Saint Michael, ND — 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.
