June 2022: PRIDE and 2SLGBTQ+ Health |
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June is PRIDE month, a time for celebrating diversity! This month’s issue includes tips, resources and strategies to support and affirm our Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer+) relatives with PRIDE!
Here are three questions you can reflect on with your students:
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How did you come to understand the gender you use today?
What identities are most important to you?
a) Indigenous Identity
b) Sexual Orientation
c) Gender Identity
d) Race/Ethnicity
e) Disability or Ability
f) Age
g) Social Class
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Where did you learn about the gender identity you have today?
a) In School
b) From Family
c) Internal Journey
d) Online
e) Books/Research
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These are three simple, yet profound questions. It brings back memories, and reflection about our identities. We are made of medicine. Identity is central to our existence, our outlook, and our place in the world. Let's embrace it!
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Affirming Identity Resources & Strategies |
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For all teens, adolescence is a critical time for identity development. Building cultural pride and positive identity must be central to innovations addressing mental health and resilience for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth. Today, Native youth are leading a movement to decolonize all aspects of health and wellness. Mind, body, spirit, and culture are connected, requiring balance to promote holistic, inclusive health, healing and well-being.
Tip: Visit our resources and take a step towards learning about and affirming identity for today’s Native youth.
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(For Native Youth) We R Native is a multimedia health resource for Native teens and young adults.
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(For Alaska Native Youth) I Know Mine provides Alaska Native youth holistic health education and resources to promote healthy life choices.
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(For Educators) Healthy Native Youth is a one-stop-shop for educators and health advocates who want to expand learning opportunities for AI/AN youth.
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(For All) Paths Remembered centers the Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ community – its strengths, resilience, and histories – in our movement toward health equity.
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(For Educators) Celebrate Our Youth and Community
Everyone deserves recognition for their hard work. Build moments of celebration into your lesson plans! We have a few tools in the HNY Implementation Toolbox to help you acknowledge and celebrate your youth.
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(For All) Celebrating our Magic Toolkit is a culturally-specific resource for AI/AN communities and aims to provide resources for transgender and Two-Spirit youth, their relatives, and their healthcare providers.
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(For Parents) Talking is Power is a Text Messaging Service for parents & caring adults, that shares how to talk to youth about sexual health as an askable adult.
Text EMPOWER to 94449 to get started!
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Media Campaigns to Support PRIDE Month |
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We have several new culturally-relevant, community-driven media campaigns that you can use to promote affirming, inclusive, strength-based, holistic health for teens and young adults.
Tip: Help create safe and affirming spaces by sharing, promoting and posting these materials in your clinics, schools and youth centers.
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The Safe Spaces campaign includes social media posts, Zoom and TikTok backgrounds, window clings, stickers, posters and magnets.
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Get Your Self Tested (GYT) |
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The GYT campaign encourages young people to get tested and treated for STIs and HIV to protect their health and the health of their partners.
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The Indigiqueer Joy campaign by the Paths Remembered Project shares the stories of Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ activism, art, pride, celebration.
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We R Native has developed a downloadable, resource rich handout for Native youth, young adults and adults who engage adolescents. It is a must have!
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June 8: Concerning Social Media Posts Workshop
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Suicide prevention remains challenging among Native youth, as many do not disclose thoughts of suicide before making an attempt. However, youth may disclose symptoms of grief and depression on social media. These public disclosures may provide opportunities to identify youth at risk and connect them to appropriate resources and support.
Join us for a super interactive session as we preview a new text message series called Mind4Health.
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July 13: Staying Connected
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Join the CoP crew to talk about what others are doing and how we can support each other’s youth programming in summer to keep the momentum going!
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In Case You Missed It: Sustain and Grow Your Program
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Learn from HNY special guest speakers and real time educators who share their heartfelt reflections on what worked in the implementation of their programs, offering helpful tips for making implementation adjustments based on lessons learned, and sustaining ideas to grow your program! |
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In Closing: Words of Wisdom |
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Without affirming allies and spaces, gender-diverse Indigenous people can face mental health challenges. Affirm our relatives by saying their correct name and pronouns. That simple action can help save a life and make a connection. Watch this video to learn how!
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I craft a theory of Indigi-queerness by rejecting queer and LGBT signposts for my identity, instead relying on the sovereignty of traditional language, such as Two-Spirit, and the terminology we craft for ourselves, Indigi-queer.
- Joshua Whitehead, Love After The End
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Coming Soon: Call/Text 988 Campaign (July 16th) |
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The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free, 24/7 confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress in the United States. The Lifeline is effective in reducing suicidal and emotional distress.
Tip: View and Download the campaign -> Print -> Share!
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Share the Healthy Native Youth Newsletter! |
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1. Share this email with your colleagues.
2. Sign up for HNY updates by texting HEALTHY to 94449.
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