The Covid 19 Pandemic devasted our Pacific Islander communities who suffered six times the death rate and 12 times the hospitalization rate compared to other racial groups in WA and across the country. Pacific Islanders from all regions of Oceania who spoke many different languages came together to heed the call of healing that our communities needed. In 2022 due to the work of Pacific Islander community healers, we became the most vaccinated community in Washington state.

Our Lessons

Our lessons learned were: we need to continue to resource our own Oceanian healers with the tools and knowledge to save our people. We also needed to couple our health interventions with language access, access to cultural foods, create spaces of learning, belonging and care. Oceania Healers Initiative (OHI) equips Pacific Islander trusted messengers with the tools to combat disease and early death through culturally effective interventions.

Wellness Talanoa

Our wellness talanoa are faciliated by Doctor Malik Fuimaono (Samoan) and Dr. Sundhar Raj (South Asian) who have been instrumental in ensuring medical knowledge is accessible and digestible for our Pasifika trusted messengers. Our sessions cover culturally rooted strategies to combat and prevent diseases.

Oceania Movement

Our Oceania movement sessions occur twice a month on led by former Fiji Rugby Coach Joe Savou. We are excited to offer these movement classes to improve the overall mobility of our Pasifika participants. Please put on your comfortable clothes and shoes and join us for these free sessions.

To sign up, please email us at info@oceanianorthwest.org or call us at 253.478.3240