Q&A with Meagan Mahtushquah -Oklahoma City Indian Clinic
PLEASE TELL US YOUR NAME, TITLE AND ORGANIZATION
My name is Meagan Mahtushquah. I am from the Kickapoo Tribe and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I am the Registered Nurse for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
The goal of Health Promotion Disease Prevention is to provide health, nutrition, and wellness activities for our adult and pediatric patients. I work with a team of Dieticians and Certified Personal Trainers to provide youth camps, after school programs, and community events. My role also includes providing health assessments, education, and one-on-one patient visits as a Certified Life Coach.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED WITH THE OKC INDIAN CLINIC, AND WITH TRIBAL HEALTH PROGRAMS?
I have always had the desire to serve and give back to my Native and Tribal community. My Nursing experience includes Emergency and Urgent Med. I had the opportunity to move back to the OKC area last year, and I am proud to say I have been working with the OKC Indian Clinic for one year! I have gained tremendous experience and knowledge working with OKCIC and other surrounding tribal health programs throughout my first year.
WHAT OBSERVATIONS OR EXPERIENCES MOTIVATED YOU TO REACH OUT TO IMAGEN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATIVE GIRL-CENTERED PROGRAMMING?
The epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls led to the idea and creation of our girl-centered program. The program is entitled MISS, a name given in homage of MMIWG. The motivation to create this program comes from the need to take action by protecting, empowering, and giving knowledge to our girls in order for them to not only live, but thrive in today’s society. Being in an urban area, our girls face the threat of being affected by higher rates of violence, while also facing the challenges of misrepresentation in the data collection of MMIWG in urban areas. By reaching out to IMAGEN, I hope to gain further insight into girl-centered programming to best serve our adolescent girls.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR NATIVE TEENAGED GIRLS IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA?
The vision for adolescent girls in the OKC area includes providing positive, female role models and establishing an environment of openness and support. Through our program I hope to instill knowledge, health literacy, relationship skills, and provide tools for safety and well-being through an inter-tribal approach.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
I would like to thank Kelly Hallman and IMAGEN for providing the opportunity to gain information and understanding of girl-centered programming. I am deeply appreciative of the time and effort Kelly has given in passing on her knowledge of girl-centered programming.
