Urban Indian Health Institute

10/09/2026

UIHI Director Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) spoke with the Seattle Times about a new report that shows the region has drastically underreported homelessness among Native people. "We’re having to consistently combat bad data that is being put out that is harming our people," she said. Read the full article here:

American Indians and Alaska Natives make up a greater share of the region’s homelessness than any other minority group, the report found.

10/09/2026

If you’re dealing with lateral violence, you’re not alone. I think we’ve all had to deal with that at some time or another in our lifetimes. And you just have to be the bigger person. — Auntie Christie

In today’s Auntie Affirmations, we share a message from Auntie Christie (Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma). We invite you to share her video and spread her words of wisdom and encouragement! Link in bio.

10/08/2026

Interested in applying for our Sage and Sweetgrass Community Grants?

👩🏽‍💻 We’re hosting an informational webinar next Wednesday, October 14 at 11 am PT.

🌿 This webinar will discuss grant-specific information, our process for evaluating applications, and allow space for you to ask questions. Whether you’ve applied for these grants before or you’re a first time applicant, this pre-application webinar is for you!

Register for the webinar at the 🔗 below

10/08/2026

Unhoused Native peoples are victims of data genocide.

Research out of King County, WA this summer erased two-thirds of Native peoples experiencing homelessness.

UIHI partnered with urban Indian housing provider Chief Seattle Club and the University of Washington (UW) to set the record straight. Today, we released a research report where UIHI’s Director Abigail Echo-Hawk and UW’s Zack Almquist analyzed the same data set and found that American Indians and Alaska Natives represent 15% of the overall homeless population in Seattle/King County—not 4.2% as was originally reported.

This is why Native experts need to be involved. When Native people are undercounted, we’re the ones that pay the price.

“Non-Indigenous institutions continue to use racist data practices that actively contribute to the eradication of our people,” said Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), director of Urban Indian Health Institute. “We will continue to hold accountable anyone who treats our lives as lesser."

Read the full report. Link in the comments

10/06/2026

🌿 We are now accepting applications for our Sage and Sweetgrass Community Grants!

🌿 UIHI’s Community Grants Programs support urban AI/AN-serving organizations that develop programming for chronic disease prevention. This includes programming that involves AI/AN approaches to education, prevention, management, survivorship, or a combination of these practices.

📋 Applications are open now until November 30. Visit our webpage for more information, 🔗 below

10/02/2026

I was so blessed the day that you were born, and you were never born to fit in. You were completely born to stand out. — Auntie Anna

In today’s Auntie Affirmations, we share a message from Auntie Anna (Puyallup). We invite you to share her video and spread her words of wisdom and encouragement!

09/28/2026

🧡 That's a wrap on UIHI's FIRES Conference 2026!

🫶🏽 We are so grateful to all of our wonderful speakers, vendors, and participants. It was an honor to connect with community, nerd out on data, and share Indigenous knowledge practices to create lasting change across Indian Country.

See you next year! 🤩

09/25/2026

You were placed on this earth with gifts and those gifts are to be shared with our friends, family, and community. And so I want to ask, do you know what your gifts are? -- Auntie Melanie

In today's Auntie Affirmations, we share a message from Auntie Melanie (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe). We invite you to share her video and spread her words of advice and encouragement!

09/25/2026

🎉 That’s a wrap on day 1! Tomorrow in the final session, FIRES attendees get a chance to win this gorgeous cedar fedora; handmade at the conference by Theresa Parker (Makah)! - must be present to win

09/24/2026

Ahh, that’s better 🌟 Welcome to UIHI’s FIRES Conference!!

We’re so excited to kick things off in a good way with a keynote address from UIHI Director, Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee). Get ready to learn, support, and enact real change for with Indigenous communities at FIRES!

📱 Keep an eye on our Stories for an inside look at the conference!