Wellness
WHAT YOU DO TODAY CAN IMPROVE TOMORROW.
Wan angalix̂ anagis manatxin qilagan txin kiduunax̂. (A/W)
Wayaam manatxin qilagan sisminax̂ numin adukakux̂. (E)
APIA wellness programs support our communities to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. We encourage self-reliance, self-determination and community development. Our programs build on services & resources already in place. We strive for workable solutions to community health issues that are culturally relevant.
Wellness is an active process. Becoming aware of, and making choices toward, a healthy and fulfilling life is a part of wellness. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth.
APIA’s wellness programs serve Anchorage, Atka, Nikolski, St. George, Unalaska and Belkofski Tribe
Our programs provide culturally-responsive, community-driven outreach, education, and training in the following areas:
Health Promotion and Outreach Program
Awareness and educational activities such as Red Ribbon Week, Annual Health Fairs, The Great American Smoke Out and American Diabetes Alert Day are held in communities. Local and Regional Wellness Gatherings are also part of our Wellness Programs.
APIA’s Tobacco Prevention & Control Program provides community education regarding the health risks of tobacco use and provides a connection to services and resources for quitting tobacco. Resources include counseling and access to nicotine replacement therapies such as patches and gum. APIA has Tobacco Treatment Specialists available for individual and group counseling. These resources are available to help you when you are ready to quit.
Traditional Foods and Food Security Program
The Traditional Foods and Food Security Program at APIA supports efforts to increase knowledge, access, and the use of traditional and local foods in the Aleutian and Pribilof Region. This has been accomplished through sharing knowledge with individuals and communities about the nutritional, sociocultural, spiritual, and economic benefits of traditional foods. The Traditional Foods Program has historically assisted the traditional foods component at regional culture camps and worked to develop resources that preserve Unangax̂ knowledge and promote continued use of traditional foods region-wide. Click here to view the many resources that APIA has created.
We are also working with communities throughout the region to assess local food security by developing and implementing community-driven surveys. In 2022, we plan to host a regional food security gathering, which will bring together leaders from throughout the region to talk about food security.
Cancer Prevention
APIA received funds from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to address cancer prevention needs in the region. With these funds, the Wellness Program will be implementing many cancer prevention activities throughout the region, to include: developing and posting ads to encourage cancer screenings; developing culturally relevant posters/brochures to encourage cancer screening; developing animated nutritional videos on traditional foods; purchasing cancer materials and models for clinics and health fairs; and identifying patients who are overdue for screening and connecting them with the resources needed.
Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
APIA’s Wellness Program supports activities that encourage healthy eating and increasing physical activity. We are currently working with several stores in the region to promote the addition of healthy food choices in the inventory. We have supported building greater capacity in some of the fitness centers in the region through purchasing new equipment and developing signage. In addition, we are working with communities to identify ways to encourage physical activity in the outdoors.
