Meeting: Tribal Health

Geof Swain, Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer for the Milwaukee Health Department, as well as Preceptor for Fellows placed in Milwaukee, explains his drawing during an introductory activity in Keshena, Wisconsin

September's two-day monthly meeting on Tribal Health was held in Keshena, WI.  This meeting kicked off with an introduction activity, in which fellows and fellowship staff were asked to draw/write three things that represented their culture. 

David Grignon, Director of Historic Preservation for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, gave an overview of the termination and restoration of the Menominee Tribe.  Later, we heard from Jerry Waukau, Health Administrator of the Menominee Tribal Clinic, and Wendall Waukau, Superintendent of Schools for the Menominee Indian School District.  Jerry and Wendell gave an inspiring talk about community engagement and discussed how they raised their high school graduation rate from around fifty percent up to ninety-five percent.

Fellows and fellowship staff spend time sharing stories and roasting marshmallows over a campfire

Later that evening, fellows and fellowship staff spent time bonding over a campfire and making smores.  One of our fellows, Erica LeCounte, even ate her very first smore.

First Year Fellow, Erica LeCounte eating her very first smore

Day two began with Kristen Audet, second year fellow, who gave an awesome CALs presentation on the emergency response to the heat wave that occurred this past summer.  Then, Kristin Hill, Director of the Great Lakes Intertribal Epidemiology Center, gave the Fellows an overview of Indian Health Services.

Isaiah Brokenleg shares some of the culture and history of the Menominee tribe with the fellows

This was followed by Isaiah Brokenleg, Epidemiologist and Program Director with the Great Lakes Intertribal Epidemiology Center, who instructed the fellows on "Indian 101" which discussed the history and culture of the Menominee Tribe.  Lastly, the fellows participated in an activity which served as a lesson on the privilege that many people are unaware that they have, but that continually affects their everyday lives. 

One last group shot