HOULTON, Maine – It was another stellar showing for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians’ Health Fair Saturday, June 6, as 262 people turned out for health screenings or to learn important health-related information.
The Maliseet Health and Wellness Center hosts a health fair each year to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles and just how important it is to receive certain screenings, maintaining a good diet and exercise and how prevention is key to healthy longevity.
“Overall, I think everything went well,” Health Center Director Michelle Barrows said. “We had an excellent turn out of both participants and vendors. We had a much higher number of folks who received screenings as well. The energy was great and I received positive feedback from everyone who attended.”
Of the 262 people who attended, 147 were Maliseet Tribal citizens; 14 were from other Tribes; and 101 were non-native participants. The fair featured a smudging ceremony, health screenings, fitness program activities, and included booths for domestic violence, education, Indian Child Welfare, Aroostook County Action Program, Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, Maliseet Behavioral Health and Wellness, the National Weather Service and the Boys and Girls Club of Maliseets.
One vendor, The Monarca Group, traveled from Colorado just to attend the event, while WHOU attended with a free live-remote broadcast. Another new vendor was the Wabanaki Public Health Food Distribution Mobile Unit, which featured a variety of fresh vegetables for people to take home.
Allison Gooding of the Aroostook County Action Program was one of the many vendors in attendance Saturday and said she was impressed with the turnout. “It was great for staff members of Community Action in Aroostook, Washington and Hancock Counties to participate in the Annual Maliseet Health Fair on Saturday. We shared information about commercial tobacco prevention, oral health, vision and hearing with hundreds of our neighbors in the Houlton area.”
This year’s event was held in memory of Amy Joseph, a beloved tribal member and longtime Health Center employee, who passed away in January after a long battle with cancer. The T-shirts that were given to guests were purple (her favorite color) and the sleeve featured a commemoration of her life.
