“We’re going to do it our way now.”

For generations, dental care at Swinomish meant federal facilities and outcomes that fell far short of what the community deserved. Oral health was the area of greatest disparity, with three times the decay rate of the general population.

Swinomish Indian Tribal Community was the 27th Tribal Nation to enter Self-Governance, and the Tribe set out to change what dental care looked like at home. After learning from Alaska’s Dental Health Aide Therapist program, Chairman Brian Cladoosby led an effort to bring DHAT to Swinomish. When the state of Washington blocked the path, Swinomish established its own dental licensing board, the first of its kind, with a cultural competency requirement no state regulator had ever included. Today, Swinomish partners with Skagit Valley College on the first DHAT training program in the lower 48 states, and Swinomish citizens are returning home as the providers their community deserve.

Featuring Swinomish leadership and dental therapists Asiah and Kalona.