Indigenous Peoples Task Force

TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND EDUCATION OF NATIVE PEOPLE.

THE "INDIGI-BABY FOOD SOVEREIGNTY PROJECT" AIMS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH TARGETED BABY FOOD MADE WITH NATIVE AMERICAN CULTIVATED AND WILD HARVESTED FOODS AS A WAY TO REDUCE HIGH RATES OF OBESITY AMONG NATIVE CHILDREN AND OBESITY-LINKED DISEASES THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT NATIVE AMERICANS LIVING IN THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF NATIVE FOODS TO MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH; EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE INDIGI-BABY PRODUCT LINE-UP AND ORGANIC, SUSTAINABLE FARM PRODUCTION; AND BEGIN MARKETING INDIGI-BABY FOODS IN LOCAL STORES. THE INITIATIVE BUILDS ON THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OF THE CURRENT INDIGI-BABY MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVE THROUGH WHICH SUCCESSFUL, ORGANIC, SUSTAINABLE FARMING TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN TESTED AND IDENTIFIED AND FOUR HEALTH TARGETED, VALUE ADDED BABY FOOD PRODUCTS ARE BEING DESIGNED. PROPOSED PROJECT STRATEGIES INCLUDE: KNOWLEDGE SHARING TO HELP REVITALIZE AND PASS ON HEALTH BENEFITS OF NATIVE FOODS THROUGH AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT IS GUIDED BY AN INTERGENERATIONAL COUNCIL OF GRANDMOTHERS AND YOUTH, AGES 14-17; SCALING UP FARM PRODUCTION BY EXPANDING EXISTING INDIGI-BABY FARM AND SOURCING FOODS FROM NATIVE GROWERS AND HARVESTERS; DIVERSIFYING PRODUCT LINE-UP FROM 4 TO 6 PRODUCTS; PROCESSING AND PACKAGING 6 PRODUCTS FOR SALES TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO PROVIDE WELL BABY CLINICS OR FOR NEW MOTHER PROGRAMS. THIS YEAR WE SUPPLIED THE PRODUCTS TO ORGS THAT HAD PRE-ORDERED THE FOODS.TARGETED OUTCOMES INCLUDE:1) KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH BENEFITS OF NATIVE FOODS IS BEING REVITALIZED AND PASSED ON FROM MOTHERS TO CHILDREN, 2) AVAILABILITY OF HEALTH TARGETED BABY FOODS READY FOR DISTRIBUTION IN TWIN CITIES, AND 3) NATIVE AMERICAN MOTHERS HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO HEALTH TARGETED BABYFOODS.THIS YEAR'S RETURN TO FIRST MEDICINES CONFERENCE WAS ATTENDED BY 125 PEOPLE.

MAYANIDOOWAHDAK ODENA HOUSING: 14-UNIT PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES LIVING WITH HIV OPERATED AS LEASEHOLD COOPERATIVE. THE HOUSING PROJECT INCORPORATES ASPECTS OF TRIBAL/COMMUNITY LIVING ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO SHARE RESOURCES, TASKS, AND HOUSEHOLD CHORES TOMAXIMIZE THEIR ENERGY AND LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH DIGNITY.

HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING - THIS PROGRAM OFFERS FREE HIV RAPID TESTING AT OUR MAIN OFFICE AND THE HOUSING COMMUNITY CENTER. PRE AND POST TEST COUNSELING AND REFERRALS ARE PROVIDED WITH INCENTIVES. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES 1,400 INTEGRATED HIV TESTING, COUNSELING, AND REFERRALS PER YEAR. IN HARM REDUCTION, THERE WERE 203 NARCAN TRAININGS, WITH 30,981 VIALS OF MUSCULAR INJECTIONS AND 398 OF THE NASAL SPRAY DISTRIBUTED. HARM REDUCTION ALSO DISTRIBUTED 991 CLEAN SYRINGES IN EXCHANGE FOR USED SYRINGES AND 2,471 FENTYNAL TEST STRIPS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED 30 INDIVIDUALS WITH CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

YOUTH AND EDUCATION INCLUDES THE IKIDOWIN ACTING ENSEMBLE AND THE KEEP THE FIRE ALIVE PROGRAM WORKING WITH NATIVE TEENS 12-18 YEARS OLD. THE IKIDOWIN ACTING ENSEMBLE TRAINS YOUTH IN THEATER. THE ENSEMBLE TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE US AND MN, PERFORMING FULL LENGTH PLAYS THAT PROVIDE IMPORTANT CULTURAL TEACHINGS, HEALTH EDUCATION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND POSITIVE NATIVE IDENTITY TO MANY AUDIENCES IN MINNESOTA AND THE US. THE PROGRAM IMPROVES SELF-ESTEEM, CONFIDENCE AND BUILDS COMMUNITY CONNECTION. THE KEEP THE FIRE ALIVE PROGRAM TEACHES NATIVE YOUTH ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS, PRESENTS DIFFERENT HEALTHY COPING SKILLS, INTRODUCES THEM TO THE ARTS, PLANS COMMUNITY WIDE EVENTS, PRESENTS SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAININGS, AND PROMOTES SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. APPROXIMATELY 92 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THEPROGRAM FROM 07/01/20212 TO 06/30/23.THIS YEAR WE ADDED AN EDUCATION AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR 18-24 YEAR OLDS WHO ARE NOT WORKING OR IN POST SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. IT'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT OR INTERVENE WITH OPIOID USEAGE.THE WAYBINAGAY PROGRAM:PREVENTION SERVICES WERE PROVIDED: AN EIGHT-SESSION CULTURALLY-BASED CURRICULUM TO ENCOURAGE AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH TO REFUSE THE USE OF COMMERCIAL TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA OR OTHER DRUGS. 4 COHORTS WERE DELIVERED WITH 48 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES A COMPONENT OF 2 YOUTH THEATER PERFORMANCES ON PREVENTION OF TOBACCO USE AND INCLUDES 4 CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. A FASHION SHOW FOCUSING ON CULTURE IS PREVENTION INVOLVED YOUTH FROM MN AND SEVERAL STATES. THE TOTAL YOUTH PARTICIPANTS WAS 92 WITH AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 1,000. A REMEMBER OUR LOVED ONES EVENT AT THE STATE CAPITAL DREW OVER 300 PARTICIPANTS WITH WORDS OFFERED BY THE LT. GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAM AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE LOVED ONES.