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American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth are strong and resilient. Here are some culturally-relevant tools and resources that you can use to help nurture mental health with AI/AN students.
Native Teens and Young Adults
Native youth are leading a movement to decolonize all aspects of health and wellness.
Although considerable diversity exists throughout Indian Country and Alaska, traditional Native worldviews are often fundamentally different from Western and Eastern worldviews, with unique concepts about health and healing. Traditionally for many American Indian and Alaska Native people, all aspects of life are viewed as intimately intertwined. Mind, body, spirit, and context are connected, requiring balance to promote health and wellbeing.
Healing requires curiosity and patience. No two beings are the same; the healing journey is different for each person. The passage of time is viewed as circular, rather than linear. Decisions are made with consideration for past, present, and future generations, and focus is placed on community needs over those of the individual.
Colonization has attempted to decimate the very foundations that once protected Native communities from social, economic, spiritual, and physical ills. Recognizing this, Native youth are returning to traditional ways of knowing and traditional sources of healing – like language, culture, land, and ceremony – to reclaim wellness in all its forms.
We R Native is a comprehensive health and wellness resource for Native youth, by Native youth, providing content and stories about the topics that matter most to them.
Ask Your Relatives On the site, Native students can check out their Ask Your Relative Q&A service. Their team has answered over 500 questions from Native youth, tackling a wide variety of sensitive questions. Nearly half of the answers address youth’s concerns about cultural and gender identity, mental health, stress, historical trauma, stigma and navigating negative stereotypes.