On the Crow Reservation in Montana, a free program called Báa nnilah is changing how Indigenous elders manage their health. And the secret ingredient is not a new medication or a fancy clinic. It is community.
The name Báa nnilah translates to “advice we receive from others”, love and nurturing shared through story. That spirit is woven into every part of the program.
A Program Built From the Inside Out
Báa nnilah was created by Messengers for Health, an Indigenous non-profit founded in 1996 through a partnership between Apsáalooke community members and Montana State University. The organization started by training community women to promote cancer screenings. It has since grown to serve both Crow men and women living with conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Executive Director Alma McCormick, a member of the Crow Nation, described what makes the program different from the start.
“The greatest benefit was just to see that people knew they weren’t alone. We were able to establish a setting that was so comfortable, so safe, so relational, so culturally appropriate in bringing people together.”
McCormick put it simply: few programs truly address chronic conditions among Indigenous people. Messengers for Health built this one “by us, for us”, designed with a deep understanding of why community members may be guarded.
Seven Gatherings, One Circle
The program runs across seven gatherings, each with a shared meal. Each session begins and ends with prayer, honoring the spirituality that is central to Crow identity.
Participants learn about nutrition, physical activity, and emotional well-being through hands-on activities. Program staff and fellow participants offer encouragement every step of the way.
The language of the program is culturally rooted, too. Instead of “goal setting,” participants use the concept of “counting coup”, a term tied to Crow tradition and the ways a person can gain something of value. Participants identify their own “feathers,” or personal achievements they want to reach, often alongside a supportive partner. That peer partnership builds motivation and keeps people going between sessions.
Program Manager Christiane used visual tools to make health information stick. She brought out sugar cubes to show participants how much sugar was hiding in some of their favorite drinks. One participant now proudly calls their healthier drink choice “my Báa nnilah drink” after giving up soda to better manage their health.
Real Changes in Real Lives
Participants reported real, meaningful shifts in their health and daily lives. Among the changes they shared:
- Improved relationships with their health care providers
- A better understanding of their medications and greater consistency in taking them
- More physical activity
- Healthier eating and less consumption of sugary drinks
One participant reported stopping some medications under a doctor’s guidance because their health had improved. Another described resolving many health problems after losing 50 pounds with support from family.
Mental health improved, too. As one participant put it directly: “This program brought me out of my depression.”
These results also matter for health care costs. Many Apsáalooke community members travel long distances to reach care. Fewer complications and less need for emergency visits can make a real difference.
Healing Through Connection
McCormick spoke openly about grief in the community, how many families face one loss after another without time to heal. She described how coming together makes healing possible. Báa nnilah has helped revive traditional Crow cultural practices, encouraging a return to visiting, building connections, and deeply knowing one another.
“We don’t take things apart,” McCormick said. “We keep things whole.”
Participants echoed that feeling in their own words:
“This program was the catalyst for so many positive things in my life. I have since built an extended therapy and health community around me that I am involved in on a daily basis.”
“I have more confidence in myself. It helps to know someone who is like me.”
“I feel more confident talking with my doctor.”
That confidence, the kind that comes from being seen, heard, and supported by people who truly understand your life may be the most lasting medicine of all.
