Community healing for American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Veterans have one of the highest rates of service across any ethnic group. Unfortunately, these communities are heavily impacted by suicide. VA’s 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual report found the largest increase in rates of suicide among AI/AN Veterans as compared with other races and ethnicities.

This Memorial Day, Navajo Nation held a community event “Rededication Day” where Televeda was honored to launch the first phase of an in-person and online initiative called Hero’s Story. This platform is designed to provide a confidential virtual or hybrid space where Veterans can access emotional support that is centered on both traditional Indigenous healing practices and care.

Pictured above, Navajo Nation Veterans at Window Rock Memorial Park in Window Rock, Arizona, for Rededication Day.

Free to anyone who identifies as or partner of an AI/AN Veteran, Hero’s Story creates an accessible space for Veterans to join safe, structured discussions through storytelling, virtual talking circles, community healing and personalized interventions.

VA’s Mission Daybreak is accelerating promising solutions

In 2022, VHA Innovation Ecosystem and VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention launched Mission Daybreak, the largest ever federal open innovation challenge, which awarded $20 million to promising solutions to help accelerate new suicide prevention strategies for Veterans.

Since selecting winners from a pool of over 1,300 submissions in February 2023, VA has been working with promising teams to develop their ideas into actionable solutions. Televeda is one of Mission Daybreak’s first place winners and is supporting the development of a web-based suicide prevention solutions to promote connection and community healing for AI/AN Veterans.

Televeda is also focused on increasing broadband access and digital literacy so that any AI/AN Veteran can access culturally competent peer support sessions along with VA and tribal resources.

Virtual talking circles build trust among Veterans

To ensure Veteran confidentiality and privacy, meetings offered through Hero’s Story allow anonymous entry with limited identifying information or demographics shared. The platform allows for users to list their Indigenous affiliations and background information, designed with culturally-informed details to build trust in both the platform and experience.

In-person discussion groups continue to be offered in tandem with virtual offerings to expand access to care and more broadly address AI/AN Veteran suicide. Online peer support sessions have been made available to Veterans and their caregivers, including LGBTQ, 2-Spirit and women Veteran populations.

The user interface was designed to honor the traditions of in-person talking circles.

Veterans are arranged in a circle on the screen, and a digital token is passed around to ensure that each Veteran is allotted their own individual time to speak. Simple-tech interfaces are available to allow elders with limited tech literacy to participate. The web-based app enables secure streaming with strict privacy and data protections that prevent audio-video recordings and allow for anonymity.

Additional features include clanship information, prayer music and symbolic interfaces. This environment also spreads awareness of VA resources, such as a Veterans Crisis Line with Navajo support and online benefits enrollment.

Culturally informed resources to Navajo Nation Veterans

At the Rededication Day community event hosted by Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Arizona, the capital of the Navajo Nation, Televeda was honored to collaborate with Native Veterans in revitalizing Window Rock Memorial Park which would serve as a central point for future talking circles.

In attendance were over 200 AI/AN Veterans, as well as leaders from Televeda, the Navajo Nation Veterans Association, President Buu Nygren and the Navajo Office of the President, and VA—including one of VA’s Mission Daybreak leads, Dr. Amanda Lienau.

With Hero’s Story, the Navajo Nation VA is offering Talking-Circles and access to healers to AI/AN Veterans for the first time.

“Recognizing their service is of the utmost importance that we create programs and services for Native American Veterans, taking care to address cultural perspectives and preferences,” Lienau said at the event. “Equally important is ensuring these programs and services are created in partnership with tribal leaders and Native Veterans, keeping our promise that we will ‘not do anything about you without you.’”

Televeda and VA’s plan is to scale these hybrid talking circles across various regions in the Navajo Nation. “Televeda will also be engaging with New Mexico VA to explore expanding the talking circles pilot and Native Veteran outreach in the region,” said Lienau.

Learn more about Mission Daybreak and their efforts.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Dial 988 then Press 1, text to 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.