HOULTON, Maine — The overall health and well-being of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians (HBMI) will hopefully receive a much-needed boost following Thursday’s unveiling of a new $2.5 million health center on tribal lands.
More than 100 Tribal Elders, Wabanki leaders, state and federal officials and invited guests took part in the ceremony. A moment of prayer was followed by recognition of the many visiting chiefs from other tribes. A Native American song was also sung in front of the new facility.
“Today, we gather together for this truly special celebration,” said Brenda Commander, tribal chief. “It is a day that will be marked as historical for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new health and wellness center.”
Nearly three years in the making, the new Maliseet Health and Wellness Center features 10,800 square feet of office space, conference rooms, examination rooms and a fitness center. Much of the funding for the project came from grants secured by Rosa McNally, the tribe’s grant writer.
Indian Health Services, through money created by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $1,425,000 for the project. Additional funds were received by: Indian Health Services, $100,000; HUD Indian Community Development Block Grant, $600,000; and USDA Public Facilities, $250,000.
HBMI contributed $25,000 in land, $35,000 in cash and $120,000 in equipment for the project.
“Many people in the surrounding community think these grant funds are automatically given to the tribe,” said McNally. “We have to compete for these funds on a national level.”
McNally added as part of the federal stimulus money it received, the tribe had to prove that its existing facility was more costly to replace than it was to build a new facility. HBMI was also the only tribe in New England to received funding for new construction.
“We value the partnerships we have established with these agencies and appreciate the technical assistance each has provided through the completion of this project,” Commander added.
Martha Ketcher, area director for Indian Health Services from Nashville, Tenn., spoke on the federal funds the tribe received.
“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been very beneficial to national tribes,” Ketcher said. “Many projects across our nation have benefited from these ARRA funds. One of the criteria was for the project to be ‘shovel-ready’ which this project was. We made it a priority on our list.”
Nationally, $4.6 million in ARRA funds was created, Ketcher said. Of that amount, $3.5 million was dedicated for maintenance and improvements. HBMI received nearly half of that $3.5 million for its project.
Elton Jones, director of grants management and the office of Native American Programs for Housing and Urban Development, lauded the Maliseets for their efforts.
“The Houlton Band of Maliseets has been very active in Community Development Block Grants,” Jones said. “The tribe has developed some very successful projects thanks to the dedication of its tribal council. The new facility is a beautiful building and will assist the tribe with its health and well-being for generations to come.”
Virginia Manuel, state director for USDA’s Rural Development, recognized those individuals and groups that were instrumental in seeing the project to fruition.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Brenda Commander on several projects here, and I congratulate you on your vision and leadership,” Manuel said.
Chief Commander said the effort to provide health services for the Maliseets began in 1998 when tribal leadership made the decision to contract with Houlton Regional Hospital to have one doctor on-site, in a small office located at the Health Department.
In 2001, due to privacy and confidentially issues, the Housing Authority afforded the tribe one HUD home, which was renovated and became the first off-site Maliseet Clinic.
“This pivotal point was necessary to stretch the limited contract health dollars that every year we could expect to be depleted,” Commander said. “It allowed the tribe to retain revenue by third party billing and also to target expansion of services and on-site direct care. Since that time, the staff has worked under very cramped conditions and scattered facilities.”
In July 2009, the tribe unveiled plans for its new health and wellness center, contingent upon the funding it received. The previous facility was returned to the Housing Authority and converted back into a single-family home.
HBMI provides comprehensive ambulatory health care and prevention services to tribal community members in Aroostook County for all ages. Some of those services include medical, medical records, administrative offices, nutrition services, injury prevention, data entry, medical transportation, contract health services, billing, behavioral health services, contract health representatives, elderly and youth programs and public health activities.
With the completion of the new facility, a dental program, pharmacy and telemedicine services could be added in the future.
“The purpose of this health and wellness center is to raise the health status and quality of life to the highest level, while promoting cultural values, honoring Maliseet tradition and respecting the dignity of each tribal member,” Commander added.
She said one alarming statistic she hopes this new wellness center will help to correct is the average life expectancy of its members. Currently, that average life expectancy of tribal members is only 53 years of age.
“Statistically, our members continue to suffer from high rates of diabetes and heart disease, tobacco use, post traumatic stress disorder, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chronic pain as well as substance and behavioral health issues,” she said. “This is why this facility is critical and has been a priority throughout these years. Not only for today and now, but for the far reaching effects for the well-being of our next seven generations and all of our unborn.”
Representatives from U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Rep. Mike Michaud, as well as state Rep. Joyce Fitzpatrick read letters of congratulations on the new facility.
“The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians has consistently responded to the needs of their community,” read Sharon Campbell, representative for Sen. Snowe. “The addition of the Health and Wellness Center is another example of your commitment to providing outstanding services.”
“I commend Indian Health Services, USDA Rural Development and Housing and Urban Development for their partnership in making this center and these services a reality,” read Phil Bosse, representative for Sen. Collins. “Through the combined efforts of the federal agencies and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, enhanced health care delivery is being made possible. With this new facility, tribal members can now access medical and behavioral health services and a fitness center under one roof.”
Rachel Smith, representative for Rep. Mike Michaud read, “The health and well-being of any community depends on the availability of quality health care and encompassing many crucial medical services under one roof is a tremendous asset.”