NATIVE WELLNESS INSTITUTE

The Native Wellness Institute provided training both virtual and and in person trainings to Indian tribes, urban Native organizations and others. NWI offered weekly "Native Wellness Power Hours" at no cost as a way to offer mental well-being support and those continue to be offered for free once a week. Each Power Hour is saved on NWI's You Tube channel. Over 550 have been offered. NWI offered a total of 8 online training sessions where 10 facilitators were used and over 500 people attended. In addition, 9 in person training sessions were held where 10 facilitators were used and nearly 1,000 participants attended. NWI also provided 95 training sessions in tribal and/or urban Native organizations or other agencies. On average, two facilitators were used for each training and training topics included the following: healthy relationships, wellness in the workplace, adults working with Native youth, Gathering of Native Americans, moving through grief and loss, self care, youth leadership, being an ally in Indian Country, being trauma and healing informed and other specifically designed related topics for communities. NWI charges registration fees for participants attending training and charges communities and/or agencies a fee to provide the training to their staff. Many scholarships are given for those that can't pay and other free resources are provided and made available as well. Some of the trainings are training of trainers where each participants receives a copy of NWI's curriculum. Other trainings that are not training of trainers, particpants receive a handout packet.

The Native Wellness Institute received a contract from Multnomah County Health Department to provide community outreach and engagement, education and evaluation for a local project called the Future Generations Collaborative. This public health and early childhood program serves the local Native community in Portland, OR by providing early childhood playgroups and caregiver support circles, public health support like fentanyl awareness, COVID prevention, extreme weather support, air quality support due to wild fires, addressing homelessness, community healing and other public health related issues. NWI provides opportunities for community members to connect the dots between the lasting impacts of trauma and the power of healing through culture, community and connection. Specific training and workshops as well as community gatherings and retreats are provided. NWI works with community health workers and community members called elders and natural helpers to do this work. Events and gatherings include baby showers, self care days, retreats, Indigenous People's Day celebration, community picnics and more. Weekly playgroups and other early childhood programming are also held. About 150 people are served per month with some events hosting 20 people and some over 500 with a total of about 5,500 people being served.