
Three new traditional structures welcome visitors to UIHS’ Potawot Health Village. These three buildings—a sweat house, a family house, and a dance house—form a small village alongside the trail.
Before the structures were constructed, leaders from UIHS convened a cultural advisory committee in early 2022 that later became the Kuwa’ workgroup. The group met on Saturdays and these meetings helped facilitate conversations about decisions that would need to be made on the village, including what the structures would look like, where they would be placed, and how they would be built.
The Kuwa’ workgroup typically averaged around 20 people between community members who held cultural knowledge and expertise and various UIHS staff and board members. The Kuwa’ workgroup continued to meet throughout 2024 and will have a final meeting to discuss the finalization of the village. The work crew members finished their portion of the village construction project in August, but a few modifications remain.

The dance pit at little village

“There is no doubt in my mind that once these buildings in our small village are fully utilized, whether it be the men’s sweat house or the family house for a women’s steam, they will aid in community healing,” says Rob England, Tribal Public Health Director.
In 2021 UIHS Substance Use Disorder Counselor, Roberta Lara, was key to moving the idea for the little village at Potawot Health Village forward. Lara wondered, “Why don’t we have our own local Tribal structures here at UIHS?”
Research into this question led staff to discover that it was always in the plan to have a traditional village at Potawot Health Village. In fact, current board member, Paula Tripp-Allen, had completed a feasibility study twenty years ago and had laid the groundwork for current staff members to pick up the work that she had started.
People who have been involved with the new village have started to share experiences with this project in various settings. Earlier this year, Rob England, Amanda Colegrove, Roberta Lara, and Daniel “Turtle” Quinn provided a workshop at the National Indian Health Board in Rapid City, South Dakota and most recently Roberta Lara, Matt Hinshaw, Darrell “Joe” Sherman, Josh “Bear” White, Derrick Norris, and Dr. Walt Lara, Sr shared out our story at the CRIHB Traditional Indian Health gathering in Jackson.
There are so many people to thank for their involvement over the last three years, but we would like to acknowledge Dr. Walt Lara, Sr for his daily oversight about traditional building methods and the volunteers who devoted their labor. We invite everyone to come by to see our latest addition on their next trip to Potawot Health Village.