Piikanii Lodge Health Institute

PIIKANI LODGE HEALTH INSTITUTE IS AN INDIGENOUS FOUNDED AND LED 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSING ON TRANSLATIONAL STRENGTHS SUCH AS IMPROVED COMMUNITY ECONOMICS, ADAPTATION TO A CHANGING CLIMATE, HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE REDUCTION, THROUGH BENCH SCIENCE AND THE RECLAMATION AND INTEGRATION OF TRADITIONAL CULTURAL LIFEWAYS, WHILE EXPANDING OUR CONNECTION TO THE LAND AND ITS BIOSYSTEMS.

FROM 2020 TO 2022, PLHI AND MSU STAFF DEVELOPED AND DELIVERED OPIOID ANDMETH EDUCATIONAL MODULES TO 327 INDIVIDUALS AND CONDUCTED OUTREACH INTOTRIBAL SCHOOLS IN EVERY TRIBAL NATION IN THE STATE OF MONTANA.FROM 2021 TO 2022, PLHI AND MSU STAFF CONDUCTED OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONRELATED TO OPIOID USE AND MISUSE ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND HAVE REACHED 197INDIVIDUALS.IN 2022, PIIKANI LODGE HOSTED 10 COMMUNITY SKI MEETS (6 AT SCHOOLS) AND EACHONE OF THOSE HAD AROUND 30-40 PARTICIPANTS WHICH MEANS THAT OVER 300PARTICIPANTS ENJOYED THE 2022 SKI SEASON. 2023 FEATURED MOBILE SKI CLINICSWHEREIN OUR DEDICATED ON THE LAND GUIDE VISITED K-12 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THEBLACKFEET NATION TO TEACH YOUTH HOW TO PREPARE FOR WINTER SPORTS AND TOOK THEMON CROSS COUNTRY SKIING TRIPS. GEAR, EQUIPMENT, AND HEALTHY SNACKS WEREPROVIDED.TO COMBAT CHRONIC HEALTH DISPARITIES SUCH AS DIABETES, OBESITY, AND HEARTDISEASE, PLHI INITIATED A TRADITIONAL DIET STUDY (2019 TO PRESENT) TO ASCERTAIN THEBENEFITS OF RE-ADOPTING A TRADITIONAL DIET THAT CONSISTS OF QUALITY PROTEINS ANDLOCALLY PRODUCED FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND SUPPLEMENTAL HERBS. THE STUDY ISSOURCING FOODS FROM LOCAL NATIVE PRODUCERS WHICH IS IMPROVING THEIR ECONOMICOUTLOOK.FROM 2021 TO 2022, AN OUTREACH INITIATIVE FUNDED BY THE USDA SERVED OVER 300PRODUCERS AND WE CONTINUE TO ENROLL PRODUCERS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMMING (NRCS,RMA, FSA); PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE DATA REVEALS A SIGNIFICANT (NEARLY THREEFOLD)INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR PRODUCERS IN GLACIER COUNTY SINCE THE PROGRAMSTARTED.TO DATE, PLHI HOSTS ON AVERAGE, 10-16 INTERNS ANNUALLY, ALL OF WHOM HAVE GONEON TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL, OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS, AND/OR ENROLL INGRADUATE SCHOOL.SEVEN LOCAL, NATIVE YOUTH WERE PLACED IN REGENERATIVE GRAZING INTERNSHIPS IN2022, AND NINE LOCAL INTERNS WERE PLACED IN 2023.PLHI STAFF ROUTINELY PRESENT AT LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES. IN2022, 10 STAFF MEMBERS PRESENTED THEIR WORK ACROSS SEVEN HIGH PROFILE LOCALAND NATIONAL CONFERENCES.PLHI PLACES A HIGH PRIORITY ON SHARING ITS FINDINGS WITH THE LOCAL AND ACADEMICCOMMUNITY. PIIKANI LODGES WORK HAS APPEARED IN THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS:*BLACKFEET NATION IS TAKING BACK THE FOOD SYSTEM, NRDC, JUNE 21, 2021*HEALING GROUNDS: CLIMATE, JUSTICE, AND THE DEEP ROOTS OF REGENERATIVEFARMING BY LIZ CARLISLE THAT RECENTLY REACHED #1 ON AMAZONS LIST FOR FOODPOLICY AND AGRICULTURE, 2022*STORIES FOR ACTION DOCUMENTARY FILM: LIFE IN THE LAND: AMSKAPI PIIKANI -BLACKFEET NATION ON VIMEO*COMMON GROUND, PART 3: REBUILDING SOIL BY BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS,MONTANA FREE PRESS, MARCH 17, 2022