I like my auntie my mum’s sister and I talk too much but I think she’s annoyed of me so what should I do how often should I speak to her and she’s my favorite aunt.
Hey there! Thanks for writing in. It’s good to be aware of how people react to what we do and say. These are called interpersonal skills. When we take a moment to think about them, or reach out to others to get their insight we build upon these skills. Throughout…
Answered by Auntie Manda
What forms of payment does this organization accept? Does the organization identify as faith-based?
Hey there! Thanks for writing in! We are a non-profit and can take donations. If you’re interested in making a donation, checks can be made out to: Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (c/o We R Native) 2121 SW Broadway, Suite 300 Portland, OR 97212 Web: http://www.npaihb.org We operate in…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Hey Auntie! So what’s the deal with the COVID vaccine?
Yeah, there’s a lot of information out there right now about the COVID-19 vaccine. At the moment, Dec 4th, there are eight different vaccines and four of those are in clinical trials, which means they are now being tested by 120,000 volunteers to determine whether it is safe and effective.…
Answered by Auntie Manda
How do I find out if I got a grant?
Hi there, Thanks for reaching out! First, great job applying for a grant! Applications can be daunting so give yourself a pat on the back. Whether you applied for a grant to help with college expenses, a mini-grant to do a community project, or a grant for your job, good…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Hey Auntie, I’m coming back from college and I’m a little worried about coming home and getting my family sick. I know of someone who was asymptomatic and got his whole family sick. Some of my family is calling me paranoid or are saying that I’m going overboard, but I just don’t want to get anyone sick, especially my grandma.
This is such a great question! Thank you for writing in. You’re definitely not being paranoid or overreacting. The rate of reported COVID cases is at its highest and is projected to keep rising during the holiday season. Some things you can do are to: • Get your flu shot…
Answered by Auntie Manda
My family wants to get together for Thanksgiving, but I’m worried about COVID. There’s a lot of us. Also, should Natives even be celebrating?
Hi there! These are great questions! They’ve been on my mind too. Yeah, you’re right to be thinking about how best to keep yourself and your family safe. There were over a million COVID cases reported in the past 7 days. So, there is nothing more real than that. Bottom…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Dear Cousin Lael, my family is really opposed to getting the flu shot because they think they’ll get sick and that the government is trying to dope them. What do I say to them?
Well, I totally get where your family is coming from. The US government has a history of being very violent towards tribes and Native communities, including when it comes to medicine and health care. What you can say to your family to explain the flu shot is that this year…
Answered by Cousin Lael
How do I live a life of continual dysfunction? – Sincerely a Anishinabekwe Living on a Reservation
Dear Relative, Huge kudos to you for reaching out. I understand that sometimes it is really hard to ask about resources for help. We are living in an unprecedented time, there is a lot of stress that we are all dealing with right now. There are many ways we navigate…
Answered by Auntie Manda
How do you celebrate July 4th?
Hi there! This is a good question! I first want to say that it’s okay to celebrate any US holiday however you choose to. It’s also okay if you want to boycott or redefine the holiday by reflecting on how the holiday might look through an Indigenous lens. For example,…
Answered by Auntie Manda