Food insecurity amongst American Indians and Hispanics was one of the focus of the first Idaho Healthcare Conference organized by the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs. Amongst participants gathered in the state to discuss disparities in health outcomes amongst Idahoans were two local organizations trying to expand food access through culturally relevant practices. At a panel on hunger and healthcare, Kelsey Cooper from the Idaho Foodbank said about 8% of Idahoans experience food insecurity but people of color are affected at much higher rates. “It’s about 15%. So nearly double what it is for the entire state. In tribal communities, it can be up to 25%,” she said. In response, the food bank is targeting rural communities by providing culturally relevant foods and cooking classes.
Tribal Health, the leader in healthcare solutions for the underserved, is launching a new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) digital education program free of charge for its Native American service communities. Currently Native professionals are underrepresented in STEM fields such as healthcare, engineering, and technology. In an era where many successful Tribal members are investing in their community’s economic development, increasing Native American representation in STEM can assist with the stewardship of Tribal land, resources, and healthcare. The need for more Native physicians and nurses became especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately impacted Indigenous lands.
Those are your headlines at this hour. I’m Colette Keith in the
