Health Promotion

Health promotion campaigns should always be designed with the audience in mind, including their needs, priorities, cultural sensitivities, and motivations. In order to design a successful health promotion campaign that addresses American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities, state and local agencies should seek to collaborate directly with tribes or tribal leaders to make sure their message resonates, is appropriate, and aligns with the priorities of tribal leadership and the greater community.

Culture in Public Health Work

Paying attention to culture is key to successful public health work. It is important to take the initiative to learn about tribal culture over time rather than requiring tribal partners to educate you. Participating in tribal events and getting to know the community can build relationships and knowledge that can help improve communication and lead to successful projects. Many tribal events welcome public participation. Check with local tribe websites or social media to find out about events open to the public.

In creating health promotion programs that include AI/AN disparities, public health professionals should reflect on Native values, histories, and traditions that might be affected by those programs.

Tobacco prevention is a great example of how taking a specific population’s culture and practices into consideration improves public health work. In some tribal communities, traditional tobacco use is seen as medicinal or ceremonial. Public health professionals should consider this as they create messaging around commercial tobacco use and abuse. Many tribal prevention programs have culturally relevant strategies to help AI/AN people quit commercial tobacco use. For more information, see the Rural Tobacco Control and Prevention Toolkit.

Alaska native

Public health workers in Alaska collaborated with Alaska Native partners to help reduce tobacco-related health disparities.

Tobacco prevention is a great example of how taking a specific population’s culture and practices into consideration improves public health work. In some tribal communities, traditional tobacco use is seen as medicinal or ceremonial. Public health professionals should consider this as they create messaging around commercial tobacco use and abuse. Many tribal prevention programs have culturally relevant strategies to help AI/AN people quit commercial tobacco use. For more information, see the Rural Tobacco Control and Prevention Toolkit.

Programs like the following are examples of incorporating culture into public health work:

Changing the Narrative

It is important to remember that the way non-tribal public health talks about AI/AN health disparities has power behind it. Whether it is in discussing data with your teams or presenting a program to a community, the language chosen is important in determining what message you want to share. The First Nations Development Institute has a resource called, Changing the Narrative About Native Americans, that provides a framework that will help you craft your messaging in order to prevent perpetuating harmful messages about AI/AN people.

If you have not already, we recommend visiting our section on History, Culture, and Customs to learn more about Native values, traditions, and contributions to public health.

Below are some examples of diverse programs led by both tribes and local, state, or national public health agencies to promote community health: