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AICAF News & Media

Stay up to date on American Indian Cancer Foundation’s upcoming events and cancer awareness campaigns. Follow us on social media to find out the latest news and engage with our team!

PRESS RELEASE: American Indian Cancer Foundation Announces the Launch of its 6th Annual Blue Beads Campaign for National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

SAINT PAUL, MN — American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) people are experiencing higher colorectal cancer rates than any other ethnicity in the United States. As the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) observes National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, we invite you to stand with us and other Tribal and Urban Indigenous communities to raise awareness of the 6th Annual Blue Beads campaign. View Press Release here.

Focus Group Opportunity

Join our focus group dedicated to colorectal cancer prevention. Your voice matters in shaping vital health care messaging. Sign up now and help us make a difference in our community's health. https://forms.office.com/r/8PLU08WZ25

Updated 02.23.24 V2 (1)

PRESS RELEASE: American Indian Cancer Foundation Receives Funding to Improve Health and Prevent Chronic Disease in Native Communities

ST. PAUL, MN American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the first year in the five-year Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program.

View Press Release here.

PRESS RELEASE: American Indian Cancer Foundation Announces 13th Annual Powwow for Hope: Dancing for Life, Love, and Hope

ST. PAUL, MN –The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is excited to announce that the 13th annual Powwow for Hope™ (PFH): Dancing for Life, Love & Hope will be Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Base Camp Facility.  

View Press Release here.

Virtual Cancer Support Circle Update

01/26/24 Update: Due to unforeseen circumstances, all Virtual Cancer Support Circles are canceled until further notice. We understand this may be inconvenient, and we sincerely apologize for any disruption. Your patience and understanding during this time mean a lot to us. If you have any concerns or need support, feel free to reach out. Thank you for being a part of our community.

(Press Release) AMERICAN INDIAN CANCER FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LAUNCH OF SMOKEFREENATIVE: A NATIONAL TEXTING PROGRAM FOR AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES

SAINT PAUL, MN – The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Smokefree.gov initiative and the Indian Health Service (IHS) have announced the availability of SmokefreeNATIVE, a free text messaging program to help American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) quit smoking commercial tobacco...

 
View Press Release Here

(Press Release) Turquoise Thursday Sheds Light On Cervical Cancer Disparities Among American Indian/Alaska Native Women During National Cervical Health Awareness Month

SAINT PAUL, MN — In the United States, early detection and screening have greatly reduced the impact of cervical cancer among all women. However, cervical cancer continues to disproportionately affect Native communities and Native women are over 1.5 times as likely to develop cervical cancer compared to White women... 
 
View Press Release Here

(WEBINAR) FIRST FOODS ARE PREVENTION

Indigenous foods connect us to our ancestors. Healthy eating is a great way to practice our culture while reducing our cancer risk. Join AICAF and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe's SNAP-ED program as they highlight ways to educate people about healthy food & physical activity!
Register for this inspiring and educational webinar for all here: https://ow.ly/NeHx50Q1CfU
First Foods Webinar 2023

TRIBAL AND URBAN INDIAN CLINICS UNITE TO PROMOTE LUNG HEALTH DURING NATIONAL LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

SAINT PAUL, MN More than ever, younger American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people are being diagnosed with lung cancer compared to the Non-Hispanic White population, and our communities smoke commercial tobacco at higher rates than any other racial/ethnic group in the United States. Join the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) and other Tribal and Urban Indian Clinics to raise awareness of the Sacred Breath campaign during National Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November.    View press release here

AICAF’S 9th ANNUAL INDIGENOUS PINK CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON BREAST CANCER SCREENING IN INDIAN COUNTRY

SAINT PAUL, MN – The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is thrilled to announce the launch of its 9th annual Indigenous Pink campaign in October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join AICAF’s virtual gathering to increase awareness of Indigenous cancer burdens, amplify the voices of our communities, and honor the resilience of survivors everywhere as we celebrate Indigenous Pink Dayon Thursday, October 19th.   

View full press release 

AICAF's Triennial Report Available

This report highlights the important work that continued at the start of the pandemic and how cancer screening could be completed safely, and the continued urgency to get our relatives screened through our donors and funders. 

Learn more about AICAF's mission, programs, and outcomes from this year's Triennial Report.

View report here

12th ANNUAL POWWOW FOR HOPE™ RETURNS: DANCING FOR LIFE, LOVE, AND HOPE

“I am a survivor of two types of cancer. I know the importance of support and resources during that difficult time. AICAF offers guidance, outreach, and programs for prevention and also a network for survivors. Powwow for Hope is our biggest annual fundraiser, and we ask for your donation to continue AICAF’s important work,” says AICAF Chair of the Board, Nicole Hallingstad (Tlingit).

View full press release here

View the Powwow for Hope Schedule of Events here

INDIGENOUS WELLNESS REVIVED: FIRST FOODS ARE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN RETURNS IN 2023

SAINT PAUL, MN – Building on its previous success, the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is thrilled to unveil the eagerly anticipated annual recurrence of the First Foods Are Prevention campaign this Fall. Native people are affected by cancer at disproportionate rates. Factors like obesity, diabetes, diets low in fiber and high in animal fat, and lack of physical activity put our communities at a higher risk for cancer diagnosis.

View full press release here

REGISTER FOR THE NATIONAL (VIRTUAL) TRADITIONAL TOBACCO GATHERING OF NATIVE AMERICANS (GONA)

Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023

Time: 11 am - 4 pm CST

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d6LdnxWeTXGvTVUggTIAiA#/registration

Featuring Wisdom Keeper, Sharon Day (Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe), Executive Director of Indigenous People's Task Force. For more information, contact CoCo Villaluz at cvillaluz@aicaf.org.

View flyer here

JOIN AICAF’S INDIGENOUS CANCER SOLUTIONS TEXAS COALITION

SAINT PAUL, MN — The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is expanding its Indigenous Cancer Solutions Coalition (ICS) to include Texas and the surrounding area. The coalition's mission is to reduce the burden of cancer among Indigenous people throughout Indian Country, particularly emphasizing the Indian Health Service (IHS) Nashville region.

View full press release here

American Indian Cancer Foundation Announces Fifth Annual Celebrate Indigenous Life Campaign

SAINT PAUL, MN – The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is dedicating June to honoring Native cancer survivors during our national Celebrate Indigenous Life (CIL) campaign! Cancer is the leading cause of death among Native women and the second leading cause of death among Native men. We invite everyone to wear lavender on Thursday, June 22, 2023 for CIL Day. Our CIL campaign aims to honor, support, and raise awareness of Native cancer survivors. Because this national campaign happens on a digital platform, community members can participate from anywhere!

View full press release here

American Indian Cancer Foundation Announces 12th Annual Powwow for Hope: Dancing for Life, Love, and Hope

MINNEAPOLIS, MN –The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is excited to announce that the 12th annual Powwow for Hope™ (PFH): Dancing for Live, Love & Hope will be Saturday, September 23, 2023. This year’s event will welcome the community back together in person in Saint Paul, MN. Since 2020, PFH has been a virtual event. We feel it is time to welcome our community, cancer survivors, and caregivers back in person and honor all those impacted by a cancer diagnosis, including our relatives who have journeyed on.

View full press release here

SAVE THE DATE

Circle of Cultures Community Grant Initiative Traditional Tobacco Grant Application

Five (5) Tribal Nations will receive funding to implement community-led culturally based initiatives around traditional tobacco.

Important Dates:

  • Informational Webinar: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 1pm CT. Meeting link: http://ow.ly/maaj50OeHhy
  • Application Deadline: Saturday, July 1, 2023

View application

JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST COLORECTAL CANCER WITH THE AMERICAN INDIAN CANCER FOUNDATION ‘Blot it Blue’ during AICAF’s 5th annual Blue Beads Campaign

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Help AICAF get a bingo by blotting Indian Country blue! Just like a bingo dauber, blot your state blue on our Blue Beads Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Champion Communities map by pledging to get screened here. The Blue Beads Campaign occurs every March during National CRC Awareness Month.

To view full press release click here

Creating Connections Receives Additional Funding From Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) is honored to receive additional funding for their Creating Connections program from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). These additional funds will allow Creating Connections to expand their work on reducing commercial tobacco use among Native people with messaging that tobacco is sacred and culture is our greatest prevention strategy.

To view full press release click here

AICAF Elects New Chair of the Board

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The American Indian Cancer Foundation’s (AICAF) newly elected Chair of the Board is Nicole Hallingstad (Tlingit), from Petersburg, Alaska. Her Tlingit name is Ch’aak Tlaa and she is Raven (Yeíl) of the Seapigeon (T’aakdeintaan) Clan. She owns a management consulting firm and works in Anchorage, Alaska. Nicole has been on the board since 2018 and is a two-time cancer survivor.

To view full press release click here

Tamera Begay ESQ. Joins AICAF Board of Directors

“As a cancer survivor and a Dine woman, I am honored to serve on the board of the American Indian Cancer Foundation. I look forward to addressing the inequities native people face when battling cancer while also ensuring that our people have the knowledge and tools to defeat cancer,” said Begay.

To view full press release click here

Apply for $500 Champion Organization Micro Grant

Host your own Blue Beads Event co-sponsored by Exact Sciences.The Blue Beads Campaign for colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness occurs every March during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. 

Apply Here

AICAF Resources for COVID-19

AICAF is closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We remain heavily invested in the health and safety of our relatives, and will continue to support the well-being of Indigenous communities across the nation. Visit our COVID-19 web page for all the latest culturally-tailored resources and updates surrounding the pandemic. 

COVID-19 Resources & Updates 

United States Preventive Service Task Force Updates Screening Guidlines for HCV

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is an infection that causes liver inflammation. The United States Preventive Service Task Force recently updated its recommendations for HCV screening to include all adults aged 18 to 79 years. Download our new community and clinic resources to help you understand these new guidelines, and spread the word about the importance of HCV screening in Native communities. 

View Community HCV Screening resource.

View Clinic HCV Screening resource. 

Join Our Board of Directors!

AICAF is now accepting nominations for Indigenous leaders to serve on its Board of Directors for up to three two-year terms. Nominees should have a passion for Native health and should be committed to reducing cancer burdens in our communities. For more information on how to nominate a qualified leader, please contact info@aicaf.org or call 612.314.4848. 

Learn more about AICAF's expansion efforts and new leadership. 

In Solidarity

A statement from the American Indian Cancer Foundation.

View Here. 

AICAF Media Consent and Release Form