Mission

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have very high incidence rates for specific cancers and poor survival rates for most cancers. The focus of SOE is to increase community-based participatory research opportunities addressing culturally relevant education, training, and research. The long-term goal is to reduce cancer health disparities by maintaining and expanding tribal community networks and coalitions established by SOE.

Aim 1: Maintain and expand existent community-based networks.

Aim 2: Provide infrastructure to support, expand and evaluate tribal community-based participatory research.

Aim 3: Improve access to and utilization of culturally competent cancer interventions using community-based participatory research methods.

Aim 4: Expand training opportunities to increase the number of researchers and communities competent at implementing community-based participatory studies.

Aim 5: Develop, implement and evaluate a strategic plan for long-term maintenance and expansion of Spirit of EAGLES CBPR studies and projects.

Defining E.A.G.L.E.S.

The Spirit of EAGLES is the name we have given our American Indian/Alaska Native Leadership Initiative on Cancer. EAGLES refers to the following:

E- Education
Developing, implementing, and assessing cancer education among AI/AN community members and their health care providers.

A- Advocacy
Improve Native community channels to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) so that research can be specifically focused on issues that affect native people.

G- Grants
To increase community awareness and understanding of cancer by providing competitive grant funding ($10,000-$20,000) for community based cancer projects.

L- Leadership
Building infrastructure to support a nationwide AI/AN initiative and increasing the number of AI/AN researchers in cancer control activities in AI/AN communities.

E- Elders
Increasing the number of AI/AN patients in clinical trials to improve prevention methods, screening, treatment, and supportive care.

S- Scholarships
Hampton Scholars Program - Funding to students who are dedicated to the use of knowledge to alleviate suffering and promote good health for all people and to assist and sustain the highest possible service to the health issues and conditions of Native peoples.

S- Survivors
Survivors within the AI/AN community provide us with hope that individuals are living years beyond the diagnosis. Their stories are a powerful means of educating others about the continuum of supportive care needed to enhance quality of life affected by cancer.