Minnesota Native News: Community Health Conversations Ampers

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Melissa Walls, the Director of the Great Lakes hub for the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. Dr. Walls shares her experiences leading the center through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the innovative approaches and resilient spirit that guided her team. We delve into the long-term changes she envisions for addressing health needs within Indigenous communities, emphasizing the importance of culturally informed care. Dr. Walls also discusses her involvement in a groundbreaking study, Benevolent Childhood Experiences (also known as BCE’s), offering valuable insights into how these positive experiences impact the health and well-being of Indigenous Communities and beyond. 
Melissa Walls (memengwaa) is Eagle Clan and a first generation descendant of the Couchiching First Nation and Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe (maternal) and of Swedish/German descent (paternal). She grew up in northern Minnesota along the Canadian border and now lives in Duluth, MN where she serves as Director of the Center for Indigenous Health’s Great Lakes Hub and an Associate Professor of American Health in the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins University.
 
Melissa is trained as a social scientist (PhD sociology, 2007) and is committed to collaborative, community-driven research. She has been working on health equity research projects with Tribal Nations in the Great Lakes region of the US and Canada since 2002. The Great Lakes Hub project focus on topics including mental health epidemiology, culturally-relevant, family-based substance use prevention and mental health promotion programming and evaluation, and promoting better health for families living with type 2 diabetes.

In today’s episode, we sit down with Chef Sean Sherman a visionary in the realm of Indigenous cuisine. Sean shares the challenges he has faced in reclaiming and preserving traditional and Indigenous ingredients, recipes, and culinary techniques. Diving into the rich history of Native diets, he compares them to modern western diets, shedding light on the profound impacts of these differences. Throughout the conversation, Sean reveals the passion that drives his work and its crucial role and cultural preservation and decolonization. Listen as he discusses the importance of Indigenous food sovereignty and how Indigenous food ways serve as a powerful tool for reclaiming cultural identity not only in Minnesota but all around the world. Chef Sean Sherman has dedicated his career to supporting and promoting Indigenous food systems and Native food sovereignty.
 
Sean’s cooking style is based on pre-colonial Indigenous food systems, using only ingredients that are native to North America. His menus are inspired by the seasons and the land, featuring traditional ingredients like bison, hand-harvested wild rice, cedar, and sumac. He draws on the knowledge and culinary techniques of his ancestors to develop innovative, nutritious, and flavorful dishes that incorporate wild game, fish, foraged plants, and heirloom grains.
 
Through his activism and advocacy, Sean is helping to reclaim and celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Indigenous communities around the world.
Owamni Restaurant https://owamni.com/ 

In this episode of Community Health Conversations, we delve into a captivating conversation with three distinguished individuals from the Red Lake Nation College. Our guests share insights into how the college is creating supportive and culturally relevant learning environments for students, intertwining cultural relevancy into programs and courses.
 
We explore the unique challenges and opportunities that the Red Lake Nation College faces in the post-COVID landscape, shedding light on student-focused initiatives and the power of partnerships and collaborations. Our guests eloquently discuss the pivotal role education plays in improving and transforming health outcomes for American Indian Communities. 
 
Nadine Bill, B.S.
Director of Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness
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Nadine Bill is a higher education professional with over twenty years’ experience in leadership positions.
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Nadine has extensive experience in admissions and student services at the University of Washington.  She has served as a development and community outreach director at Green River Community College. In 2005 Nadine was honored with a prestigious fellowship in Higher Education at Harvard University.  During her time at Harvard, Nadine focused on student services research and worked on an inter-faculty initiative at the Kennedy School of Government.
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Nadine is a published author who led the primary research in 2009 funded by the Gates Foundation on “Native Pathways: A Study of Colleges and Universities Best Practices for Native American Students in Washington State”.  For the last 10 years she has served in the Tribal College system as a Dean of Students and Institutional Research.
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Nadine Bill, is a member of the Upper Skagit Tribe of Washington State and descendent of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Washington University, graduate work in higher education, and graduate fellowship from Harvard University.
Rachel King-Siert, M. Ed.
Director of Student Services  
Rachel King-Siert is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Nation. As a first-generation student, she attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech, Hearing, and Language Sciences. She continued on to earn a Master’s in Education with a focus on learning through community and experiential learning, also from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.   Over the past 18 years, Rachel has dedicated her work to helping students and families navigate through educational systems. She has had the opportunity to work in most areas for student support, from admission and financial aid, to academic advising. She has also worked with a diverse array of college students at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Concordia College, and Dartmouth College.
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Her role at RLNC will include working in outreach to the Native community in Minneapolis and online, and assisting students with registration, enrollment, and financial aid. She will also focus on student success and retention.
Kayla DuaneCommunications Director Kayla Duane is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of the Ojibwe, raised in Minneapolis. As a first generation student, she attended the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing Education. During Kayla’s time at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, she served as the President of the American Indian Student Cultural Center, and the External Relations Officer for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. Kayla’s experience as a President of the American Indian Student Cultural Center and an External Relations Officer for the American Indian Science & Engineering Society has given her a deep understanding of business operations, marketing trends, and data analysis while also advocating for Indigenous perspectives

In this episode, we speak with Mary and Colette, two dynamic voices from the Minneapolis American Indian Center. As leaders in the community, they shed light on their roles in spearheading the center’s initiatives, particularly as they gear up for the grand re-opening celebrations starting May 1st. 
 
Mary and Colette delve into the pressing health disparities faced by Indigenous communities and how the center’s Fitness and Nutrition program has evolved to face these challenges head-on. They emphasize the crucial role of culture in designing and implementing fitness and nutrition programs, highlighting the importance of art, youth, elders, and intergenerational programming in promoting healthy lifestyles. 
 
Looking ahead, they share their long-term goals of fostering holistic wellness and building strong partnerships and collaborations to amplify their impact on the local Indian Country’s health and wellness landscape.
Mary LaGarde
 
Mary LaGarde, Executive Director of the Minneapolis American Indian Center, was selected to lead the organization in June 2013.  Ms. LaGarde has over 30 years of nonprofit experience in program services, including management and development. In 1994, Ms. LaGarde established a therapeutic preschool for American Indian children at the Little Earth of United Tribes Housing Development in Minneapolis, in 1999 managed the opening of the Little Earth Neighborhood Early Learning Center, and since then has developed numerous programs for the American Indian community in Minneapolis.  In 2008 Ms. LaGarde received the DreamMaker Award from the Ann Bancroft Foundation, in 2014 was honored at the University of Minnesota’s American Indian Student Cultural Center’s Honoring American Indian Women Luncheon, and named a 2016 Local Public Health Hero by the City of Minneapolis’ Health Department.  She received her B.A. in Sociology/American Racial and Multicultural Studies from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN), and is a member of the White Earth Nation.  
Colette Lawrence
 
Colette Lawrence is a seasoned public health advocate with a rich background in serving Indigenous communities. With over 7 and a half years of experience at the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC), she has demonstrated her commitment to community health through various roles, including directing the FAN Program. Colette’s passion for empowering Native American elders led her to partner with institutions like the University of Minnesota Extension and Blue Cross Blue Shield Prevention Center to implement evidence- based cooking demonstrations and nutrition education programs. She is also recognized for her pivotal role in organizing critical COVID vaccine clinics, further solidifying her dedication to improve the health and well-being of the American Indian’s in Minnesota.
Welcome back to Community Health Conversations, a special program from Minnesota Native News! Hosts Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Dr. Antony Stately Ph.D. (Ojibwe/Oneida) lead insightful discussions about the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare in Indian Country. They discuss the valuable lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore how Native communities are responding and adapting beyond COVID-19.
https://www.maicnet.org/ 

In this insightful episode, Susan and Briana open up about their personal journeys and experiences with boundary-setting. Through the lens of their respective podcast series Remembering Resilience, they delve into the profound significance of boundaries not only with oneself but within American Indian communities at large. They offer invaluable perspectives on cultural nuances and illuminate the intricacies of boundary setting. Together, they explore the far-reaching implications of boundary neglect on individual and communal well-being, sparking a crucial conversation on building awareness and fostering resilience. 
Susan Beaulieu (She/Her), is Anishinaabe and an enrolled member of the Red Lake Nation. Susan has worked directly with Indigenous communities for over 17 years in a variety of capacities including project development, training and facilitation. Her primary focus for the last 7 years has been helping communities, organizations, and individuals understand the impacts of unresolved individual, ancestral and collective trauma, and to develop strategies to support healing. Susan is passionate about creating opportunities and encouraging processes for reconnecting to the mind, body, heart and spirit to support wellbeing. Susan was a 2016 Bush Leadership Fellow, is an ACE Interface Master Trainer, and a certified Mind-Body Medicine Facilitator. She has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. 
Briana Matrious, is an enrolled member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and works for the University of Minnesota Extension as a Tribal Community Facilitator. She is a part of the American Indian Resource and Resiliency Team which focuses on the opioid crisis by increasing the capital recovery in Tribal communities. Her work helps people from all backgrounds understand the root causes of historical and intergenerational trauma and the correlation to the many challenges we face today. Briana has lived experience through her life and has facilitated many presentations, webinars, and workshops on; trauma, lateral oppression, history, connection, and spirituality just to name a few. She wholeheartedly believes that to heal ourselves moving forward, we must understand the past. She is an advocate for mental health and is passionate about understanding trauma, psychedelics and plant medicines for healing, and overall wellness for the mind, body, and spirit. Outside of her full-time work, she is the boxing chairwoman for the Mille Lacs Band Department of Athletic Regulation, she stays busy traveling, and loving her two cats.
https://rememberingresilience.home.blog/season-three/ 

Angela Two Stars and Juleana Enright both share their passion for the arts and how it is a tool for healing. In this episode, they share the inside scoop with us behind the latest exhibition at the All My Relations Arts Gallery called Okizi which means healing one’s self. The mission of All My Relations Arts Gallery (AMRA) is to uplift contemporary American Indian artists through gallery exhibitions, arts programming, community workshops, writers programs, and more. Through these programs the main goals are to share Native American stories, culture, language, and traditions.
Angela Two Stars is a public artist and curator. She is the director of All My Relations Arts, a project of the Native American Community Development Institute in Minneapolis, MN. Angela is an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and received her BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design. Angela’s professional arts career began at All My Relations Arts gallery as an exhibiting artist, which then led to further opportunities including her first curatorial role for the exhibition titled, Bring Her Home, Stolen Daughters of Turtle Island, a powerful exhibition highlighting the ongoing epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Angela’s public art graces the shores of Bde Maka Ska and honors the Dakota people of Mni Sota. Angela was selected as the finalist for the Walker Art Center’s Indigenous Public Art Commission which is currently installed in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
 
Juleana Enright is an Indigenous, queer, non-binary, freelance writer, independent curator, theatre artist and DJ. They are an enrolled member of the Lower Brule Lakota Tribe. Juleana is the Gallery and Programs Coordinator at All My Relations Arts. Their past roles have included Culture Editor for l’étoile magazine and Communications Specialist for Gamut Gallery. They have contributed to local platforms, Pride Magazine, mplsart, Primer and City Pages. Juleana has curated four art exhibitions, including Soft Boundaries and biskaabiiyang (returning to ourselves), and their most recently curated exhibit for Paradox. In 2020, they were a participating artist in “Controlled Burn” at the Phoenix Theatre, where they exhibited, “To Wash the Native Out of Us” – an audio/visual installation on the history of Indian boarding schools through the lens of intimate family experiences. Juleana is a recipient of the Emerging Curators Institute 2020-21 Fellowship program and a writer’s fellow with MnArtists.
Welcome back to Community Health Conversations, a special program from Minnesota Native News! Hosts Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and Dr. Antony Stately Ph.D. (Ojibwe/Oneida) lead insightful discussions about the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare in Indian Country. They discuss the valuable lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore how Native communities are responding and adapting beyond COVID-19.  https://allmyrelationsarts.org/