Community-Driven Health Access and Workforce Development in Fort Belknap and Surrounding Region - This project aims to improve access to skilled healthcare on the Fort Belknap Reservation by the end of the project period through expanded CNA training and the implementation of trauma and critical care education for nursing students, addressing gaps in emergency and frontline care. The project will strengthen critical care and emergency preparedness while promoting economic self-sufficiency for the Fort Belknap Indian Community and surrounding areas. Aaniiih Nakoda College (ANC) will expand its nursing and allied health programs to include critical care clinicals, trauma-informed care training, and increased CNA preparation. All training will be guided by the Medicine Wheel and traditional Native American Community knowledge to ensure grounded education and care. Fort Belknap faces high rates of negative health outcomes, such as chronic illness, mental health challenges, and a lack of locally-based care, which are exacerbated by geographic isolation and economic hardship. Local members have emphasized the need for “our own people” to deliver healthcare: providers who understand and respect local traditions and can offer trusted support during medical crises. The project will primarily serve Native American students who are low-income, first-generation college students and enrolled members of the Aaniinen and Nakoda Nations. Services will include classroom instruction, clinical placements, certification support, and curriculum development, all shaped by the Nursing Advisory Committee consisting of local healthcare professionals, elders, and traditional leaders. Graduates will emerge with both technical competency and Native American Community centered values, equipped to meet local health needs. This initiative will contribute to a sustainable local healthcare workforce and support long-term well-being and resilience.
