, and it also includes child nutrition programs. IHS has also launched the pilot program, but more funding is needed to continue these programs. These programs will continue to increase healthy change in Indigenous people, connecting AI/AN people to their culture, ancestry, and people. Visit https://ncuih.org/traditional/#2024 for NCUIH’s 2024 report, “Thematic Analysis of Traditional Food Programs at Urban Indian Organizations and Research on Traditional Healing (Summer 2024).”

The NCUIH Native Healthcast is produced by Jessica Gilbertson, MPA (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), director of communications and events, and introduced by River Carroll (Cheyenne and Arapaho), policy and communications associate at NCUIH.

In this episode, host Jessica Gilbertson, director of communications and events at the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), interviews NCUIH CEO Francys Crevier about the need for sustainable funding for behavioral health programming in Indian Country and NCUIH’s new “Investing in Wellness” toolkit. The conversation covers the state of behavioral health care in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and prospective future funding ideas. AI/AN communities experience higher rates of alcohol abuse, substance abuse, and suicide, yet continue to lack adequate funding.

Behavioral health services are funded through a combination of public and private insurance and grants tend to be restricted and short-term. In addition, Traditional Healing programs are often not recognized or adequately funded. NCUIH’s “Investing in Wellness” toolkit was built by voices across Native communities. The toolkit includes a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, funding options, actionable strategies including optimizing Medicaid reimbursement, and a comprehensive resource guide. Visit NCUIH.org/InvestingInWellness to access the toolkit.

The NCUIH Native Healthcast is produced by Jessica Gilbertson, MPA (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), director of communications and events, and introduced by River Carroll (Cheyenne and Arapaho), policy and communications associate at NCUIH.

This episode looks at why youth engagement is essential. Guest speakers with extensive experience in mental health advocacy and youth engagement join Liz Best, manager of technical assistance at NCUIH. Colby Coughlin is a project director for the Tribal Opioid Response Project and Thrive, a suicide prevention initiative at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. Shane Lopez-Johnson is the Thrive 988 project director at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, where he and his team work to inform and educate Northwest Tribes about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline and improve intertribal communications. Adan Vazquez is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a Detroit-based youth suicide prevention advocate, and an inaugural member of NCUIH’s Youth Council.

The discussion begins with why youth engagement is critical in mental health programming. Young people must have a voice in shaping protective and risk factors related to mental health. Because youth influence their peers, their involvement in curriculum development and program planning ensures that the strategies they learn resonate with their communities. Without youth buy-in, mental health initiatives may lack effectiveness. When youth feel empowered to ask for help, they become more likely to use available services, reducing stigma and improving long-term mental health outcomes.

The conversation shifts to strategies for engaging Native youth in mental health programs. Colby discusses how the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board serves 43 federally recognized Tribes across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Mental health consistently ranks as a top priority among Tribal communities, reinforcing the need for targeted programming. One major initiative is the We Are Native project, which is dedicated to Native youth by Native youth. This program started as a text messaging service where users receive motivational messages, contest opportunities, and mental health resources. It has since expanded into a widely recognized social media platform with international reach. The Thrive Youth Conference empowers youth by transforming personal struggles into creative expression. Another key initiative is the Native Youth Conference, held annually at Portland State University. This event brings together Native youth for workshops on mental health, leadership, and community building. The conference provides an opportunity to empower young people, giving them tools to advocate for themselves and their communities.

The discussion ends with the importance of integrating cultural teachings into mental health and prevention programs. Healing involves active participation through movement, traditional practices, or creative expression. This approach aligns with the philosophy that medicine is not just pharmaceuticals but also cultural practices like sage and sweetgrass ceremonies. By engaging in traditional activities, youth build resilience and develop a stronger sense of identity. Adan introduces his work with the Sacred Bundle Project, an initiative housed within the American Indian Health and Family Services organization. This project is unique as it is the only Urban Indian Organization serving Michigan, where a significant Native population resides.

The NCUIH Native Healthcast is produced by Jessica Gilbertson, MPA (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), director of communications and events, and introduced by River Carroll (Cheyenne and Arapaho), policy and communications associate at NCUIH.

Tune in to the NCUIH Native HealthCast for a conversation on the importance of marketing for Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs). Jessica Gilbertson, Director of Communications and Events, and Carmen Toft, Associate Director of Communications and Events, discuss the importance of promoting UIOs in a competitive health care landscape to ensure communities and patients are aware of the valuable services they offer. Discover how effective marketing tactics can lead to improved health outcomes and learn effective strategies to advance urban Indigenous health care. Listen as our hosts outline the basics, list best practices, and share opportunities for cost-effective and easy wins.

The NCUIH Native Healthcast is produced by Jessica Gilbertson, MPA (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), Director of Communications and Events, and introduced by River Carroll (Cheyenne and Arapaho), Policy and Communications Associate at NCUIH.