The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) is investing $375,000 in funding to each of its 15 tribal partners to support public health in their respective communities.
The funding will be distributed through SEARHC’s Healthy is Here program. Launched in 2017, the program has dedicated more than $3 million to locally driven wellness initiatives, including healthy foods, cultural identity, physical activity, traditional practices, community connection, and opportunities for community members to thrive.
In Petersburg, Alaska, on the remote Mitkof Island, Healthy Is Here funding has supported locally harvested salmon for Elder food boxes, reimbursed school activity fees for youth and families, and expanded access to community recreation.
In Klukwan, a Census Designated Place with a population of 87 as of the last census and the headquarters of the Chilkat Indian Village, program funds supported swimming lessons, Native Youth Olympics participation, community wellness gatherings, food security efforts, and construction of a new smokehouse that will preserve traditional knowledge for future generations.
In Hoonah, funding supported expanded food production and hydroponic gardening; and in Juneau, the money was put toward a shared community smokehouse for traditional food harvesting and cultural practices.
“Healthy Is Here reflects our Board’s belief that the people in the community are best positioned to define what wellness looks like,” Kimberley Strong, Chair of the SEARHC Board of Directors (Klukwan) said in a statement. “For nearly a decade, we’ve seen firsthand how these investments strengthen communities by supporting culture, creating opportunities for youth, caring for Elders and building healthier futures. We are proud to continue partnering with our Tribal communities in this important work.”
