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IndigiWellbeing Program

 Students and alumni in a traditional native american round dance

The IndigiWellbeing program, launched by Dr. Felina Cordova-Marks, organizes culturally grounded programming for Native and Indigenous students, staff, faculty and community members to build connection and awareness among participants as a path to health and wellness.


About Us

IndigiWellbeing logo

In response to mental health challenges among students, staff, faculty, and community members in Southern Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic, Assistant Professor Felina Cordova-Marks, DrPH, MPH, MSc from the Zuckerman College of Public Health launched the IndigiWellbeing program in Fall 2021. She envisioned a series of culturally grounded events that would build connection and a sense-of-belonging from a Native/Indigenous perspective.

In collaboration with IndigiWellbeing’s Program Coordinator William Carson, MPH, (a doctoral student in public health), Dr. Cordova-Marks organized the series to relieve stress, depression, and lack of connection within the college and larger community, challenges that were widespread during the COVID pandemic. IndigiWellbeing provides programming that infuses culture into wellness and helps bring balance to the lives of students and community members. The program also offers special opportunities for Native/Indigenous UArizona students and Native/Indigenous High School students in the greater Tucson region and on tribal lands to interact with guest speakers for mentoring.

The IndigiWellbeing program was launched with funds from the University of Arizona's Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement, part of the UArizona’s Executive Office of the President, and has also received support from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

During the COVID pandemic, the events were conducted virtually on Zoom in order to keep participants safe, and also enabling IndigiWellbeing to reach an audience beyond the University and Tucson. Events now take place both virtually and sometimes in-person to reach as many participants as possible, taking into consideration different levels of comfort for in-person interaction, and those that are differently-abled. Many events are hybrid to allow in-person and virtual attendance, and all events are open to anyone who wants to participate. The IndigiWellbeing events are promoted through flyers, email listservs, and social media. As the program continues to grow, it will increase the visibility of Indigenous pathways for positive adaptation.

Felina Cordova-Marks, DrPH, MPH, MS

Felina Cordova-Marks, DrPH, MPH, MS
Director
Hopi

William Carson, MPH

William Carson, MPH (Doctoral Student)
Program Coordinator
Ohkay Owingeh

IndigiWellbeing Events

Past Events

Date Event  

May 5, 2024

4th Annual Southern AZ Murdered and Missing Indigenous People (MMIP) Awareness 5K Run/Walk

 

May 3, 2024

3rd Annual National Murdered Missing Indigenous Peoples Day of Awareness Symposium

 

April 4, 2024

Lacrosse, the Seneca Nation and Indigenous Wellbeing with Dr. Rodney Haring

YouTube

March 23, 2024

Indigenous Food Revitalization and Cooking Demo with Chef Rob Kinneen

YouTube

February 24, 2024

Spin Cycling Pow Wow™ with Jim O’Kimosh

 

January 30, 2024

Indigenous Language Revitalization and Wellness with Anita Poleaha

 

December 14, 2023

3rd Annual Elf Project Donation Drive for Tucson’s Children in Foster Care

 

November 4, 2023

Healing Your Community and Self through Filmmaking and Photography: Workshop with Filmmaker Deidra Peaches

 

October 19, 2023

Movement and Breathwork With Dr Jessica Barudin (Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, ‘Namgis First Nations)

YouTube

August 17, 2023

Indigenous Hydroponic Workshop with Indigeponics

 

May 7, 2023

3rd Annual Southern AZ Murdered and Missing Indigenous People (MMIP) Awareness 5K Run/Walk

 

May 5, 2023

2nd Annual National Murdered Missing Indigenous Peoples Day of Awareness Symposium

YouTube

April 15, 2023

Presentation on Wellness and Resilience with author Kaitlin Curtice

YouTube

April 14, 2023

Resilience and Wellness Workshop for Students with author Kaitlin Curtice

 

March 26, 2023

Cooking with Indigenous Foods Demonstration, with Miss Native American University of Arizona

YouTube

February 4, 2023

Indigenous Health: Connecting with Wellbeing and Community Day

YouTube

January-February 2023

Hygiene Drive for I am You 360

 

December 21, 2022

Winter Storytelling Wellness with Traci Sorel

YouTube

December 20, 2022

Winter Art Wellness with Shaun Beyale

 

November 29, 2022

Knitting with the Native Knitter

YouTube

November 18, 2022

Yoga With Jessica Barudin: Shelter from the Storm

YouTube

October 15, 2022

Preparing and Cooking Traditional Foods with Indigikitchen

YouTube

October 10, 2022

Indigenizing your Kitchen and Diet with IndigiKitchen

YouTube

September 8, 2022

Holistic care and well-being from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives/teachings

 

May 7, 2022

2nd Annual Southern AZ Murdered and Missing Indigenous People (MMIP) Awareness 5K Run/Walk

YouTube

May 5, 2022

National Murdered Missing Indigenous Peoples Day of Awareness Symposium

 

March 31, 2022

Wellness through Pow wow Aerobics: Dallas Arcand

YouTube

February 19, 2022

Storytelling Wellness: Angeline Boulley, Author of Fire Keeper's Daughter

 

January 20, 2022

(Re)Imagining / (Re)Creating Spaces for Intergenerational Healing: A Queer & Two-Spirit Pathway to a Healthy Well-Being with Souksavanh Keovorabouth

 

December 21, 2021

Winter Storytelling Wellness: Kevin Maillard, Author of 'Fry Bread'

 

November 30, 2021

Breath of Life: Indigenous Yoga

YouTube

September 29, 2021

Stress Busting Breathing Techniques

 


Contact Us

If you interested in joining our listserv, supporting our organization, or interested presenting, please email us at indigiwellbeing@gmail.com. Watch for the announcement of our next event!

Social Media

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