Sharing TEC Work: Seven Directions Our Nations, Our Journeys 2023 Indigenous Public Health Conference

Seven Directions, a Center for Indigenous Public Health based at the University of Washington in Seattle, hosted the Our Nations, Our Journeys 2023 Indigenous Public Health Conference from June 27-29, at the Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Over 300 participants, including Indigenous public health leaders, activists, researchers, and collaborators, convened to explore the theme, “Healing from the Opioid Epidemic through Strengths-based Approaches and Data Sovereignty.” Participants learned about and discussed an array of topics, such as culturally grounded approaches to healing and recovery, opportunities to improve data for substance use prevention and response, and efforts to promote Indigenous data sovereignty. Among the attendees and presenters, there was a strong representation from many of the Tribal Epidemiology Centers.

Seven Directions is immensely grateful for all of the knowledge shared by participating TEC Directors and staff. See some of the conference highlights below!

For more information about each of the 12 TECs, visit https://tribalepicenters.org/12-tecs/.

6.28.23 – Data Opportunities for Tribal Opioid Overdose Prevention & Control from Seven Directions indigenousphi.

Dr. Kevin English, Director of the Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, hosted a breakout session on June 28, presenting “Data Opportunities for Tribal Opioid Overdose Prevention & Control.” English shared information about currently available data sources that can be leveraged to characterize the burden of opioids among American Indian and Alaska Native populations, including opportunities for opioid-related data and surveillance enhancement and primary data collection.

Michael Mudgett, Substance Use Epidemiologist at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, hosted a breakout session on June 28, presenting “Improving AI/AN Overdose Data Through Data Linkages.” In this presentation, Mudgett described how NPAIHB has utilized data linkages to correct racial misclassification and address the improvement of drug overdose mortality data among American Indian and Alaska Native people in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho vital statistics databases, respectively.

Tim Collins, Senior Epidemiologist at the Alaska Native Epidemiology Center, led an experiential learning session on June 29, titled, “Opioids and the Brain: How Augmented Reality can inform treatment and build health literacy.” In this session, participants had the opportunity to wear a Hololens2 headset to experience interactive holograms that illustrate the potential effects of opioid use on the brain and how treatment can help. Collins also discussed the rationale for using augmented reality in patient education, special considerations for substance use disorders, and limitations of the technology.

TEC News

Tribal EpiCenters

10/24/2023

Sharing TEC Work: Seven Directions Our Nations, Our Journeys 2023 Indigenous Public Health Conference