Friday, January 24 2025 | Noon - 1:30 p.m. (Virtual)
History of Indigenous practices with psychedelic medicines
I am a physician, researcher, scholar, educator, leader, traditional healer and advocate for planetary health. I am the first and only Medical Doctor trained as an Alaska Native healer and am enrolled in my Tribe, Nome Eskimo Community. I serve with a co-appointment at the Center for Indigenous Health and School of Nursing where I work toward decolonizing and Indigenizing research and curricula. I am double board certified in Family Medicine and Integrative and Holistic Medicine. I have experience providing drug and alcohol treatment in Arizona, and Alaska. My research portfolio includes behavior and addiction including a recent NIDA funded project in the Great Plains that explores a Tribally derived research agenda that identifies cultural strengths as a priority in order to address health disparities. My clinical experience in full spectrum family medicine includes Tribal, Urban, Indian Health Service and private practice settings. I established a practice-based research network, the American Indian Collaborative Rural Research Network (AICoRN), at the University of North Dakota where I continue to mentor students as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Indigenous Health. I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Association of American Indian Physicians and was awarded alumnus of the year in 2022 for the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She informs the World Health Organization by serving on the Indigenous Determinants of Health workgroup. Although I have a background in neuroscience, I am most honored to have studied with practitioners of Global Healing Traditions since I was 4 years of age. This includes my Alaska Native heritage as a Denaa or Koyukon Athabascan healer, in addition to a practice of acupuncture, reflexology and other forms of acupressure, healing touch, herbalism, and osteopathy. My work builds upon those who have come before me, toward a future where health is a realized human right.