Native Health Initiative

NHI was created in 2004, where several respected Tribal health leaders, health lay workers, faith-based leaders and health profession students sat down to discuss how to build community partnership. In 2005, NHI began work as a student organization.

Now in its 7th year, NHI is a non-profit partnership that addresses health inquities through Loving Service (a human-to-human element of wanting to serve others, volunteerism).

NHI is unique because...

• We are the only American Indian partnership and/or organization in the U.S. that is run by the Tribes working with health professions students
• Health projects are created by and run by Tribal communities and their leaders
• 95% funded by loving service, and only 5% by monetary donations

•  Community (Tribal) members and volunteers share of their cultures, and NHI supports the reclamation of Indigenous cultures, languages, and lands
• Our partnership has no room for negativity, but we always recognize that there is room for improvement
• Communities (Tribes) encourage their emerging youth leaders to realize their heritage/traditions, their potential, and their power to become leaders