Jordan P Lewis P Lewis
Jordan "Angun" Lewis is Aleut/Sugpiaq and his family is from the Native Village of Naknek, AK and Cannon Beach, OR. He is the Director of Research for the Center for One Health Research at the College of Indigenous Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He holds a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from UAF, an MSW from Washington University in St. Louis, and a BSW from UAF, and is a certified professional gerontologist. Trained as a cross-cultural community psychologist and gerontologist, Jordan has worked with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities to identify characteristics that enable Alaska Native Elders to age successfully, or age in a good way, and become role models for their families and communities. Using the lessons and experiences of AIAN Elders, Jordan’s research develops generative-based approaches to improve the health of all generations.
Jordan’s research agenda has made significant contributions to the field with discussions on culture-specific approaches to successful aging, including the development of a model of Alaska Native successful aging, a theory of AN healthy aging, and the concept of Indigenous cultural generativity. His research has identified indigenous cultural generativity as a critical ingredient to successful aging, which has important implications for the wellbeing of AI/AN people, including those with ADRD, their caregivers, and family and community members.
Phone: 907-474-6076
Address: 1736 Tanana Loop
427 Brooks Building
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775
Jordan’s research agenda has made significant contributions to the field with discussions on culture-specific approaches to successful aging, including the development of a model of Alaska Native successful aging, a theory of AN healthy aging, and the concept of Indigenous cultural generativity. His research has identified indigenous cultural generativity as a critical ingredient to successful aging, which has important implications for the wellbeing of AI/AN people, including those with ADRD, their caregivers, and family and community members.
Phone: 907-474-6076
Address: 1736 Tanana Loop
427 Brooks Building
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775
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Papers by Jordan P Lewis P Lewis
used to research, understand, and explain successful aging among diverse populations. With an increasingly heterogeneous older adult population nationwide, scholars have been exploring Indigenous understandings of successful aging. To add to the accumulation of knowledge of diverse Alaska Native populations, this study
involved semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 Unangan Elders from the
Aleutian and Pribilof Islands. This community-based participatory research study
explores the aging experiences and conceptualization of successful aging of these
Elders from this remote and culturally distinct region of Alaska. Thematic analysis
was employed to identify themes related to successful aging within this specific
region, which supported our previous four themes, or characteristics, of Alaska
Native successful aging: physical health, social support and emotional well-being,
generativity as a traditional way of life, and community engagement and Indigenous
cultural generativity. Each of these themes or characteristics of Eldership is intertwined
and together support successful aging within two remote communities in the
Bering Sea. The findings of this study illuminate how Alaska Native Elders can live
in geographically diverse regions of the State, yet the values and teachings they possess on successful aging possess the same cultural values and teachings. This study highlighted two new emerging constructs that influence Alaska Native Elders’ successful aging based on geographical location. Findings contribute to the thematic
saturation of the four main successful aging domains while outlining the importance
of future research to conduct deeper investigations into the role of environment and
history on Elders’ perceptions and understanding of aging.
used to research, understand, and explain successful aging among diverse populations. With an increasingly heterogeneous older adult population nationwide, scholars have been exploring Indigenous understandings of successful aging. To add to the accumulation of knowledge of diverse Alaska Native populations, this study
involved semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 Unangan Elders from the
Aleutian and Pribilof Islands. This community-based participatory research study
explores the aging experiences and conceptualization of successful aging of these
Elders from this remote and culturally distinct region of Alaska. Thematic analysis
was employed to identify themes related to successful aging within this specific
region, which supported our previous four themes, or characteristics, of Alaska
Native successful aging: physical health, social support and emotional well-being,
generativity as a traditional way of life, and community engagement and Indigenous
cultural generativity. Each of these themes or characteristics of Eldership is intertwined
and together support successful aging within two remote communities in the
Bering Sea. The findings of this study illuminate how Alaska Native Elders can live
in geographically diverse regions of the State, yet the values and teachings they possess on successful aging possess the same cultural values and teachings. This study highlighted two new emerging constructs that influence Alaska Native Elders’ successful aging based on geographical location. Findings contribute to the thematic
saturation of the four main successful aging domains while outlining the importance
of future research to conduct deeper investigations into the role of environment and
history on Elders’ perceptions and understanding of aging.