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Better health through a cultural approach

Messengers for Health is an Indigenous 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located on the Apsáalooke (Crow) Reservation in Montana.

OUR MISSION: Growing, fostering, and supporting trusted and respected community leaders to improve the health of Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) men, women, and children using solutions that respect and honor Apsáalooke strengths, culture, stories, and language. We utilize traditional methods of knowledge transmission, harness cultural strengths and value the guidance, knowledge, and expertise of our community members.   

Extraordinary

people teaching people

WHAT WE DO

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Outreach

We are committed to developing and maintaining collaborations and partnerships with health service organizations and healthcare providers through community outreach.  

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Education

  • In home visits

  • Advocate training

  • Intern training

  • Public Workshops

  • Support Group

  • Resources and Materials

NEWS AND EVENTS

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Welcoming
Sidney 
Fitzpatrick

Sydney (Chip) is our new Apsáalooke Elders Support Advocate.

He has a strong and respected presence in the community, from governance to law enforcement to volunteerism.

 

Sidney shares his positive attitude, communication and energetic skills to assist others to work hard, set goals and succeed.  He is also a mentor, advocate and speaker for the Crow Reservation and surrounding communities.

Apsáalooke Elders Support Project

We are very excited about this new project!

 

Messengers for Health has received funding from the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples to develop and implement a project focused on Strengthening Supports for Elders in Indigenous Communities. This funding is provided by the Cargill Foundation. This new project is titled, Apsaalooke Elders Support Project.

 

The project will provide community outreach, advocacy, and support services to our elders in the Apsaalooke community. We will honor our elders’ voices and allow them to share with us what support services they need. Then we will directly provide these services to them. Our hope is to bring back honor respect, and value for our elders and most importantly improve their well-being!

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New - Strong Heart Project

The Strong Heart (Daasachchuchik) project will draw upon Apsáalooke cultural strengths to design and implement a trauma-informed program to better understand the impacts of historical and intergenerational trauma on tribal members.

 

The ultimate goal is to provide support to improve the mental and spiritual wellbeing of Apsáalooke tribal communities.

 

Currently, we are listening to stories of community members' experiences with trauma and mental wellbeing as well as cultural ways to begin healing from trauma.

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Welcome New Staff
Christiane Parrish

Christiane is a member of the Apsáalooke Nation. She is currently working as a Program Assistant, and social media and website specialist.

 

She has a master's in Community Health and is currently working to adapt the Báa nnilah program for other Tribal communities. 

Celebrating Our Students
2022- 2023

Undergraduates in Community Health

Kola Bad Bear 

Cayden Merchant

Jessie Reed

Undergraduate in Human Development and Family Science

Tavia Torralba

Graduate student in Community Heath

Roni Knows Gun

Graduate student in Indigenous and Rural Health PhD program

Kazi Faria Islam

Graduate student in Community Health

Ume Odum

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December 2022

Five new “extraordinary, ordinary” women will soon be honored at Montana State University for their contributions to the university throughout its history....

Montana's "Community Star" National Award 

 November 2022

National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sponsors an annual celebration honoring those organizations, and coalitions making a positive impact in rural communities.  We are featured in the 2022 edition of the Community Star eBook, PowerofRural.org.

Our Philosophy in Action!

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