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The NIH Tribal Health Research Office (THRO), in collaboration with the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS), is proud to announce the Federal Indian Boarding School Healing Summit. This landmark event is a key step in the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) efforts to address the intergenerational harms caused by the Indian Civilization Act and federal Indian boarding school policies on American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) communities.
The summit will spotlight cultural revitalization practices as critical pathways for healing and fostering healthful futures for AI/AN/NH communities and families. Esteemed participants will include leaders in intergenerational trauma research, community practitioners, boarding school survivors, as well as representatives from federal agencies and HHS operating divisions.
December 18, 2024 VideoCast
December 19, 2024 VideoCast
December 20, 2024 VideoCast
Key Goals of the Summit
- To identify gaps in knowledge surrounding intergenerational trauma and healing practices
- To align priorities across federal agencies for a coordinated, community-informed response
- To pave the way for new initiatives focused on individual, familial, community, and population-level healing
This significant gathering underscores a whole-of-government approach to developing strategies that honor the resilience and wisdom of AI/AN/NH communities while addressing past injustices.
Stay tuned for more details about the summit’s agenda and opportunities to participate in this vital dialogue for healing and renewal.
Agenda
| Green Room (right of stage) open for cultural healing from 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. | Shuttle Pickup for Attendees Staying at the Bethesda Marriott | |
| 7:30 a.m. | Summit Registration Opens Light refreshments available at Masur Auditorium Lobby | |
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks Masur Auditorium | Dr. Karina Walters & Deborah Parker |
| NIH Tribal Health Research Office and National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Welcome | ||
| Honor Guard and Opening Songs | Lance Fisher Giovanna Gross Jim LaBelle Sr. Gregorio Kishketon Sandy White Hawk Tom Kinley | |
| Opening Prayer | ||
| Welcome to Land | Jessica Swann Piscataway Conoy Tribe | |
| Welcome to National Institutes of Health (NIH) | Dr. Monica Bertagnolli Director, NIH | |
| Welcome Address | Secretary Deb Haaland U.S. Department of the Interior | |
| 9:30 a.m. | Boarding School Survivors “Truth-Telling is a Pathway to Healing” | Moderator Charlee BrissettePanelists Donna Council Dora Brought Plenty Jim LaBelle Sr. Dr. Antony Stately |
| 10:40 a.m. | Break Light refreshments available at Masur Auditorium lobby | |
| 11:00 a.m. | Federal Boarding School Initiative Investigative Reports and Road to Healing Panel | Moderator Captain Karen HearodPanelists Connie Walker Kathryn Isom-Clause Tracy Canard Goodluck |
| 11:50 a.m. | The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Organization Update | Moderator Deborah ParkerPanelists Dr. Samuel Torres Fallon Carey Dr. Ponka-We Cozad |
| 12:30 p.m. | Lunch Break Box Lunches Provided at Masur Auditorium lobby FAES Classrooms 1, 2, 4, 5 (downstairs Building 10) | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Reconvene—Stretch and Play | Dr. Ponka-We Cozad Charlee Brissette |
| 1:45 p.m. | Truth-Telling and Justice Multigenerational Impact of Boarding School | Moderator Dr. Karina WaltersPanelists Dr. Amy Bombay Dr. Donna Nagata Dr. Brenda Elias Dr. Tessa Evans-Campbell |
| 3:00 p.m. | Break Light refreshments available at Masur Auditorium Lobby | |
| 3:15 p.m. | Reconvene and Play | Dr. Ponka-We Cozad Charlee Brissette |
| 3:20 p.m. | Boarding School Survivors “Justice and Just-Us: Pathways to Healing” | Moderator Frederick LanePanelists Lakota Harden Susan LaBelle Gene Bozicic |
| 4:30 p.m. | Break and Stretch | Dr. Ponka-We Cozad Charlee Brissette |
| 4:45 p.m. | Breakout Rooms and Talking Circles | Moderators |
| Boarding School Survivor Circle 1—Masur Auditorium | Circle 1: NABS staff | |
| Boarding School Survivor Circle 2—Masur Auditorium | Circle 2: NABS staff | |
| Boarding School Survivor Circle 3—Masur Auditorium | Circle 3: NABS staff | |
| Tribal Leaders Circle 4—FAES Classroom 1 | Circle 4: Michelle Scott & Dr. Katherine Gottlieb | |
| AI/AN/NH Agencies & Communities Circle 5—FAES Classroom 2 | Circle 5: Emily Edenshaw & Dr. Jamee Māhealani Miller & Margo Gray | |
| Scientists Circle 6—FAES Classroom 4 | Circle 6: Dr. Tessa Evans-Campbell & Dr. Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan | |
| Federal Employees Circle 7—FAES Classroom 5 | Circle 7: Dr. Kathy Etz & Captain Kari Hearod | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Report Back, Wrap-Up, and Round Dance | Dr. Karina Walters & Deborah Parker Antone George |
| 6:00 p.m. | Adjourn and Load Shuttle Building 10, South Entrance | |
| Room C1/C2 open for cultural healing from 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Check-In and Networking Light refreshments available at Natcher Lower Lobby | |
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks Natcher Auditorium | |
| Opening Prayer & Song | Lance Fisher Giovanna Gross | |
| Welcome Address | Dr. Karina Walters & Deborah Parker | |
| Waffle/Door Prizes | ||
| 8:45 a.m. | Pathways to Thriving: Love, Land, and Water | Moderator Dr. Diane HirshbergPanelists Dr. Michelle Johnson-Jennings Sharon Day Dr. Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan Dr. Joannie Suina |
| 9:55 a.m. | Break Light refreshments available at Natcher Lower Lobby | Dr. Ponka-We Cozad Charlee Brissette |
| 10:15 a.m. | Pathways to Thriving Hawaii | Moderator Summer SylvaPanelists Dr. Jamee Māhealani Miller Dr. Toni Bissen |
| 11:00 a.m. | Special Remarks from NIH | |
| NIH Director | Dr. Monica Bertagnolli | |
| NIH Deputy Director for Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) | Dr. Tara Schwetz | |
| Director, NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) | Dr. Jane Simoni | |
| 11:30 a.m. | Intergenerational Healing | Moderator Dr. Samuel TorresPanelists Lacey Kinnart Gene Bozicic Meg Singer Ronald Singer |
| 12:40 p.m. | GROUP PHOTO Teepee Area; Natcher Lawn | |
| 1:00 p.m. | Lunch with No Reservations Catering by Jessica Swann Natcher Lower Lobby | |
| 2:00 p.m. | Reconvene and Play | Dr. Ponka-We Cozad Charlee Brissette |
| 2:15 p.m. | Pathways Built on Indigenous Love: Building Healthful Connections and Parenting | Moderator Dr. Ramona BeltránPanelists Dr. Jessica Saniġuq Ullrich Dr. LaVerne Xilegg Demientieff Dr. Michelle Sarche |
| 3:30 p.m. | Break Light refreshments available at Natcher Lower Lobby | |
| 4:00 p.m. | Breakout Rooms and Panels | |
| Role of Art, Film, and Storytelling (Panel 1)—Room G1/G2 | Panel 1: Dr. Ramona Beltrán & Dora Brought Plenty | |
| Power of Traditional Healing (Panel 2)—Room E1/E2 | Panel 2: Avery Denny & Pablo Jasper | |
| Kitchen Table Talk (Panel 3)—Room D | Panel 3: Sandy White Hawk & George McCauley | |
| What Has Been Done to Date: HHS (Panel 4)—Room F1/F2 | Panel 4: SAMHSA, OASH, ACF, ANA, AHRQ, IHS | |
| Survivors Group Decompression—Room A | ||
| 5:15 p.m. | Reconvene, Play, Wrap-Up, Round Dance | Dr. Ponka-We Cozad Charlee BrissetteDr. Karina Walters Deborah ParkerAntone George |
| 6:00 p.m. | Adjourn and Load Shuttle Natcher front entrance | |
| Room C1/C2 open for cultural healing from 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Check-In and Networking Light refreshments available | |
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks Natcher Auditorium | |
| Opening Prayer & Song | ||
| Welcome Address from NIH THRO Leadership | Dr. Karina Walters | |
| Welcome Address | Dr. Roselyn Tso Director, Indian Health Services | |
| 9:00 a.m. | Breakout Sessions Next Steps—Being a Good Ancestor—Commitment to ActionFederal Employees—Room F1/F2 Scientists—Room E1/E2 Practitioners and Agencies—Room G1/G2 Survivors—Room A | Breakout Groups |
| 10:00 a.m. | Report Back from Breakouts | Natcher Auditorium |
| 11:00 a.m. | Address from NIH Leadership | Dr. Lawrence Tabak Principal Deputy Director, NIH |
| 11:10 a.m. | Keynote Address | Dr. Nora Volkow Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse |
| 11:30 a.m. | Closing Remarks | Natcher Auditorium |
| Closing Summit Remarks | Rebecca Jones Gaston Commissioner, ACYF | |
| Prayer | ||
| Closing Song and Retiring of the Colors | Dr. Karina Walters Deborah Parker | |
| 12:00 p.m. | Meeting Adjourns Take-away lunch boxes located in lower lobby of Natcher | |
For inquiries, please email throinfo@od.nih.gov .