Getting our Message Across to other Cultures

Native American organizations and the US Indigenous population in general traditionally develop better when being assisted by great Indian leaders. There are many reasons why, but two stand out. First, the historical trauma caused by previous federal policies and second, the native way of knowing and learning is different from mainstream modalities. NCUIH promotes Native American and non-Native cross-training when available and possible. We are also aware that partnerships and alliances with other communities in the country can and do help us move forward. In fact most of our membership shares initiatives and projects with Non-Native American organizations. For instance, the UIHP Survey 2008 shows that nearly fifty percent of all UIHPs reporting indicated that the respective American Indian/Alaska Native Community is Active in the larger mainstream community.

• Academic & Educational Partnerships

Of the UIHPs surveyed, 85.7% reported a relationship with a university on a variety of partnership activities:

-          68.4% of these UIHPs partner with University to offer apprenticeship
            positions
-          57.9% have research/evaluation projects
-          52.6% use Universities to recruit for positions
-          52.6% have projects to increase some type of health awareness
-          42.1% partner on community development work
-          36.8% partner on training efforts
-          15.8% use Universities to assist with providing clinical and support services

Shapiro Reno Cambridge, Organizer of the 2011 DC Native Round Dance:
an event including the DC community at large

Of the UIHPs reporting, 90.5% have a relationship with a local government and 47.4% reported having grants and/or contracts from local agencies. Again, most partnerships were in the area of
- Health (81%)
- Development (14.3%)
- Justice (38.1%)
- Social Services (61.9%)
- Administrative (19%)
- Various community projects (25%; i.e. Homelessness, Cultural, etc).

Of those UIHPs receiving local Health grants and contracts; they included Outpatient Services (16.7%), Referral and Outreach (16.7%), Promotion/Prevention (33.3%), Nutrition (50%), Lab (16.7%), Pharmacy (16.7%), Mental Health/Counseling (16.7%), Substance Abuse (16.7%), Tobacco (16.7%), Youth Health Programs (16.7%), and other programs such as Dental and Medical Supplies.

• Partnerships with NON-Native Organizations
  

Ninety-five percent (95%) of UIHPs surveyed had multiple non-Indian organization partnerships. These partnerships with non-Indian organizations include the following:

-          90% have joint efforts
-          70% have information exchange
-          40% have sub-contracts
-          40% have pro-bono activities
-          25% have sub-grants

D) Media and Communications 

Although the majority of UIHPs work with media to increase awareness of their activities in the community (85.7%), it is limited. Of those UIHPs that work with media, 88.9% do so for special events only. Fortunately, in marketing for special events, UIHPs use diverse methods of communicating to the public and 88.9% work with both native and non-native media. Of those UIHPs using native media: 

-          72.2% use native newspapers for marketing
-          16.7% use native magazines
-          44.4% use native internet sites
-          27.8% use native television
-          55.6% use flyers and other social marketing strategies within native
            community
-          44.4% use native radio stations

• Marketing & Awareness
  

UIHP marketing within the broad mainstream or non-native community includes the following:

-          94.4% use non-native newspaper
-          22.2% use non-native magazines
-          61.1% use non-native internet sites
-          72.2% use non-native television
-          66.7% use flyers and other social marketing strategies within the non-native
            community
-          50% use non-native radio stations. More