The Maternal Health Promotion Institute (MHPI) is NIHB’s annual, virtual webinar series that brings together Tribal leaders, providers, and advocates to share knowledge, strengthen connections, and highlight strategies that improve maternal health across Indian Country.

This year, we will hear from Tess Abrahamson-Richards, MPH (Spokane) & Dr. Charlene Aqpik Apok (Iñupiaq) 

• Day One – October 28, 2025

  Speaker: Tess Abrahamson-Richards, MPH
  Title: Incarcerated Relatives are Missing from Our Communities Too: Understanding Connections between the Criminal Legal System, MMIW/P, and Violence Against Indigenous Women

  About Tess: Tess is a citizen of the Spokane Tribe and a PhD student at the University of Washington. She currently serves as the Director of Data Sovereignty at Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services. With over a decade of experience in Indigenous research and evaluation, her work focuses on reproductive justice, family wellbeing, and Indigenous-centered evaluation methods

• Day Two – October 30

  Speaker: Dr. Charlene Aqpik Apok
  Title: Carrying Futures, Honoring Ancestors: Indigenous Birth Justice and MMIR

  About Charlene: Dr. Apok is Iñupiaq, her family is from White Mountain and Golovin, AK. She is the Executive Director of Data for Indigenous Justice and Co-Founder of the Alaska Native Birthworkers Community. She is a leader in Indigenous rights to health and wellbeing, climate justice, and birth justice, and continues to teach and practice Iñupiaq language and traditions

This webinar is free and open to all interested. We anticipate a heavy presence of Urban and Tribal communities, advocates, Birthworkers, and community-led programming. We encourage the attendance of our Urban Indian Health Centers, Tribal leaders, and policy champions to increase the collective awareness and shared mission that will drive the work to the future.  

Keep an eye out for advertising on our social media, newsletters, and email blasts, but in the meantime, please share with your network! 

AMCHP 2026 Call for Proposals Released | Due October 31st, 2025

• Theme: The Power of Connection

• Submission deadline: October 31, 2025

• Formats: Discussion sessions, workshops, digital posters, roundtables

• Topic areas: There are 8 topic areas

  • Epidemiology, Data, Assessment, and Evaluation

  • Family, Youth, and Community Engagement and Partnership

  • Housing, Nutrition, and Other Social Determinants of Health

  • Indigeneity and Health

  • Mental and Behavioral Health

  • Policy & Impact

  • Title V Administration

  • Workforce Development and Leadership

• Informational Webinar: October 2, 2025, 3–4 PM ET Register here

• Questions: Email Kameron Jones (krjones@amchp.org)

The NLI training program is designed specifically for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian leaders who aspire to run for public office in the next 1-3 years in the state of Montana. It’s an unprecedented opportunity to equip yourself with the skills, knowledge, and support needed to make a real impact in Montana politics while leading with our shared Indigenous values.