Native Americans are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias than white or Asian Americans. And because tribal members are already at risk of being murdered or going missing, it means having culturally sensitive resources for when elders — who are revered as cultural knowledge keepers — stray from home.
Megan Dicken is from the United Houma Nation in Louisiana and with the nonprofit International Association for Indigenous Aging. Dicken recently presented a new toolkit which aims to help when Native elders wander.
“It’s very customizable,” said Dicken, who is a public health and aging associate. “And so every community can utilize it in a way that suits them, and we encourage that.”
Dicken says tribal police departments are often the first responders.
“But a lot of times, law enforcement is stretched thin,” she admitted. ”They don’t have enough officers, or they don’t have enough resources, or they have other crimes happening, so it can aid in community policing.”
The International Association for Indigenous Aging states that 80% of people with dementia will wander from home multiple times — while 90% may die if they are not found within 24 hours.
“When they pass on, a lot of times, that knowledge disappears,” Dicken added,” and we certainly don’t want that to die with them prematurely, because they went wandering and were not found in time.”
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A mining company is considering digging for copper on grazing land near the chapter house of the Coppermine community on the western Navajo Nation. -
The accident occurred about a half mile east of Highway 160 and state Route 98 near Shonto in Navajo County. This is the first reported incident since hauling along the 300-mile interstate route began nearly two years ago. -
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the approximately 1,000-year-old geoglyph in Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge was disturbed by border wall contractors nearly two weeks ago. -
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren will face off against a slew of candidates in the race for the tribe’s presidency in November — 15 challengers to be exact. Nygren took the tribe by storm when he beat out incumbent Jonathan Nez four years ago. But since, he has faced mounting scrutiny over allegations of ethics violations and misuse of public funds. -
A couple hundred ballots were cast by locals to decide a fitting moniker through a recent online vote. Al Ha’icu Ga:gdam — meaning Little Seeker — and Little Dot, or Al Doṣ, were among their choices.
