Diversity & Community Health Equity

UI Health Honors Native American Heritage Month: Honoring Resilience, Healing, and Heritage

This November, UI Health recognizes Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous communities.

Native American communities represent diverse nations, languages, cultural identities, and traditions that continue to shape our society. Their contributions extend across healthcare, education, science, environmental stewardship, public service, and countless other fields.

As we recognize this month, we also acknowledge the importance of understanding the historical and contemporary experiences that influence healthcare access, trust, and health outcomes within Native communities.

Honoring History, Culture, and Resilience

Native American Heritage Month provides an opportunity to recognize the enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples while deepening our understanding of the unique histories and identities of Tribal Nations.

Native American history is not only part of our nation’s past. Native communities continue to preserve languages, strengthen cultural traditions, exercise sovereignty, and lead efforts to improve the health and well-being of future generations.

Recognizing this heritage also means acknowledging historical experiences, including displacement, forced assimilation, and discriminatory policies, that have had lasting effects on communities and their relationships with institutions.

Understanding this history is an important part of creating environments where individuals feel respected, valued, and heard.

Understanding Healthcare Access and Trust in Native Communities

For many American Indian and Alaska Native communities, experiences with healthcare are shaped by a combination of historical, cultural, geographic, and systemic factors.

Barriers to care may include limited access to healthcare facilities, transportation challenges, financial constraints, and shortages of healthcare professionals. Historical mistreatment and experiences of discrimination may also influence trust in healthcare institutions.

At the same time, Native communities have long demonstrated leadership in advancing community-centered approaches to health, wellness, prevention, and healing.

For healthcare professionals, recognizing these experiences can help strengthen communication, build meaningful relationships, and support care that respects each patient’s cultural identity, individual preferences, and lived experiences.

Advancing Culturally Responsive Care

At UI Health, our commitment to health equity includes recognizing the diverse experiences and needs of the patients, families, and communities we serve.

Healthcare professionals can support culturally responsive care by:

• Building trust through respectful communication: Listening to patients’ concerns, experiences, and preferences without making assumptions.
• Recognizing cultural diversity: Understanding that Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities have distinct identities, traditions, and healthcare experiences.
• Respecting individual beliefs and practices: Creating space for patients to share cultural or traditional approaches to wellness that may be important to their care.
• Supporting patient autonomy: Encouraging shared decision-making that respects individual choices, family involvement when desired, and informed consent.
• Addressing barriers to care: Identifying opportunities to improve access, communication, coordination, and continuity of care.

These practices support stronger patient relationships and contribute to safer, more inclusive healthcare experiences for all.

Take Time to Learn and Reflect

Throughout Native American Heritage Month, we encourage UI Health employees, clinicians, students, and community partners to explore educational resources that highlight Native American history, contemporary contributions, and health equity.

Explore the following resources:

• National Native American Heritage Month: Discover cultural resources, historical information, and educational materials.
• S. Department of the Interior – Native American Heritage Month: Learn about Native American history, heritage, and Tribal communities.
• Indian Health Service: Explore information about American Indian and Alaska Native health, healthcare delivery, and community health initiatives.
• National Museum of the American Indian: Explore exhibitions, educational resources, and the histories and living cultures of Indigenous peoples.
• Native Knowledge 360°: Explore educational materials that center Native perspectives and contemporary communities.

Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity not only to recognize the past, but also to celebrate the present and support a future where all individuals and communities have access to respectful, equitable, and culturally responsive care.

At UI Health, we remain committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and health equity for our patients, staff, and communities.

For additional information or to get involved:

Office of Diversity and Community Health Equity: UIHealthDiversity@UIC.EDU

Visit: ODCHE.UIHealth.Care