Aaniiih Nakoda College hosts Native traveling exhibition

The Aaniiih Nakoda College library on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation has been selected to host a traveling exhibition that explores the interconnectedness of wellness, illness, and cultural life for Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

The opening event and ribbon cutting for "Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness" will  be Wednesday at 10 a.m. in room 213 of Returning Buffalo at the college and will be available until July 28. The opening, and the display while it as at Aaniiih Nakoda, is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

"Native Voices" consists of stories drawn from the past and present and examines how health for Native people is tied to community, the land and spirit, a press release for the event says.

"Through interviews, Native people describe the impact of epidemics, federal legislation, the loss of land and the inhibition of culture on the health of Native individuals and communities today."

The exhibition consists of banners with the themes individual, community, nature, tradition and healing. Each banner will have an iPad with links to information people can use to learn about the display, Aaniiih Nakoda College Library Director Eva English said. The links will include Native voices from all over the country who tell their story.

"Each banner gives a different aspect of Native health," English said.

The Individual theme focuses on how Natives strive for healthier lives. Family, identity, personal responsibility, role models and tribal ties are the subcategories for this theme.

Community explores why the link between families and communities is vital for Native health and well-being. The subcategories are attitudes, boarding schools, diseases and disorders, education, kalaupapa, medical school, reservation life and urban.

Nature explores Native people's respect for the natural world. The subcategories for nature are art, environment, higher power, land, plants and water.

Tradition is the study of native heritage and the legacies that continue to enrich daily life. The subcategories are ceremonies, creator, death and burial, elders, ideas and language.

Healing examines the interaction between traditional healing and Western medicine in Native health today. The subcategories are beliefs, diet and nutrition, healers, new ways and old ways.