Karen provides traditional healing services in individual and group settings for un’ina, those who come to us for services. Traditional healing is the practice of health care based on traditional philosophy and the use of traditional medicines. Karen blends traditional ways with contemporary training to provide culturally relevant care and meet the needs of our un’ina.

Karen provides learning opportunities for traditional healing and promotes Indigenous ways of restoring balance within the context of health, wellness, healing, self, culture, family, and community. She works closely with Dena’ina Wellness Center staff and the Clinical Pharmacist to ensure that traditional plants used as medicine do not interact with un’ina’s medications. She works to bridge the gap between western medicine and traditional healing for our people.

Karen was born and raised in the Kenai area. She has lived, raised her family, and served in many communities throughout Alaska. Karen is Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina Athabascan and comes from a long line of Traditional Healers.

As a Traditional Healer, Karen believes in maintaining and promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being. When a person’s mind, body, spirit, and emotions are each healthy, a person feels balanced. These four elements are intimately connected and must heal together.

Dena’ina traditional values and knowledge are the core of our health, well-being, identity, culture, language, heritage, and the livelihood of our people. This must be protected and passed down from one generation to the next; it is the essence of our Indigenous identity.