Gnaajiwi Anderson

Gnaajiwi Anderson is an enrolled citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and an incoming Master of Science in Public Health student in the Social and Behavioral Interventions program offered by the Department of International Health. She also earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Community and Global Public Health at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. 

Gnaajiwi’s research centers on examining the prevalence of mental health issues and the lack of accessible services due to structural and cultural barriers across rural Tribal communities. Gnaajiwi has worked across various research projects at the University of Michigan and as an intern led by the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board and funded by the Centers for Disease Control, where she contributed to qualitative and community-oriented initiatives for Anishnaabe youth through research. Outside academia, Gnaajiwi finds that her own Tribal community has brought her hope and fuels her passion to continue working toward equitable healthcare for future communities. She defines her passion and future projects in this field to focus on uplifting future generations through integrating culture as a prevention in Tribal youth mental health rates.