This is part of a series of profiles on the 2021 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 4th, we will feature a profile of a 2021 Giraffe Award Winner and showcase how they “stick their neck out” for Maine children, youth, and families. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to Wabanaki Public Health.
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness (WPH) is committed to supporting the well-being of the Wabanaki people. Their programs and services focus on the essential needs and particularly impactful issues for their community members. With the onset of COVID-19, WPH mobilized to meet the emerging needs of community members, focusing on access to clean water, food, care packages for older adults who were experiencing isolation, and mobile smudging ceremonies to promote culture and connection.
Drinking water has long been an issue facing Wabanaki communities. This was exacerbated by quarantine restrictions. In response, clean water became a critical part of WPH's Covid-19 response. They have focused on distributing bottled water and dedicated staff to hauling water from wells to people’s homes to supplement.
WPH opened an emergency food bank with apples and potatoes, with donations from Ricker Hill Orchard and local potato farmers. Since the food bank opened, they have distributed over six thousand pounds of apples and fifteen thousand pounds of potatoes across the five communities.
WPH has also been providing Elder Care Packages. The care packages were created to provide older adults in the community with the basic necessities, so they didn't have to risk their health by going out for those items themselves. In addition to essentials like water, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer, engaging activities like puzzle books were included in the package. Given the potential toll on mental health due to isolation, WPH started a program community members could call to connect with other community members, as a means of supporting each other through community cohesion — one of WPH's greatest strengths.
During the pandemic, Wabanaki people have not been able to safely gather for sacred events. Even under these circumstances, WPH found ways to hold ceremonies with social distancing guidelines. WPH has delivered mobile smudging ceremonies, where a vehicle moves through the community, dispensing medicines as it goes. These ceremonies offer an important opportunity to heal and connect community members and are broadcast and recorded for those who can't attend.
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness will be awarded the 2021 Organization Giraffe Award for their work to support the health and well-being of Wabanaki people on November 4th at our Champions for Children celebration.
We hope you will join us - next week - for the 2021 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event !