As part of our mission to learn about and work towards reducing systemic inequities, the NAMI Ramsey County board honors and acknowledges that this county is part of the ancestral homeland of the Dakota people. While we know that mental illnesses do not discriminate, we recognize the mental health disparities in many Indigenous communities are due to historical, generational, and present-day trauma caused by colonization and racism. These disparities are worsened by barriers to culturally-sensitive and high-quality care. We also recognize the resilience of the Indigenous Peoples of Minnesota, which include the Dakota, Anishinaabe, and others, in the face of these traumas, and we honor the important role that cultural traditions and wisdom have in Indigenous mental wellness and healing. As part of our work to advocate for equitable mental health services for everyone, NAMI Ramsey County is committed to ongoing learning and understanding of the harm caused to Indigenous communities, both past and present, and will continue to work towards providing information on culturally- appropriate services provided by mental health practitioners, including Indigenous healers.