Celebrating 65 years of service to and collaboration with American Indian, Alaska Native, and First Nations communities, Aii has a longstanding history of working with tribal leaders and communities, diverse groups, professionals, and students – Indigenous Peoples – in communities throughout Oklahoma and beyond. The Aii Vision is to be the premiere international leader positively impacting the education, health, and cultural well-being of Indigenous peoples, uniquely positioned as a connection hub to collaborate with individuals, groups, and communities seeking powerful solutions to contemporary issues.

The Aii community is comprised of diverse individuals, groups, and organizations, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, tribal elders and partners, health organizations, health professionals, businesses, public health and science researchers, allies, advocates, traditional healers and storytellers, social workers, counselors, educators, students, primary health care, behavioral health, public health, prevention, and community outreach professionals, wellness leaders, nutritionists, anthropologists, and many more.

Aii also provides education, resources, networking opportunities, and connections for our diverse communities. Our mission focuses on honoring Indigenous ways of knowing and being, health, wellness, education, culture, language, and balanced living. We address contemporary issues in Indian Country while engaging, interacting, and inspiring each other as we learn and work together to address systemic issues and barriers impeding the progress of many Indigenous people in Oklahoma.

What is New at Aii?

Aii launched a new first-time virtual series in 2021: Native Perspective: Native Perspectives Virtual Speaker Series: Viewing Contemporary Issues through an Indigenous Lens. This program continues to provide the Aii Family -- in Indian Country and beyond -- timely and relevant learning about the critical issues of the day from Native experts in their respective fields. Among other partnerships, Aii has joined the Responsible Physicians Committee to provide learning opportunities that ensure healthy and balanced living. We develop innovative, transformative, and engaging programming for lifelong learners, including organizations, groups, and communities locally, regionally, and nationally. The Aii motto is: “Together We Thrive.” We believe in the power of connection and engagement. "We learn together and plant the seeds for future generations."

Aii also launched the first-ever virtual MicroConference on November 17th, 2021: The Indigenous Way – Planting Seeds of Wellness for Future Generations. The conference was well-attended as several nationally recognized Indigenous speakers from all parts of the country were welcomed. Featured were Native chefs Dr. Lois Ellen Frank (Kiowa, Northern European, Sephardic, and Ashkenazi) and Walter Whitewater (Diné/Navajo), who educated our Indian Country family about the science of Indigenous foods and healthy, delicious recipes.

Dr. Frank's presentation was The History of Ancestral Native American Cuisine: Reconnecting to Culture as a Key to Health and Wellness in Native Communities.

Ancestral history via Native recipes was also provided, which included time for virtual exercise together! It was a glorious conference!

A special feature of the conference was Dr. Cornel Pewewardy (Comanche-Kiowa), Vice Chairman of the Comanche Nation. His wisdom, knowledge, teaching, singing, and drumming enriched our deep dive into everything Indigenous. His remarkable and timely presentation was, Remaining Indigenous during COVID-19: Infusing Neurodecolonization Energy through Music and Memory.

Aii also launched a new partnership program: Partners in Native Food for Life Online, which offers free non-credit courses several times yearly. Physicians and traditional Indigenous knowledge are featured to create unique, culturally informed, healthy ways of living and thriving! Students love the courses and attend more than one series.

Our most recent series was in collaboration with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and was customized for the Seminole Nation in Oklahoma.

Please click here to learn more about us and the transformative work we do:  https://outreach.ou.edu/Community-Services/Health-and-Human-Services/american-indian-institute