The landscape of opportunity for Native/Indigenous youth was forever changed, by notable educator, artist and NEA Council on Human Rights member Leo Reano.
Reano is renowned as one of the nation’s most passionate advocates for educational opportunities supporting American Indian and Alaskan Native students.
The perfect continuation of Reano’s legacy is the work of The Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition (NUIHC), created to give the Native population living in the greater Omaha and Lincoln metro areas access to quality health care.
Native American families in urban Nebraska were underserved from a health perspective for generations. Access to the basic needs of life were out of reach, if not willfully denied. NUIHC was born out of a need to correct that narrative… no longer would a people be forgotten.
NUIHC is more than “just a clinic”. Founded 40 years ago, its purpose is to go beyond being a health center, and take a holistic approach to the needs of the people, physically, mentally, and culturally.
At the NUIHC centers, the “Elders” are greeted by name with the reverence they deserve. The clinical care adheres to ceremonial values and traditions. NUIHC becomes a place where young people not only receive much needed care, but see their history and heritage reflected in art pieces hanging on the walls.
The passing down of oral history is related to the Native youth, giving a sense of pride in who they are, which can be just as healing as any vaccine or pill.
NUIHC also puts an emphasis on the issues Indigenous children currently tackle. These become safe spaces for young people to address past and present trauma, feeling “othered”, and steps they can take steps to rise above.
NUIHC’s innovative Soaring Over Methamphetamine and Suicide (SOMS) initiative confronts the unfortunate ongoing crisis of addiction head on. Statistics indicate too many Native teens, due to isolation, and poverty, have fallen prey to devastating results… NUIHC restores faith and hope, though promoting culturally specific self-worth.
Firmly believing that health disparities go hand in hand with emotional discouragement, NUIHC fills the void, creating social events, peer-to-peer interaction, and mentorship.
When a child excels academically and economically, many have the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition to thank for that.
There couldn’t be more worthy an award recipient given in the iconic Leo Reano’s name.
