This Memorial Day weekend marks a time to remember military members who have died in service to the United States. Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start to summer and boating season. As the summer days grow longer, our Alaska Native people will spend more time on the water – whether it’s on boats or shores, fishing or for recreation. However, every year, water related accidents and fatalities affect our Native community. On average, 17 Alaska Native people drown each ...

As part of a community-driven solution, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium introduced the first successful dental therapist workforce in the United States in 2004. Dental Health Aide Therapists (DHATs) provide culturally appropriate dental education and routine dental services in Alaska Native communities, usually their home village, within the scope of their training. The program was recently profiled by Do Something Awesome, a film storytelling project of WorkingNation, to showcase unique solutions in workforce development across the U.S. The article and ...

In a move that will expand educational opportunities in our state, Alaska Pacific University (APU) has renewed its articulation agreement with Iļisaġvik College. This collaboration will allow for students to complete coursework at either school and transfer to the other. Building on the strategic partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, APU recently reported record enrollment of Alaska Native and American Indian students for its Fall 2018 semester. Currently, Iļisaġvik College is the only federally recognized Tribal college in ...

The 2018 ANTHC Scholarship was recently awarded to 10 qualified Alaska Native or American Indian students who are pursuing higher education in health care-related professions. ANTHC’s Human Resources department received 120 applications during the 2018 application period, representing great promise for the future health care workforce in our state. The Scholarship Selection Committee selected recipients based on their grade point average, major field of study, strength of character illustrated in their letters of recommendation, and the honesty and sincerity of ...

In July, Harvard Honoring Nations committee members conducted a daylong site visit of ANTHC’s three health aide training programs, collaboratively known as the Tribal Community Health Provider Programs. Following the site visit, ANTHC has been named a finalist for the 2018 Honoring Nations award. According to The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, “Honoring Nations identifies, celebrates and shares excellence in American Indian tribal governance. At the heart of Honoring Nations are the principles that tribes themselves hold the ...

Alaskan plants as food and medicine – Benefits of the fall harvestAlaska Native people have lived in harmony with living things for thousands of years, including our traditional plants. This is the time of the year when our many varieties of berries become ready to pick. Berries and plants harvested in the fall provide an abundance of high-quality nutrients. “Our Alaskan berries are full of fiber and antioxidants like Vitamin C, that help keep our bodies healthy,” Marcia Anderson, ANTHC ...