Native American Community Clinic

The mission of NACC is to promote the health and wellness of mind, body, and spirit of Native American families by supporting holistic well-being through culturally grounded, accessible care. They address health disparities by integrating Native traditions and values into healthcare while ensuring services are available regardless of ability to pay. NACC delivers comprehensive care, including primary care, behavioral health, and substance use recovery services, and emphasizes quality improvement and coordinated systems of care. They also foster an inclusive, community-centered environment where everyone is welcome and treated with respect, reflecting their commitment to being a “good relative.”

Dr. Rabie grew up in South Africa, where both of her parents worked in the medical mission field in a deeply rural, Zulu community. She stated that she always knew she wanted to work with underserved populations and that community health was the place to be, as she found herself at NACC after her time at Southside Community Health Services. Dr. Rabie was also new to working with the Indigenous community, and after 15 years, she can honestly say this has been the most rewarding job she’s ever had. The Minneapolis urban Native community is very connected, and she feels like she is working in a small community within a large city. She enjoys working with the integration of Western medicine into the wider framework of traditional medicines and knowledge to strengthen care.

One key takeaway that Dr. Rabie reflects on from her journey as a family physician and leader at NACC is that, unlike working within a larger health system, community health allows the clinic’s mission and vision to be shaped directly by the community it serves. In her role, she has had the opportunity to help guide decisions about the clinic’s future and collaborate on developing resources that address the unique needs of the local Native community. While NACC welcomes all clients and relatives, many of its programs and resources are intentionally designed to support Native families and honor their cultural values.

Dr. Rabie also shared that NACC regularly seeks input from community members through a dedicated feedback group. This feedback plays an important role in informing how the clinic delivers care, develops new best practices, and ensures services continue to reflect the needs and priorities identified by the community itself.

At NACC, holistic care includes dedicated departments for traditional healing, behavioral health, and maternal-child health support services. Dr. Rabie shared that the clinic is very intentional about how traditional healing is incorporated into community health, rather than trying to reconcile Western medicine with traditional healing. Instead, both approaches are available and can be integrated into a relative’s care if requested.

NACC also offers the four sacred medicines—sweetgrass, tobacco, sage, and cedar—to relatives seeking care upon request. In addition, the clinic has intentionally shifted its language away from referring to individuals and families as patients and instead uses the term relatives, reflecting the strong sense of connection and community among those they serve.

Looking to cultural teachings, Dr. Rabie shared that the Seven Grandfather Teachings serve as a guiding principle within the Native community. These teachings help relatives make decisions about their own well-being while considering how those decisions may impact the next seven generations.

As NACC continues to grow its model of care, one area the clinic is exploring is land-based healing. Plans include securing land to offer sweat lodges and healing retreats, further expanding opportunities for traditional healing within the community.

Dr. Rabie stated that the Native population experiences disproportionately high rates of diabetes, asthma, depression, and chemical dependency. Taking a step back to look at these statistics, Dr. Rabie emphasized that these health challenges are deeply interconnected and rooted in intergenerational trauma, systemic racism, and the lasting impacts these factors have on individuals’ ability to prioritize their health. Specifically related to the higher rates of chemical dependency, Dr. Rabie discussed the Opioid Syndemic and the infectious diseases associated with it. A syndemic occurs when two or more health conditions occur at the same time within a group of people. The Opioid Syndemic reflects how substance use intersects with broader social and systemic factors, including unstable housing, stigma, barriers to healthcare, transportation, and access to nutritious food.

While there are many stories that Dr. Rabie could share, two in particular reflect NACC’s commitment to meeting relatives where they are and providing compassionate, trauma-informed care.

The first involved a relative who came to NACC early in her pregnancy after previously losing custody of two children due to substance use. Unsure whether to continue the pregnancy, she ultimately decided that, if she did, she wanted to give her baby the healthiest possible start. Throughout her pregnancy, the trust she built with NACC and the support she received through NACC’s daily dosing clinic helped her get on a stable dose of buprenorphine and engage with recovery. By the end of her pregnancy, she completed inpatient treatment with her newborn and began processing her trauma through therapy. Since then, this relative has been employed, has her driver’s license and a car, has secured housing, and regained custody of all three of her children while continuing to engage in care.

While the first story highlights recovery, the second demonstrates that healing does not always follow a linear path. Dr. Rabie recalls caring for another pregnant relative in a similar scenario. Although this relative was not ready to begin recovery, she continued to seek care at NACC throughout her pregnancy. She made a delivery plan that included robust withdrawal management, entered the hospital at 29 weeks, and gave birth to a healthy baby that was safely placed in the care of family members. Although this relative continues to use substances, she knows that NACC remains a safe, welcoming place where she can receive care, access safer-use supplies, and find support whenever she is ready to take the next step in her journey.

Reflecting on both stories, Dr. Rabie emphasized that success looks different for every relative. Whether someone is rebuilding their life through recovery or simply knows they have a trusted place to return to when they are ready, NACC’s goal is to provide compassionate, culturally responsive care that honors each person’s journey while supporting the health and well-being of the entire community.

Dr. Rabie shared that integrating spiritual care into Western medical practices is something NACC is always actively working to strengthen. It is no easy task, as holistic care requires consideration and collaboration of the full spectrum of a person’s well-being: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. This philosophy should extend across medical, dental, behavioral health, and social support services. As a smaller health system, NACC has the flexibility to collaborate, problem-solve, make decisions, develop new policies and strategies, and identify priorities in ways that are deeply responsive to the community’s needs.

Within the clinical setting, relatives can meet with a traditional healer during appointments to receive services such as brain spotting, Reiki, bodywork, acupressure, and other traditional healing practices. When additional support is needed, the clinic also connects relatives with trusted traditional healers and community partners for services such as doula support or naming ceremonies.

NACC offers a variety of community-based programs that promote cultural connection and healing. These include a drum group, monthly cedar and full moon ceremonies, a beading group, moccasin making for new babies, and access to traditional medicines. Together, these programs reflect NACC’s commitment to honoring Native traditions while supporting the health and well-being of the community.

Dr. Rabie shared that whole-person care is essential for the Native community, so it should be a priority for the care team as well. Healing looks different for every relative, and for some, participating in a beading group, drum group, or another traditional healing practice may be the pathway that begins their healing journey. Those experiences can also open the door to other medical, behavioral health, or social supports when they are needed. Dr. Rabie emphasized that the moment a relative feels seen, respected, and valued is the moment trust begins to grow.

At NACC, harm reduction begins with meeting relatives where they are without judgment. Dr. Rabie explained that substance use is never viewed as a moral failing or a “bad” thing. Instead, the care team recognizes that chemical dependency is often rooted in deeper experiences of trauma and works in partnership with each relative to identify the goals that matter most to them. Rather than telling people what they should do, NACC honors each person’s autonomy and supports them along their own path. This approach reflects the clinic’s commitment to cultural humility and relationship-centered care.

One aspect that excites Dr. Rabie most is the continued integration of traditional healing with whole-person care. She envisions a future where healthcare extends beyond treating illness to also addressing basic needs such as food, housing, transportation, clothing, and other social supports that are essential to overall health and well-being.

Dr. Rabie shared that maintaining healthy boundaries is essential. It can be easy to feel responsible for fixing every problem, but one of the Elders she has learned from regularly reminds her that not every burden belongs to one person. Trying to carry someone else’s journey can unintentionally take away their autonomy and resilience. While moments of loss are incredibly difficult, especially when a relative dies, Dr. Rabie emphasized that healthcare professionals are there to walk alongside individuals, offering support and guidance rather than leading or carrying their journey for them.

Dr. Rabie believes meaningful change begins with self-reflection. She encourages healthcare and spiritual care leaders to examine their own implicit biases and assumptions and to approach feedback with humility rather than defensiveness. Being willing to listen, learn, and consider how others experience their care is an important step toward building trust and providing culturally responsive care.