SUPPORTING HEALTH RESILIENCE IN ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES
The Alaska Alliance for Community Engagement — Climate and Health (AK ACE-CH) is partnering with rural Alaska Native communities to address these urgent health impacts. This collaborative initiative focuses on:
- Honoring Indigenous Knowledge: Integrating traditional perspectives on climate change’s effects on health and well- being.
- Developing New Strategies: Co-creating tools to assess climate and health risks tailored to local needs.
- Implementing Indigenous-Led Interventions: Building adaptive, community-driven responses to protect holistic well- being.
Why This Matters
The AK ACE-CH team combines Indigenous expertise with research in nutrition, fisheries, and wildlife management. By working hand-in-hand with communities, they ensure solutions are culturally relevant and effective. Recent efforts include:
- Community-Centered Research: Focus groups identify health priorities in rural villages.
- Cultural Immersion: Engaging in traditional practices, like checking under-ice blackfish traps, fosters trust and understanding.
- Flexible Collaboration: Tribal leaders guide research priorities, ensuring projects meet community needs.