Blog
[Blog] Healing Our Rivers: The Origin of A Meeting of Sacred Waters
(December 4, 2023) Indigenous identities and knowledge systems, in all their diversity, are intricately woven within and across our ancestral lands and waters. They are the means upon which our cultural, physical, and spiritual survival depends. In sharp contrast, Western mindsets tend to view nature, and especially water, as a commodity, maintaining a relationship that […]
[Blog] Indigenous Authority and Self-Determination in Public Health Matters
(November 15, 2023) We believe the pathway to wellbeing is a journey of reclamation and resilience that includes reflecting on traditional lifeways to solve political issues. Western concepts of political sovereignty have been used to limit Indigenous rights to self-governance, and do not recognize the distinct relationship of Indigenous Peoples to their ancestral lands, waters […]
[Blog] An Urgent Call for Indigenous-Led Environmental Protection: Healing Our Ancestral Waters
(October 3, 2023) In the face of a changing climate, the challenges posed by drought have become increasingly severe, affecting communities worldwide. However, it is the Indigenous communities that bear the brunt of these challenges, grappling with the consequences of environmental exploitation and witnessing the decline in air and water quality firsthand. Tributary waterflows play […]
[Blog] Revitalizing Canoe Traditions for Our Future
(August 21, 2023) In Aotearoa (New Zealand), we seek to maintain strong paddling and sailing traditions. These traditions and practices are central to who we are as Māori. It’s part of our whakapapa – our DNA. These practices strengthen our connection to each other and the natural world. What makes preserving canoe traditions important? Canoe […]
[Blog] Building a Foundation for Public Health Excellence through Capacity Assessment
(July 18, 2023) Community wellness is a deep cultural value and is central to Tribal and Territorial Health Departments’ (THD) mission. Recent threats from a global pandemic and the climate crisis highlight the importance of THD leadership and capacity to protect the community’s health. The THD Guide to Assessing Public Health Capacity: A Collaborative Approach […]
[Blog] Advancing Global Indigenous Collaboration to Restore Balance in Human Wellbeing and the Environment
(June 1, 2023) “Now is the time to deconstruct the systems that reinforce colonialism and perpetuate inequities.” (Tucson, AZ) The urgency surrounding climate change and ecosystem collapse necessitates immediate and informed action. While calls for Indigenous engagement in decision-making continue, a more profound transformation is required—one that is led by Indigenous peoples themselves. Red Star […]
[Blog] A Meeting of Sacred Waters and Indigenous-led systems change
(May 1, 2023) Indigenous-led systems change involves recognizing and addressing historical and ongoing systemic injustices impacting Indigenous communities. (Phoenix, AZ) Three years ago, Red Star International, Inc. (Red Star) invited a delegation of tribal leaders representing four tribal communities in Arizona to meet the Māori Peoples in Aotearoa/New Zealand. This cross-cultural exchange took place along […]
International Indigenous Leaders Gather about their Rivers’ Health
In February 2020 Tribal Leaders from Arizona travelled to the Whanganui River in New Zealand to explore what it means to live in relationship with our rivers.