January 2018

Drats! This month's contest is now closed, but do not fret! Stay connected with We R Native on social media and be the first to know when February's contest is posted :) Happy New Year!

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By submitting an entry, you grant the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) the right to use, edit, and disseminate submissions in print, online, and through other forms of media for educational, public service, or health awareness purposes. By submitting an entry, you release the NPAIHB and its agents and employees from all claims, demands, and liabilities whatsoever in connection with the above.

Current Submissions

As my family and I were picking wild blueberries on our Native land this fall, my little sister snapped this picture of me. Healy Lake is where I feel at peace; it’s where my family can slow down and practice a subsistence lifestyle. We hunt, gather, and fish throughout the year to live a healthy life. To me, it’s very therapeutic to help pick berries or cut up fresh moose meat for the freezer. These practices tie me to my ancestors and nourish my spirit. Self care as well as community we’ll-being go hand-in-hand when we continue our traditional practices.

My name is Alyssa, I am 13 years old. I’m a jingle dancer. I dance to heal our community. I wear a red dress in memory of all the beautiful Native missing women. Self care too me means taking time to myself. I draw things that are important to me. Protecting our culture & bringing attention to all the missing & murdered Indigenous women is most important.

I think for me self-love and self-care go hand in hand. It’s a holistic process to love yourself and to care for yourself. It encompasses your emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental health! As an Indigenous women, I find that one of the ways I can de-stress and show myself love and care is to reconnect with Mother Earth, Shimá Nahasdzáán. Whether this is by going for a walk or a run outdoors or just being mindful and in her presence, our environment always has a way of reminding us how loved we are and how we have a responsibility to care for the land and to care for our people. I like this picture because it symbolizes self-love and how I am grateful to come from such a strong and resilient family and community. Ahéhee’. Thank you!!

For me, sending gifts to family and friends in a time where we can't physically connect is important. These contain wood flowers that are a small symbol that our friendship and love will never die.

I used to believe that self-love only was in fairytales i used to believe that self-love with some thing nonexistent until I found my people. I found my people I found my community and I found myself. I realized that not only did my community help me in my journey to understanding and finding self love But the self love that I was finding was something I craved. Some thing that put a smile on my face and something I wish I could’ve found sooner. My journey to self love started with loving myself enough to seek treatment and seek other guidance, I soon found out that I wasn't alone that there were plenty of other people in this journey to find self love. I started to eat right and meditate every day along with finding myself a job And sageing my new apartment to make it clear of negative energy. My Journey to finding self-love turned into a mission a mission to love myself and love my community. Because one day I will raise my hands to my community for helping me understand what true self love is. It’s being able to love every single part of yourself. Hyshqe Siam (thank you)

Taking space in academia has allowed me to reflect on my identity as an Indigenous Women pursing medicine. I think of my maternal linage of matriarchal leaders and devoted my education to their sacrifices. I know that I can be a voice and healer to those in need. I look forward to proving adequate and sufficient health care to Tribal Communities! I plan to incorporate western medicine with culture practices. Take forward the teachings and lessons my grandmother instilled in me. I look forward to ensuring that our Native Community is represented! Self love to me is knowing that I can take care of myself, my elders, Native community members, and the future generation. I hope to inspire Native Youth to practice self love and never give up on their dreams.

To me, self love and self care are very important. In order to spread kindness and love in the world, you must know how you would like to be treated, and be the best example of what it is that means. For me, self love starts at this grave site in the picture. This is me and my mother cleaning and caring for my ancestor's grave site. By acknowledging and understanding where I come from, I am celebrating who I am. By doing this, I am caring for my mind and spirit. Self love for me is this, spending time with my family!

I think self love is different for everyone, it depends on the way we interpret and view the world, it depends on how we grew up and where we grew up. It depends on what we’ve learned and experienced so far in life.
To me self love isn’t just loving myself as I am, it’s looking in the mirror and seeing the things I don’t like, the things I want to change about myself and actually getting the courage to go out and actually improve those things. I’d rather not lie to myself, and hide behind the “positive” outlook. Self love is more than just saying “I’m going to make it, I love myself the way I am, I don’t need to change for others” self love is standing on your own two feet and loving for yourself and only yourself. I found my self love in the comfort in weight lifting, I love the idea of physical and emotional growth, I’ve seen myself happier in the changes I’ve seen, I’m happier because I’m only making myself happy and not worrying about anything else. I’ve found my connection to self love. I’ve also found self love in connecting to my cultures and tradition, learning my language because without those things I don’t have an identity to love.

Ya'at'eeh (Hello),
My self care photo is my own positive affirmations. I have been pursuing my education online and off the reservation away from family. It is hard trying to get an education online while being distant from friends and family for the pandemic. I have been making an office area in my apartment and I got a white board. I wanted to write on it positive motivations "You can do it!" and positive affirmations on how I view myself "Strong, Driven, Persevere, and Smart". This gets me through when I am struggling on an assignment, when I miss my family, and makes me smile when I walk pass it.

Axheehee (Thank You),

Jessica Antonio

We live along the Missouri river. This particular day I wanted to go kayaking but the wind was very strong that day. I decided instead to walk along a the shore and just meditate and let my thoughts be in nature. The water is where I go to regain my self love.

Celebrating Self-love: Self-Love means to take care of yourself and the next 7 generations. Through education, social distancing and proper protective wear during this pandemic. Self-Care is to recognize when you or someone else is in need of a break. It could be a ride to the doctor, picking up medication, a trip to the store or a simple visit to an elder. Our community understand our elders are most important right now today due to this pandemic. A simple phone tree is what we have created to make sure we are able to speak with every elder. I care for my mind by staying educated and by educating others, my body by working out, eating healthy and inviting others to join, and spirit by meditation, prayer and sweat logs. It’s important to care for our youth and show them the way, so one day they can continue to teach our future. Aho.

My garden it helps me relieve a lot of stress and anxiety. It’s nice to plant a garden and watch the creator do his part. I think of my ancestors and think of how much work they did and how much they sacrificed for the seventh generations. I just feel that we need to rely more on ourselves and Our creator. It’s a blessing all I preserve from my garden. I’ve canned a lot as well this year. My next adventure is hunting I would like to get my own game and not rely on my husband, father or my brothers. I like to be independent. I’ve even taking extra food from my garden to Andahwod to feed our elders. We need to all be doing our part giving back to our people, our community especially our elders.