Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
UI Health Celebrates Diversity
Inclusion Calendar
UI Health CHAMPIONS
Black History Month
Women's History Month
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Disability Pride & Awareness
National Hispanic Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Arab American Heritage Month
Filipino American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month
At UI Health, we honor and celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) during Native American Heritage Month. This month provides a chance to acknowledge the legacy and contributions of Tribal nations and Indigenous communities throughout the United States.
Significant challenges and resilience mark Native American history in healthcare. Historically, Indigenous peoples struggled to get proper healthcare, often facing obstacles and receiving care that didn’t respect their culture. U.S. policies, such as the establishment of the Indian Health Service (IHS) in 1955, aimed to provide healthcare but often fell short of meeting cultural and medical needs. Native communities increasingly advocate for better healthcare access, funding, and culturally relevant services to address health disparities. Overall, the history reflects a struggle for health equity and recognition of the unique cultural identities of Indigenous peoples.
Approximately 2.5 million Native Americans live in the U.S. and Canada, with over 100,000 in the Chicago metropolitan area. Many AI/AN follow traditional customs and spiritual practices. Native healers frequently use natural remedies and sacred sites, believing healing power stems from Earth's forces accessed through prayer. During illness, many seek the assistance of a medicine person or shaman. At UI Health, we believe providing culturally relevant information empowers patients to achieve better health outcomes for themselves and their communities, fostering improved well-being and reducing disparities.
Within the month of November, we invite you to join us in celebrating the Odehmenan Health Equity Center’s Signature Community Event:
“Compassion in Action: Delivering Medical Care in Navajo Nation,” on November 13, 2024, from 8:30 am-3 pm Central Time. This all-day program will feature healthcare practitioners and community health advocates from Gallup, New Mexico, who work exclusively with Native populations and will discuss various topics including, but not limited to, COVID-19, gender-affirming care, and substance use disorders.
This program aims to come together, listen, and engage in dialogue about what each of us can do to better educate ourselves on Native health and how we can be better healthcare advocates. Learn more about the Odehmenan Health Equity Center Signature Community Event.
Let’s unite to honor Native American Heritage Month and appreciate the diverse cultures, histories, and achievements of Native peoples.
Archives
Learn more about how UI Health is honoring the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx community members through Hispanic Heritage Month.