Arlene Krulish

Arlene Krulish (Spirit Lake Nation) believes she has a calling to end drug addiction in tribal communities. Growing up on the Spirit Lake Reservation, she saw the inadequacies of the health care system and its harmful effects on Indigenous communities. She earned a degree from the University of North Dakota School of Nursing and returned to her Spirit Lake Tribe, working for decades to improve access to and quality of health care on the reservation. Now, she is focused on helping people overcome addiction and feels ready to lead this change, drawing from both Western medicine and ceremonial practices. Through her Bush Fellowship, she plans to enroll in a nurse practitioner program with a psychiatric mental health specialization, which would make her the first nurse practitioner enrolled in the Spirit Lake Tribe. She is also excited to gain mentorship and connect with other leaders and Fellows leading similar change.

What has informed your approach to leading change in your community?

I was the youngest of 13 children and always took care of everything. Even now, when we have any kind of funeral or parties or graduations, I’m always the one that’s taking the lead and organizing. It was my role in my own family that I just carried on.

If you could time travel, would you rather visit the future or the past?

I would go back to the past and visit with my Grandma Rose. She died when I was 19, and I didn’t realize the value of her teachings. She was a big part of the Catholic Church. She did a lot of speaking, went to the Catholic Congress and was part of their board. I remember her being at the powwow and speaking, but at the time, I was young and didn’t know what it was about. I didn’t yet understand all the knowledge she had. 

What is your favorite quote or expression?

I truly believe in the expression, “Things happen for a reason.” I believe that we have a higher power and that’s what’s motivating. We are all put on this earth to help each other in some way. If you’re meeting people and part of their life, it’s not just coincidence, there’s a reason for it.