Addressing Structural Racism In and Through Work as an Indigenous Focused Prevention Scientist: How the New Generation of Scholars is Making Change

Presented by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in partnership with the Society for Prevention Research, the Native Children’s Research Exchange Scholar Program (NCRE), and INSPIRE: Indigenous Substance Use and Addictions Prevention Interdisciplinary Research Education 

Friday, July 16th 3-5 PM EST 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Society for Prevention Research (SPR), Native Children Research Exchange, and INSPIRE would like to invite you to participate in an online discussion, “Addressing structural racism in and through work as an Indigenous focused prevention scientist: Opportunities for the new generation of scholars to make change”. In the wake of the events of the last year, confronting structural racism, the systems that work in various ways to perpetuate racial group inequity, has become a clear mandate. Making progress is critical in all sectors of society, including academe, research, and policy. This session will focus on the ways that a new generation of scholars focused on American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian prevention research are and can work to implement meaningful change, including by insisting that this burden be addressed by all scholars – not just Indigenous scholars. The focus will include both making changes within research institutions as well as exploring how research can help to address structural racism and structural disadvantage in Indigenous communities. Panelists will include both early career and senior scholars who have worked to change the status quo, with an emphasis on how the new generation is uniquely empowered to confront long-standing structural barriers. 

Introduction 

• Kathy Etz, PhD, Native American Program Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse 

Moderator: 

• Karina Walters, PhD, (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Professor at the University of Washington, Co-director of Indigenous Wellness Research Institute 

Panelists: 

• Angela Walden, PhD, (Citizen, Cherokee Nation), Director of Inclusion Initiatives, Office of the Associate Chancellor and Vice Provost for Diversity, University of Illinois at Chicago 
• Donald Warne, MD, MPH, (Oglala Lakota), Director of Indians Into Medicine (INMED) & Public Health Programs; Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences 
• Emma Elliot-Groves, PhD, MSW, (Cowichan), Assistant Professor, University of Washington 
• Jerreed Ivanich, PhD, (Metlakatla Indian Community), Assistant Professor at Colorado School of Public Health, Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health 
• Karina Walters, PhD, (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Professor at the University of Washington, Co-director of Indigenous Wellness Research Institute 
• Keawe’aimoku Kaholokula, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai’I at Manoa 
• Kyle Hill, PhD, MPH, (Ojibwe, Lakota, Dakota), Assistant Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health 
• Melissa Walls, PhD, (Bois Forte & Couchiching First Nation Anishinaabe), Bloomberg Associate Professor; Director, Great Lakes Hub, Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health 
• Nicole Tuitt, DrPH, MPH, Assistant Director and Senior Instructor at the University of Colorado School of Public Health, Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health 
• Sophie Neuner, MD, MPH, (Karuk Tribe), Research Associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health