Bigfoot has been helping the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board’s (NPAIHB) Tribal Epidemiology Center spread the word about how to stay safe from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.

In his first appearance in March 2020, Bigfoot stressed the importance of protecting our Elders and staying home to stay safe. Since then, his guiding presence has brought important messages to the NW Tribes wrapped up in a bit of fun.

Last fall, Bigfoot started making personal appearances at all the NPAIHB Tribes to encourage mask wearing and to spread some joy despite the pandemic. Wearing his extra LARGE mask, he was enthusiastically received by all.

In early 2021, besides his Stay Safe messages, Bigfoot began encouraging people to get vaccinated culminating in his appearance on a “tattoo” after vaccination. These tattoos were also distributed to all the Tribes served by the NPAIHB for distribution at vaccination events.

In his most recent appearance, Bigfoot has been seen taking his children to be vaccinated, encouraging parents to take care of their children and communities!

 

Like our Tribes, Bigfoot is committed to protecting those who came before him and nurturing those who come after.

 

---

 

Over the past year, the Paths (Re)Membered Project has worked on a variety of projects to support the health of Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ (2SLGBTQ+) people. (We use Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ or 2SLGBTQ+ throughout this briefing to refer to individuals who identify as gender-diverse (not cisgender) or have a minority sexual orientation.) Paths (Re)Membered activities have included founding a Trans & Gender-Affirming Care ECHO, publishing monthly podcasts and blog posts, hosting regular community events and trainings for staff and partners, working with northwest tribes to build capacity for affirming environments in clinics and community spaces, and completing a 2SLGBTQ+ Pride and Connectedness Online Survey.

In January of 2020, NPAIHB Delegates approved the resolution “Support for Quality Care and Improved Health Outcomes for Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ People.” In response, the NPAIHB Paths (Re)Membered Program founded the Native Advocacy Workgroup for Trans Health and worked with them to collectively create a Strategic Vision and Action Plan focused on Trans & Gender-Affirming Care in Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Clinics (I/T/U).

In its role creating the Strategic Vision and Action Plan, NPAIHB listened and consulted with stakeholders including 2SLGBTQ+ community members, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community and program leaders. This strategic plan supports the I/T/U clinics as they begin to provide gender-affirming care to their patients by emphasizing the following four goals:

1. Develop and pass protective policies at the federal, tribal, and local levels;
2. Ensure affirming clinical environments for gender-diverse patients;
3. Ensure best practice care for Indigenous gender-diverse patients; and
4. Improve I/T/U health systems support for initiatives focused on the wellness of gender-diverse community members.

View/Download Strategic Vision and Action Plan (PDF 738 KB)

---

 

For more information about the Strategic Vision and Action Plan or to learn more about the NPAIHB Paths (Re)Membered Program, please contact Morgan at mthomas@npaihb.org or 850-748-3458.