In observation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada and the upcoming Indigenous Peoples’ Day in America, this episode welcomes Kalen and Karen’s colleague Kelsey Morris from the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. As Project Manager for the National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault (NTCSA) at IAFN and a passionate advocate for tribal communities, Kelsey brings both professional expertise and personal, lived experience to discuss violence in tribal communities in the United States, systemic barriers to healthcare, and the importance of accessible and culturally competent trauma-informed care.

Key Episode Learnings:

• Learn about major healthcare barriers including geography, funding, and cultural safety gaps that prevent access to healthcare
• Discover why traditional healing practices must be integrated with Western medicine practice when treating Indigenous patients
• Learn about the “Seventh Generation Teaching” and how it guides Indigenous peoples’ decision-making for future impact
• Explore practical actions you can take, from amplifying Indigenous voices to supporting tribal-led organizations
• Unlock invaluable available resources that provide culturally appropriate training for healthcare professionals and beyond

Episode Glossary:

• Culturally competent: the ability to understand, respect, and effectively interact with people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and belief systems.
• Traditional healing practices: culturally rooted methods of health care and wellness that rely on indigenous knowledge systems, spiritual beliefs, and natural remedies passed down through generations, often involving healers, rituals, and holistic approaches to treating physical, emotional, and spiritual conditions.

Episode Resources:

National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault (NTCSA): Supporting tribal communities at supportingourcircle.org

IAFN Resources

• IAFN Online Learning Center (OLC): forensicnurses.org/page/OLCAccess/
• TeleSAFE Toolkit: Access this Step-by-Step Guide to a Trauma-Informed Program at forensicnurses.org/page/TeleSAFE/
• International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN): Learn more at forensicnurses.org
• IAFN Foundation: Support our work to spread forensic nursing at fundforensicnursing.org
• IAFN’s SAFEta Resources: Explore safeta.org
• National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault (NTCSA): Supporting tribal communities at supportingourcircle.org

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