It is often understood that in tribal communities, “Elders are seen as wisdom keepers and role models” (Allick & Bogic, 2024). Elders “are also bearers of generational knowledge and carry on the resiliency of their people through teachings, stories, and guidance” (Garrett et al., 2014). Elder abuse is a big problem in tribal communities, just like in other communities. It can take different forms, like hurting elders physically, emotionally, financially, or by neglecting them. Several measures are being taken to prevent and address elder abuse in tribal communities:

1. Community Education and Awareness: Many groups are working to teach others about mistreating older adults and the different ways it can happen. They are also sharing where abused Elders can go for help and how others can tell someone if they think an older person is being hurt.
2. Elder Protection Programs: Some tribes have programs to help protect older adults who might be mistreated. These programs offer check-ins, help for caregivers, and advocacy for Elders.
3. Collaboration with Law Enforcement: Working closely with police to ensure they take elder abuse reports seriously and investigate them quickly. Training police on the specific difficulties older people face in native communities can also help.
4. Legal Protections: Creating rules and regulations to keep older people safe from harm and giving them ways to get help through the legal system. Tribes can also push for stricter laws at the national and state levels to address abuse of older people.
5. Elder Justice Task Forces: Some groups within tribes are working together to stop older people from being mistreated. They are creating teams to make sure everyone is trying to stop elder abuse and help those who are affected by it.

It’s crucial to understand that stopping elder abuse involves a team effort with people from the community, tribal leaders, service providers, and government agencies all working together. By joining forces and acting, tribal communities can keep their Elders safe and well.

Allick, C., & Bogic, M. (2024). Visiting with elders—aging, caregiving, and planning for future generations of American Indians and Alaska natives. Genealogy, 8(2), 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy8020036

New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department. (2020). Office of Indian Elder Affairs [Brochure]. Retrieved from https://aging.nm.gov/uploads/files/Office%20of%20Indian%20Elder%20Affairs%20Brochure-Final-Fall%202020.pdf

Mescalero Apache Tribe. (n.d.). East Mountain Resource Center. Retrieved November 13, 2023, from https://mescaleroapachetribe.com/eastmountainresourcecenter/

Healthcare in tribal communities has a lot of problems that make it hard for people to get good care and stay healthy. Some of the problems are not enough money, not enough buildings and equipment, not enough doctors and nurses, differences in beliefs and customs, and bad experiences in the past. Because of these problems, tribal communities often have more people with long-term diseases, mental health issues, and problems with drugs and alcohol compared to other groups.

“Moving away from health disparity research that centers solely on lifestyle choices and behavior changes towards engagement, while recognizing the historical and current inequities provides one way in which health science and information professionals can contribute to improving the health outcomes of these special populations” (Cruise et. al., 2023). To address these challenges and improve healthcare services in tribal communities, various strategies have been implemented. These include:

1. Increase Funding: Advocacy efforts are ongoing to secure more funding for healthcare services in tribal communities, to ensure adequate resources for infrastructure, staff, and programs.
2. Building Healthcare Infrastructure: Money is being spent to make healthcare better for people in tribal areas. They are building new clinics, getting new medical tools, and offering more services.
3. Recruiting and Training Healthcare Personnel: People are trying to find and teach more healthcare workers like doctors, nurses, and community health workers to help more people get the care they need. Healthcare workers are learning about the customs and beliefs of tribes to better help them with their specific healthcare needs.
4. Integrating Traditional Healing Practices: A lot of tribal communities are combining old healing ways with modern medicine to give overall care.
5. Community-based Programs: Special programs are being set up to teach people in tribal communities about staying healthy and preventing sickness.
6. Telehealth: Telehealth services are being used in remote tribal communities to make it easier for people to see a doctor without having to travel far. This means patients can talk to healthcare providers through video calls instead of going to a clinic or hospital in person.
7. Partnerships with External Organizations: Partnerships are being made with other groups like schools and non-profit organizations to bring in more help and knowledge to make healthcare services better in tribal communities.

Although some progress is being made, we still need to work harder to fix the problems that cause unfair differences in healthcare for tribal communities. We want to make sure that everyone in these communities can get good healthcare. “To improve health disparities through engagement with Indigenous populations should note that sustainability is possible only through continuous tribal engagement” (Cruise et. al., 2023). 

Cruise, A., Ellsworth-Kopkowski, A., Villezcas, A. N., Eldredge, J., & Rethlefsen, M. L. (2023). Academic Health Sciences Libraries’ outreach and engagement with North American Indigenous Communities: A scoping review. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 111(3), 630–656. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2023.1616  

Environmental injustice happens when Indigenous people are forced to leave their lands that are closely linked to their way of life and the natural world around them. This displacement is harmful and can lead to the destruction of their communities. By pushing them off their lands, it is unfair treatment of tribal communities in terms of the environment. The concept of environmental racism, which focuses on discrimination based on the environment, does not fully capture the ongoing problems faced by Indigenous people who have political connections. Existing laws and policies do not effectively address these issues. To fully understand and address the environmental injustices experienced by tribal communities, it is important to consider indigenous perspectives and reflect on the colonial history and system of the United States.

Making sure tribal communities in New Mexico are treated fairly when it comes to environmental issues is a big deal. The problems they face include dirty water, air pollution from nearby factories, and the effects of climate change. To help with this, it’s important to involve the tribal communities in environmental decisions, listen to what they have to say, and respect their right to make their own choices. Working together with tribal leaders, checking how projects affect the environment, and using sustainable practices are all important ways to make sure tribal communities in New Mexico are treated fairly when it comes to the environment. It’s also helpful to support projects that the community leads, invest in clean energy, and push for better rules to protect the environment. It’s important to remember the special connections tribal communities have to the land and work to keep those connections strong for the future.

The Nature Conservancy wants “to support and engage Indigenous peoples as they strengthen their voices, choices, and actions to manage their homelands in ways that improve lives and create healthy lands and waters to support sustainable traditional and cultural resource practices” (The Nature Conservancy, 2024). To ensure the success and longevity of their work, they are committed to cultivating deep relationships that are guided towards innovative approaches. “TNC is committed to creating, promoting, and perpetuating a narrative and future in which nature and people can thrive and coexist. Our mission must encompass inclusion, collaboration, and support of the ancestral and current stewards of our natural systems” (The Nature Conservancy, 2024). The Nature Conservancy has cared for New Mexico lands and waters since ancient times, displaying honor and acknowledgment to the traditional stewards, both in the past and present, as well as those who will carry on this important role in the future. Opportunities to acknowledge the homelands of the Indigenous peoples of the U.S. Southwest, including New Mexico, which is home to 19 Pueblo communities, Fort Sill Apache, Jicarilla Apache, Mescalero Apache, Navajo Peoples, and Ute Mountain Tribe.

The Nature Conservancy. (2024, April 10). Working with Indigenous Peoples. Retrieved from https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/new-mexico/stories-in-new-mexico/working-with-indigenous-peoples/

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is the wisdom about nature from tribal and local communities. It includes how to take care of plants, animals, and the land in a way that keeps everything in balance. People with TEK understand their environment well, like knowing when it will rain or how to help plants grow. This knowledge is vital for protecting the environment, saving different kinds of plants and animals, and using resources in a way that won’t harm the earth.

Within tribal communities, this information is frequently handed down from one generation to the next. It is vital for the sustainable management of resources, conservation efforts, and the overall welfare of these communities. Tribal communities depend on their ancestral lands and traditional knowledge to support their way of life and preserve their culture. But this knowledge is at risk because of challenges like losing their lands, climate change, and the decline of cultural traditions. Acknowledging and honoring the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of tribal communities and engaging them in decision-making processes concerning their lands and resources is crucial. By integrating traditional knowledge with scientific research in collaborative initiatives, we can develop more successful and sustainable management approaches that support the environment and the communities relying on it.

1. Cultural preservation: wisdom, traditions, and beliefs handed down from one generation to another in tribal communities. It is vital for keeping cultural identity alive and staying connected to the ways of our ancestors.
2. Sustainable resource management: tribal communities have learned to take care of nature by hunting, fishing, and farming in a way that lasts a long time, keeping the environment healthy for future generations.
3. Climate change adaptation: tribal communities have important information on how to cope with changes to the environment, like changes in weather or the effects of climate change. This knowledge can help create plans to handle these challenges better.
4. Community resilience: helps tribes become stronger as a community by giving them the tools to take care of themselves and make their own choices. It helps tribal communities deal with problems and make smart decisions using their traditional knowledge.

In general, TEK is crucial for tribal communities because it not only preserves their cultural traditions but also provides practical strategies for environmental protection and long-term sustainable practices.

Ecological Society of America-Resources

Grants are an essential source of funding for organizations, agencies, and government, especially for tribal communities. When applying for or administering a grant proposal for funding, those writing must be experts in their field. Understanding the limited access to resources, such as housing, healthcare, social services, and justice systems (including policing), one must also be competent in the culture and traditions, including language, of each tribal community. The integrity of each tribal community depends on the knowledge and experience of the grant writer and understanding of their duty and responsibility. The purpose of grants is to access needed resources, teach the community, promote education, improve infrastructure, maintain lands, and restore traditions/languages to enhance the overall quality of life for many.

Grant writing basics include:

1. Do your homework…study, and apply for grants that you are eligible for and find to be a good fit. Align yourself with the knowledge of what is within your focus/scope of capability.
2. Learn the needed criteria…funders will list their issues/causes and request certain types of programs/projects they want to fund. Align your focus/scope to the issues/causes within the amount of funding requested.
3. Be concise or clear…when creating your proposal, be direct and to the point. Get your point across in a few sentences so you do not lose the focus.  
4. Format for easy reading…use subject headers, titles of sections, bullet points, or short lists to break down each component for and within the proposal. This will help those reviewing to understand critical variables. This is also helpful when you want to cross-reference or resort back to a particular area/subject.
5. Use the funder’s language… Incorporating words and phrases allows your focus/scope to align with the funder.
6. Use and cite research…become knowledgeable of the subject matter. This ensures that your efforts make progress towards the goals of tackling the issue/cause. This proves that you are a credible resource/person to carry out the funds’ mission. Also, this allows you an opportunity to back up your focus/scope by referencing conducted studies, reports, and data.
7. Prove how funds make a difference…clearly articulate the difference in the future and current state of the proposal. This will help explain how and why the funds would help amplify the community served.

https://www.bia.gov/service-page/technical-assistance