In an effort to address health disparities faced by Indigenous populations in urban areas, the Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge will host the inaugural American Indian Healthcare Summit on November 18, 2024. This event, timed with Native American Heritage Month, invites healthcare professionals, community leaders, educators, and government officials from Greater Berks County to explore critical issues in Indigenous health and learn about unique challenges affecting the Native American and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population.
The summit will be held from 8:00 to 9:30 AM at the Berks County Community Foundation, 237 Court Street, with doors opening at 7:30 AM for breakfast. Registration is free, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP by November 14.
The American Indian Healthcare Summit aims to raise awareness about the health and data representation gaps impacting Indigenous communities in Berks County, where Native Americans comprise 3.2% of the population—the highest percentage in Pennsylvania. Despite their numbers, many Native Americans in Berks County remain invisible in local health data, leading to potential gaps in care and support. This summit will address why these disparities occur and how current data collection methodologies may fail to serve the healthcare needs of Indigenous populations adequately.
A central focus of the summit is “data decolonization” and Indigenous data sovereignty. Data collected by local entities often fails to reflect the true demographic and health status of Native Americans in the region. The summit will explore alternative data aggregation methods used by AI/AN epidemiology centers, emphasizing the impact of accurate data on understanding and addressing health disparities.
The Widoktadwen Center’s founder and event organizers believe that understanding cultural nuances and traditional health practices is crucial to bridging gaps in care. The summit will feature discussions on improving cultural competency in healthcare, advocating for increased local and state funding for AI/AN healthcare programs, and integrating Indigenous knowledge into healthcare practices. There will be recommendations for local organizations to form partnerships to strengthen community health initiatives, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and health promotion within the Native community.
Specific goals outlined for the summit include:
Addressing Health Disparities: Discussion of strategies to combat higher rates of chronic diseases, substance abuse, and mental health issues within Native American populations.
Enhancing Cultural Competency: Encouraging healthcare providers to develop a deeper understanding of Indigenous cultures to offer more effective care.
Promoting Indigenous Knowledge: Integrating traditional knowledge and practices into modern healthcare.
Strengthening Community Health Programs: Developing more targeted programs to promote health and prevent illness within Indigenous communities.
Advocating for Funding: Building support for increased funding to better meet the healthcare needs of Native Americans.
Supported by a Decolonizing Data Grant from the Urban Indian Health Institute, the summit is a significant step forward for the Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge. The center, a Native-led 501(c)(3) organization based in downtown Reading, works to promote the visibility and well-being of Native Americans in Berks County through education, leadership, and activism.
For more information or to register, interested parties are encouraged to email Amanda at amanda@widoktadwen.org. The summit is expected to set the foundation for ongoing dialogue and action to improve healthcare outcomes for Native Americans in Berks County and beyond.
