A Native-Led Journey
Our Children Are Sacred is a program created by and for Native communities to address prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in Indian Country.
For over a decade, Proof Alliance has worked alongside Native communities to provide FASD support, raise awareness and improve culturally-informed services. This ongoing partnership has led to the development of Our Children Are Sacred, an initiative shaped and driven by Native leaders to address prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD within Tribal communities. Guided by a co-creation team of Tribal community leaders, our collaboration has resulted in many innovative outcomes, including public awareness events, screening initiatives in clinics, intensive case management, an online seminar series, community training, educational resources and the free Our Children Are Sacred mobile app.
Solutions Rooted in Culture
The history of prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD in Native American communities is complex and deeply rooted in our social, cultural and historical contexts. Programs that honor and integrate Indigenous cultural practices and values are vital for engaging Native communities effectively in addressing FASD. Many Native communities are actively working to increase awareness of the risks associated with prenatal alcohol exposure, weaving traditional knowledge into prevention strategies and enhancing access to health care and support services.
Proof Alliance is committed to supporting these efforts by providing Native-specific community grants, training, communication tools and resources through the Our Children Are Sacred program. This collaboration, led by a Co-Creation Team of Tribal leaders, ensures that our solutions are culturally relevant and resonate deeply with the communities we serve.
Meet the Our Children Are Sacred Co-Creation Team
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed past members of the Co-Creation Team:
- Betty Green Crow (Ho-Chunk Nation),
- Berdina Tsosie (Navajo)
- Jean Sauter (First Generation Descendent of White Earth Nation)
- Dedria A Keeble (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate)
- Susan Beaulieu (Anishinaabe Citizen of the Red Lake Nation)
- Dawn A. Yazzie (Navajo)
- Dorene Day (Bois Forte Minnesota Chippewa Tribe)
- Jacqueline Beaulieu (Descendant of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe)
- Jim Knutson-Kolodzne (Ottawa Nation)
Your leadership and dedication as Native leaders have been instrumental in shaping these initiatives and advocating for the well-being of our communities. Thank you for your invaluable contributions and unwavering commitment to fostering positive change.
Valerie DeCora Guimaraes
Ho-Chunk Nation
Michelle Robertson
White Earth Nation
Kip Perkins
Red Lake Nation
Misty GreenCrow
Ho-Chunk Nation
Dustina Gill Sisseton
Wahpeton Oyate
Marisa Anywaush
Pezihutazizi Oyate
Native American-Specific Resources and Tools
Guided by our co-creation team, we are providing FASD educational information using various communication outlets/platforms, reaching tribes in Minnesota and beyond via the <a href=”http://www.GoodHealthTV.com”>Good Health TV network</a> and a customized <a href=”https://nativereach.tv/”>Native Reach</a> app.
Watch our public service announcements here:
<ul>
<li><a href=”https://youtu.be/0ZeowGFSSGs” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer” data-auth=”NotApplicable” data-linkindex=”0″>PSA #1</a></li>
<li><a href=”https://youtu.be/YfKRIVOfjFI” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer” data-auth=”NotApplicable” data-linkindex=”1″>PSA #2</a></li>
</ul>
We also offer FASD information via virtual trainings including a 3-part webinar series about FASD in Indian Country. Please see the links to each recorded session below:
<ul>
<li><a href=”https://youtu.be/qg8DXL0SPXM”>Part One: FASD in Indian Country</a></li>
<li><a href=”https://youtu.be/jtlKN7PiXeU”>Part Two: Continuing the Discussion</a></li>
<li><a href=”https://youtu.be/hUHK5KbW5rE”>Part Three: The Medicine Wheel Approach to FASD</a></li>
</ul>
If you would like to learn more about Our Children Are Sacred, please contact <a href=”mailto:brittenany.gillespie@proofalliance.org”>brittenany.gillespie@proofalliance.org</a>.
Download Our Native Community App
The Our Children Are Sacred mobile app is designed to support Native American families, helping them to remain healthy and deeply connected to their tribal ways. All of the content on the app, including videos, songs, imagery and written word, is created through the invaluable insight and guidance of our co-creation team and Indigenous content creators from all over the country who are passionate about supporting and empowering their communities.
App content covers topics like the basics of FASD, FASD in Indigenous communities, traditional teachings, trauma and its impact on mental health and cultural support available to families. There’s an entire content section called Returning to Culture that includes traditional teaching from Elders, self-care practices, songs and stories, encouraging words and phrases in different Indigenous languages, and information about ceremonies and other traditional practices.
Download the free Our Children Are Sacred app TODAY!
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Android
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Our Children Are Sacred supports Native communities with culturally relevant tools and guidance.
Apply for a 2024 Community Grant from Proof Alliance.
Proof Alliance is seeking proposals to support Native communities in establishing community-driven FASD work that is sustained and embedded into the community.
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Subscribe to our Newsletter
Stay connected to the Proof! Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about the work being done to prevent FASD and support all impacted.
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Fact Sheets and Strategy Guides
Learn the facts. Access all of the Proof Alliance fact sheets and strategy guides below.
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