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To recognize American Indian Month in Minnesota, M Health Fairview participated in American Indian Day on the Hill at the Minnesota State Capitol on May 10.
Standing in partnership with our Indigenous communities during American Indian Month and year-round
Since the inaugural reading of the Indigenous land acknowledgement at the Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub last summer, our health system has continued to partner with local organizations to advance health equity.
A team at the M Health Fairview Center for Community Health Equity is leading these efforts. The mission of the center, which opened in 2022, is to work alongside community members to find new solutions to reduce racial and economic disparities affecting health outcomes.To recognize American Indian Month in Minnesota, M Health Fairview participated in American Indian Day on the Hill at the Minnesota State Capitol on May 10. The event was led by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) and included support from the American Indian Family Center, Minnesota Department of Education - Office of American Indian Education, and Saint Paul Public Schools.
“This is the second year that the MIAC board consisting of sovereign tribal government leaders hosted American Indian Day on the Hill,” said Shannon Geshick, executive director of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. “This event really spotlights Native leaders and creates awareness among legislators and the community about issues affecting Indigenous communities.”
Messages of hope and healing were shared by special guests Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Senator Mary Kunesh, and Commissioner of Higher Education Dennis Olson. In addition, there was an honoring song for John Day and John Poupart, tribal and urban organization vendors, a panel of high school and college students who shared their lived experiences, and other distinguished speakers. Heather Fahey, a medication management pharmacist with Fairview Health Services and member of Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, spoke on a panel about indigenizing education. Fairview’s recruitment team also shared career opportunities with attendees.
“It was an honor to have M Health Fairview involved in this year’s day on the hill,” said Monique Nelson, M Health Fairview cultural broker and a descendant of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe. “This is an important day to create awareness of issues impacting Indigenous communities.”
