This episode, Traditional Food Program Successes at Urban Indian Organizations, provides a deep dive into traditional food programming at Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs), expanding on themes from the previous episode. Drawing from NCUIH’s 2024 report and interviews with various health care providers and leaders, hosts Nahla Holland (Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation), research associate at NCUIH, and Alex Sampson (Lumbee), federal relations associate at NCUIH, examine how UIOs are incorporating traditional foods into services such as nutritional counseling, community gardens, and educational opportunities.

Nutritional counseling varies widely across UIOs, with some offering large group sessions that include cooking demonstrations and Native chef partnerships; others provide more personalized or small group support tailored to specific health conditions. These programs promote better physical health and foster cultural reconnection, social support, and emotional well-being—key elements of holistic Indigenous health care.

The conversation continues with a look at community gardens, which serve as a valuable extension of health care by providing fresh, culturally significant produce while promoting physical activity, mental wellness, and community engagement. Gardens offer UIOs flexibility in tailoring traditional recipes to what’s seasonally available and help reduce feelings of isolation. The episode also highlights emerging food and produce prescription programs, where patients receive access to fresh foods through prescriptions from health care providers.

Holland and Sampson highlight the importance of making traditional foods both accessible and culturally relevant within UIOs. While nutritious produce is often available through external food assistance or prescription programs, they stressed that these offerings may not align with Native communities’ cultural food practices or be easy to incorporate into daily meals. UIOs emphasized that direct and consistent access to traditional foods is crucial in addressing both food insecurity and chronic diseases. Programs like the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) were praised for offering culturally informed, community-based approaches to diabetes care. These programs shift the focus from restrictive Western diets to encouraging the inclusion of traditional, nourishing foods, which leads to better health outcomes such as lower blood pressure, reduced A1C levels, and weight management.

Beyond clinical outcomes, the podcast explores how traditional food programming nurtures cultural, emotional, and social well-being. UIOs are creating engaging events like cooking classes, “Chopped”-style competitions, traditional food bingo, and storytelling meals, which foster a deeper connection to cultural identity and community. Some UIOs even provide tangible resources like juicers, gym memberships, and educational materials to support healthy behaviors. The underlying theme across all these efforts is education—not just on disease management but also on traditions, preparation methods, and the nutritional value of ancestral foods. Learn more at https://ncuih.org/research/third-party-billing/#traditionalfood.

The NCUIH Native Healthcast is produced by Jessica Gilbertson, MPA (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), director of communications and events, and introduced by River Carroll, MLS (Cheyenne and Arapaho), policy and communications associate at NCUIH. 

In this episode, hosts Nahla Holland (Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation), research associate at NCUIH, and Alex Sampson (Lumbee), federal relations associate at NCUIH, discuss traditional foods for American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) people, including the way food is considered, the policies supporting access to traditional foods, and foods integral to Indigenous people.

Nahla kicks off the conversation by sharing traditional foods important to the Eastern Pequot Tribe and explains that traditional foods vary from tribe to tribe, as well as the physical properties and benefits of Indigenous food. Food is also a cultural and spiritual connection to the land and facilitates social connection.

The highest rates of food insecurity in the last decade are among AI/AN people because of a lack of access and a possible disconnect from social programs. The relief from historical government distribution programs included food that wasn’t Indigenous to Tribal lands. These included processed flour and canned goods. Traditional foods have nutrients which protect against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health diseases. Indigenous food also reconnects one with the culture through hunting, fishing, gathering, and farming. Gathering food is a social event that connects people with community.

Next, the conversation shifts to Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) and traditional food programs. UIOs are integrating traditional foods into health care through four specific programs: nutritional counseling, the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), community gardens, and food prescriptions.

Federal agencies have taken steps to address food insecurity for AI/AN people. There is a USDA indigenous food sovereignty initiative that uplifts and supports traditional food. It is available for free on the USDA website, and it also includes child nutrition programs. IHS has also launched the pilot program, but more funding is needed to continue these programs. These programs will continue to increase healthy change in Indigenous people, connecting AI/AN people to their culture, ancestry, and people. Visit https://ncuih.org/traditional/#2024 for NCUIH’s 2024 report, “Thematic Analysis of Traditional Food Programs at Urban Indian Organizations and Research on Traditional Healing (Summer 2024).”

The NCUIH Native Healthcast is produced by Jessica Gilbertson, MPA (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), director of communications and events, and introduced by River Carroll (Cheyenne and Arapaho), policy and communications associate at NCUIH.

In this episode, host Jessica Gilbertson, director of communications and events at the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), interviews NCUIH CEO Francys Crevier about the need for sustainable funding for behavioral health programming in Indian Country and NCUIH’s new “Investing in Wellness” toolkit. The conversation covers the state of behavioral health care in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and prospective future funding ideas. AI/AN communities experience higher rates of alcohol abuse, substance abuse, and suicide, yet continue to lack adequate funding.

Behavioral health services are funded through a combination of public and private insurance and grants tend to be restricted and short-term. In addition, Traditional Healing programs are often not recognized or adequately funded. NCUIH’s “Investing in Wellness” toolkit was built by voices across Native communities. The toolkit includes a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, funding options, actionable strategies including optimizing Medicaid reimbursement, and a comprehensive resource guide. Visit NCUIH.org/InvestingInWellness to access the toolkit.

The NCUIH Native Healthcast is produced by Jessica Gilbertson, MPA (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), director of communications and events, and introduced by River Carroll (Cheyenne and Arapaho), policy and communications associate at NCUIH.