This course is designed to enhance understanding and foster effective partnerships to support the health and well-being of Indigenous communities, including American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people, Native American, First Nation, Indigenous, and Indian communities. Here are the key components of the course: 

Learning Objectives 

By the end of this course, learners will walk with deeper understanding and carry forward the skills needed to respectfully and effectively support Indigenous communities:

1. Honor the knowledge of Indigenous People past and present by learning how federal laws and policies shape the lives of tribal and urban Indian communities today - emphasizing how sovereignty, trust, responsibility, and self-determination guide the services our people receive.
2. Celebrate the strength and resilience of American Indian and Alaska Native communities, who have always found ways to promote health and wellness amidst ongoing challenges.
3. Remember and reflect on the historical journey of Indigenous people, recognizing how this path shapes the way we engage with health systems, and how we reclaim health in ways that are our own.
4. Understand the deep impact of history on health equity for our communities. Knowing our past helps see the path to better health for the future.
5. Explore the Indian Health System—how it stands to serve our people and where it falls short, leaving spaces that we, together, must fill with Indigenous knowledge and care.
6. Build the skills to work in a good way with our people, using culturally grounded practices that uplift Indigenous individuals, families, and communities.
7. Commit to building respectful partnerships by listening deeply and acting with accountability, always mindful of the histories that shape the health of our communities. Understand that true partnership is built on trust, respect, and shared responsibility.

Audience

The audiences for this course are entities and people with an interest in building and sustaining effective working relationships with Indigenous communities to support health and well-being.

Course Recognition

The Raven Collective honors the invaluable relationship and partnership with Cardea Services to ensure that this work is completed and gives thanks to the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for understanding the need and funding the course development. 

We also take the time to thank our teachers in this work, Abigail Echo-Hawk, Danica Love Brown, and Wendy Nakatsukasa-Ono, our communities, families and ancestors. This work is built off hours of reading, watching, learning and conversation with each of these knowledge holders.