View a social media campaign, a mask-making event, a mask-making coloring page, and other annual flu vaccination promotion strategies created by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). A social media campaign highlighted cultural experiences people might miss out on if they get COVID-19 or the flu. Culturally competent examples reflect activities typical for the Alaska Native Tribal population. The social posts were well received and performed better on Instagram than Facebook. Additionally, the team held a mask-making event to encourage discussion and reflection on the impacts of COVID-19 and to normalize receiving associated vaccines and boosters in communities where the event was hosted (which aimed at reaching Alaska Native adults, although children were welcome). The event involved collaborating with a traditional Yup’ik and Inupiaq mask carver who led attendees in designing papier-mâché masks to tell their COVID-19 stories. After the masks were made, they had a talking circle led by a behavioral health elder advisor and a traditional culture bearer, who facilitated an open space where attendees could share their mask designs and stories. Additional resources created to support the event include one pagers describing how masks have traditionally been used in their culture as healing acts and coloring pages to keep children occupied while adults created their masks. Event feedback indicated it was well received.
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