Concordia College will host a Native American Health Symposium from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, on the second floor of the Knutson Campus Center. The event is free, open to the public, and includes dinner.
Healthcare professionals, social service providers, Tribal health leaders, educators, students, and community agency representatives are encouraged to attend.
The evening will feature a Native American community panel sharing lived experiences and insights to help providers deliver more effective, respectful, and culturally grounded care for Indigenous patients and families.
Panelists include:
- Brandon Baity (Anishinaabe), executive director, Indigenous Association
- Delores Gabbard (Dakota), Indian Ed liason, Moorhead Area Public Schools
- Melody Staebner (Anishinaabe), coordinator, Native American Education Program of Fargo and West Fargo Public Schools
- Darlene TenBear Boyle (Crow/Anishinaabe), program assistant and liason, Native American Education Program of Fargo and West Fargo Public Schools
- Tanya RedRoad (Anishinaabe), health equity coach, NDSU Extension
- Ashley Littlewolf (Anishinaabe), executive director of the American Indian Public Health Resource Center, NDSU
- Arlan Littlewolf (Anishinaabe), nutrition education assistant, NDSU
The discussion will be facilitated by Ricky White (Anishinaabe), CEO of First Nations Consultants.
The symposium is part of the college's “Amplifying Indigenous Voices: Education for Mutual Respect in West Central Minnesota,” a program funded by a Social Change Grant from West Central Initiative. White serves as a key community partner in the program, which aims to strengthen health providers’ cultural understanding, build trust with Indigenous communities, improve health outcomes, and provide a platform for Indigenous leaders to share their perspectives.
The Amplifying Indigenous Voices project builds on the college’s previous work supported by the Mellon Foundation’s Just Futures grant, which focused on educating communities about the intergenerational trauma caused by mandatory federal residential boarding schools.
For the symposium dinner, please complete the registration form with any dietary needs and RSVP to Emily Pekas at epekas@cord.edu. Reach out to Nathalie Rinehardt at nrinehar@cord.edu if you have any questions regarding this event.