Native Nations Nursing, Helpers, and Healers Summit

Community as Medicine

The 2026 Native Nations Nursing Helpers and Healers Summit explores how communities function as medicine by fostering connection, collective care, cultural continuity, and shared responsibility for health and well-being. Drawing on Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, community-engaged partnerships, and evidence-informed practice, presenters will highlight innovative approaches that strengthen Indigenous health while honoring tribal sovereignty, relationality, and self-determination.

Historically, health care and health professions education have relied on deficit-based approaches when working with Indigenous populations, which focus on “lacks” and insufficiencies. This year’s summit directly addresses this practice gap by focusing on strengths-based perspectives that recognize, honor, and build upon the existing assets, resilience, and traditional healing practices within Indigenous communities.