Indigenous Health Leadership Institute

Indigenous populations in the United States, ranging from the 700+ American Indian/Alaska Native populations to less defined indigenous populations from Mexico, Latin America, South America and across the world, have unique cultures, perspectives on health, and health needs. This population lives sicker and dies younger than the general U.S. population, a trend seen worldwide with indigenous populations. Two core questions are often asked 1) Why is this? and 2)What can we, as health professionals, do about this situation and how do we eliminate inequities in health amongst Indigenous and other marginalized populations? Through the Native Health Initiative, a partnership to address health inequities through "loving service" (the human to human element of wanting to serve others) and tribal health partners a 3-day Indigenous Health Leadership Institute (IHLI) was created. Too often, leanring takes place in a university with a classroom and by a professor.However, IHLI demonstrated that Indigenous health can be taught in a community setting by Indigenous healers, community members, youth, and elders. They served as "professors" of the day, as they taught health professionals and health professions students about their unique perspectives and experience with health. IHLI is one approach that indentifies how to amplify community assets, build trusting relationship, share mutual leadership and decision-making processes, as well respect tribal sovereignty and acknolwedge community experts from Indigenous populations.