Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness (WPHW) through this grant will continue the work conducted in the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians (HBMI) under the current Tribal Practices for Wellness in Indian Country (TPWIC) grant. The purpose of the program is to increase physical activity, food and vegetable consumption, and participation in cultural activities by engaging HBMI members of all ages in the Nuli Pomaws – I Live Well Program. This program will be based on the traditional teachings, values, and Maliseet culture and will work with programs within HBMI (such as the health center, youth program, head start, and elder program) to conduct culturally based wellness activities such as the gathering, growing, educating, and eating of traditional foods, traditional physical activities, and providing activities to foster strong social support within the community.
Outcomes include:
- Short-term: Increased number of people participating in opportunities for cultural teachings and practices that promote health and wellness.
- Intermediate: Increased sense of cultural connectedness, increased sense of social connectedness, and increased consumption of healthy traditional foods and/or increased physical activity.
- Long-term: Increased resilience and use of cultural practices to reduce diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Reduced morbidity/mortality due to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Increased sense of mental and emotional wellbeing among community members.
This program has been incredibly successful in the community over the past four years and WPHW anticipates the upcoming five years will be just as fruitful.