Redding Rancheria News
March 2025
Soaring Forward: Redding Rancheria’s Strategic Planning for the Future
For the fourth time in Redding Rancheria history, something truly powerful took place—a gathering of minds, hearts, and visionaries. Select tribal members, community leaders, and staff from each entity came together, united by a shared mission of collaboration and progress.
This was not just a meeting. It was a launchpad for big dreams! With over 150 passionate individuals in attendance, the energy in the room was electric. Ideas sparked like wildfire, growing from simple concepts into detailed, strategic plans. No dream was too big, no goal too far-fetched. This was about finding real ways to turn aspirations into action.
Like geese flying in formation, we soar farther when we work together. Each person in the room played a role, contributing their knowledge, creativity, and dedication to shape the future of our community. With this level of support, unity, and forward-thinking strategy, we can rest assured that the seventh generation will thrive.
Here is to collaboration. Here is to vision. Here is to the future and soaring together!
The Soaring Forward Strategic Plan Community Group!
Gods, Goddesses, and Togas: The Redding Rancheria Community Fund Dinner
Zeus, Hades, and all the mighty Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology descended upon the Events Center at Win-River Resort & Casino for an Annual Night to Remember at the Redding Rancheria Community Fund Dinner! The air buzzed with excitement as 50 tables filled with smiling faces, overflowing plates, and glasses raised in celebration. The incredible Linda Bott and her powerhouse band set the stage on fire with electrifying music, making the night truly unforgettable!
With hearts full of gratitude, the evening kicked off with a blessing from Chairman Jack Potter, setting the tone for a night of community, generosity, and impact. This year, Redding Rancheria proudly awarded $232,216 in grant funds to 71 local nonprofits, proving that when we come together, our collective power can move mountains!
The generosity did not stop there! In the true spirit of collaboration and commitment to change, a special $10,000 grant was awarded to one outstanding organization: Wings of Angels! Their unwavering dedication to uplifting those in need inspires us all, and we are honored to stand beside them in their mission.
There are needs and gaps in every community, and when we unite behind a common vision, nothing can break our spirit. We are stronger together, and this night was a powerful testament to what we can accomplish when we lift each other up.
Here is to another year of giving, growing, and making a difference!
Linda Bott Rocking Like an Egyptian!!!
Posiedon (Individual Costume Winner) and Zeus.
COO, Stacey Carman, Chairman Jack Potter, & CEO, Tracy Edwards.
Best Group Costume WinnersAnderson Chamber
The Winner is... Wings of Angels!!!
Charcuterie Fit for a Kingdom!
Redding Rancheria Helps Recognize Local Leaders at Anderson Chamber Awards Dinner
On Saturday, March 22, the Redding Rancheria attended the Anderson Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner. Redding Rancheria Tribal Chairman, Jack Potter helped recognize the lucky and hardworking award recipients on behalf of the Tribal Council and Redding Rancheria. We are proud to celebrate local businesses and local leaders because their efforts contribute to improving our home and ensuring the future is bright for future generations to come.
Thank you Anderson Chamber of Commerce for all that you do and thank you to all of those that support the Chamber. Together is the best way forward.
2025 Award Recipients
Business of the Year – Anderson Grocery Outlet
Philanthropy Award – Anderson Family Fitness
Distinguished Service Award - Michelle Nystrom Customer Service Award – Mulligans Bar & Restaurant
Business of the Year AwardAnderson Grocery Outlet
Philanthropy AwardAnderson Family Fitness
Distinguished Service AwardMichelle Nystrom
Customer Service AwardMulligans Bar & Restaurant
Redding Rancheria International Women’s Day
Redding Rancheria proudly celebrates the incredible women in our community every day, with a special emphasis on International Women’s Day. This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, highlighted the urgent need for swift and decisive steps toward gender equality. The theme called for breaking down systemic barriers and biases that women face in both personal and professional spheres.
To mark the occasion, Redding Rancheria took its celebration to the next level by securing a special feature in Enjoy magazine’s March issue. This spread highlights local businesses and the inspiring women in leadership who make a difference in our community.
Additionally, all women at Redding Rancheria had the opportunity to honor the day by wearing custom-made shirts to work on March 6, 2025 in celebration of the International Women’s holiday on March 8.
Through these initiatives, Redding Rancheria continues to celebrate, empower, and uplift the women within its community—ensuring their contributions are recognized and their voices heard.
REDDING RANCHERIA HEAD START & CHILD CARE
Start Your Engines, the Head Start 500 Returns
The Redding Rancheria Head Start & Child Care students had a busy month in March preparing for the annual Head Start 500, an event where students get to build a cardboard car and display their creativity. To gear up for the big race, we invited a special guest from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Department to visit our campus. Officer Jason Morton spoke with all of our children about how to be safe around cars and what to do in the case of an emergency. We appreciate the care and knowledge that he shared with us in the classroom!
On March 20th, the kids appeared revved up and ready to go for our Head Start 500! Racing fans were invited to the Win River Event Center to watch our students show off their lightning-fast running skills and boxcars. There was cheering, laughing, and even a few speed bumps along the way. The best part of this event? Seeing the imagination of our families come to life. We witnessed dinosaurs, superheroes, princesses, and more!
To culminate the magic of this event, we staged a “Drive-In Movie” celebration with all of our students at the Redding Rancheria Community Center. The children witnessed Lightning McQueen live out his racing dreams on the big screen while relaxing with a bucket of popcorn. Our staff hopes this event inspires others to get in touch with their fun side and create silly moments to look back on in the future!
REDDING RANCHERIA HEAD START & CHILD CARE
Start Your Engines, the Head Start 500 Returns
The Pit Crews Supporting Their Racers
Chairman Jack Potter Encouraging the Racers to GO FAST!!!
The Crowd Going Crazy for These Intense Races!
Head Start Staff Ready to ROLL!
Parking Lot is FULL of Hot Rods!
Leadership Redding Recognizes Redding Rancheria CEO, Tracy Edwards
It is with immense pride, admiration, and gratitude that we come together tonight to celebrate an extraordinary leader, a dedicated advocate, and a true pillar of our community—the recipient of this year’s Leadership Redding Alumni Award, Tracy Edwards!
Tracy is Redding through and through—a proud Redding native and a Redding Rancheria Tribal member who has devoted her life to uplifting those around her. After earning her B.A. in Political Science from UCLA and her Juris Doctorate from UC Davis, she made the choice to return home—to raise her family, to serve her Tribe, and to give back to the community that shaped her.
Since 1996, Tracy has led with strength, wisdom, and heart. First as Tribal Attorney and, since 2004, as Chief Executive Officer of Redding Rancheria, she has been a steadfast advocate for her people and a bridge between communities. Her leadership has not only fostered a deeper understanding of the Tribe’s history and future but has also strengthened the ties that connect us all.
Beyond her work with the Tribe, Tracy’s dedication to service knows no bounds. She has served on countless boards, from the Pacheco School Board and the Youth Violence Prevention Council to the Chamber of Commerce and the Shasta Regional Community Foundation. She has shaped policies, built partnerships, and championed causes that make Redding a better place for everyone.
What truly sets Tracy apart is her unwavering commitment to lifting others up. Whether she’s leading as a CEO, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, or a mentor, Tracy works tirelessly—often behind the scenes—to make a lasting impact. Her heart for this community is evident in everything she does.
One of her most enduring contributions to Leadership Redding is the creation of the Heritage Program, ensuring future leaders gain a profound understanding of the Redding Rancheria’s history, culture, and governance. Through her efforts, generations of leaders now appreciate the deep roots and enduring sovereignty of the Tribe.
Tracy is not just a leader; she is a force of nature. She has been a champion for the recognition of Redding Rancheria as a Sovereign Nation, engaging with government leaders to ensure Indigenous voices are heard, respected, and included in decisionmaking.
Her work, her vision, and her passion continue to inspire us all.
Tonight, we do more than recognize Tracy’s achievements—we honor her unwavering dedication to making Redding a place of inclusion, understanding, and opportunity for all.
So, please join me in welcoming and congratulating the extraordinary Tracy Edwards.
Congratulations Tracy!!!
Tracy Edwards with Leadership Redding Chairperson, Amy Morin
Tracy Edwards, CEO of The Redding Rancheria
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: 3/17/2025
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Miranda Edwards Favorite
Sr Director of Organizational Communications
Email: Miranda.edwards@reddingrancheria-nsn.gov
Office: 530-242-4562
Maria Orozco
Sr Director of Public Relations
Email: Maria.orozco@reddingrancheria-nsn.gov
Office: 530-242-4516
A New Dawn in Healing: Groundbreaking Ceremony for 185,000 Sq. Ft. Health & Wellness Campus
March 17 marks a historic moment as Redding Rancheria breaks ground on a revolutionary 185,000-square-foot Health & Wellness Campus. It is an innovative space where the sacred knowledge of our ancestors meets cutting-edge science and state-of-the-art technology.
This campus will serve as a beacon of wellness, blending Indigenous knowledge with contemporary research to provide a holistic approach to health one that nurtures the whole person rather than merely treating symptoms.
“In our communities, healing has always been sacred,” said Glen Hayward, Executive Director. “This campus is a testament to the strength and resilience of our people. We are not just building a medical center—we are reclaiming a way of life.”
Tracy Edwards, CEO, says, “This project has been in the Tribe’s strategic plan for thirty years. We are thankful for all the people who made this happen, including many who are no longer with us.”
The Health & Wellness Campus will feature:
Traditional Healing Spaces – Honoring the power of ceremonies, plant medicines, and Indigenous healing modalities.
Preventive & Integrative Care – Focused on lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and disease prevention strategies that align with ancestral wisdom.
Advanced Medical Technology – Bringing state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment to complement traditional approaches.
The groundbreaking ceremony is not just about turning soil it is about turning the tide on healthcare disparities, about reclaiming our birthright of wellness, and about forging a future where our children and grandchildren will once again know the strength of a people who thrived through connection, balance, and respect for the natural world.
Tribal Health Village Groundbreaking Ceremony
Tamra Olson, CFO, Tracy Edwards, CEO, and Stacey Carman, COO, Breaking Ground!
Redding Rancheria Tribal Council Breaking Ground!
Tradiaitonal Drum Circle to Celebrate a Huge Accomplishment!
Tribal Council Member Miranda Edwards Favorite Showing Off Her Commemorative Shovel.
Executive Director of Health Services, Glen Hayward and Director of Business Development, Don Blair Reveling in their Accomplishments!
SHASTA COUNTY
County Administrative Office 1450 Court Street, Redding, CA
PRESS RELEASE
Media Contact:
David Maung | Public Information Officer
Shasta County dmaung@shastacounty.gov 530-782-3558
Miranda Edwards Favorite | Director of Organizational Communications
Miranda.edwards@reddingrancheria-nsn.gov 530-242-4562
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2025
Shasta County to Accept Donation from Redding Rancheria for Veterans Hall and VSO Renovation
Shasta County, CA – At its upcoming meeting on March 18, 2025, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors will formally accept a generous donation from the Redding Rancheria to support muchneeded improvements to the County’s new Veterans Services Office (VSO). The Redding Rancheria is contributing $408,000 towards the roof replacement of the Veterans Hall at 1605 Yuba Street, and an additional $100,000 to assist with renovations of the new VSO building to be located at 1840 Shasta Street, ensuring the facility is a welcoming and functional space for local veterans.
This donation highlights the Tribe’s ongoing commitment to honoring and supporting veterans in the community. Leon Benner, a Redding Rancheria Tribal Council Member, Tribal Elder, and Army (68-70) Veteran, has been instrumental in this effort, advocating for the project as part of the Tribe’s dedication to those who have served. Benner says, “The Veterans Hall is an essential space for veterans and the broader community. This donation will provide lasting improvements that ensures the building is reliable for years to come. We’re proud to support a facility that serves the many veterans in Shasta County.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Redding Rancheria for their generosity and their steadfast support of veterans in Shasta County,” said Veterans Services Officer, Troy Payne. “This donation will help us make significant improvements to our facility, ensuring that those who served our country receive the resources and assistance they deserve in a space that reflects our gratitude for their service.”
The Shasta County Veterans Services Office helps veterans and their families by helping them access the benefits and services they have earned through their military service. The office offers guidance on VA benefits, disability compensation, pensions, healthcare enrollment, education assistance, and survivor benefits. By advocating for veterans and connecting them with local, state, and federal resources, the VSO plays a crucial role in ensuring veterans receive the support they need to thrive in civilian life.
A formal check presentation at the current Shasta County Veterans Services Office is planned for Thursday, April 24, 2025, 1pm, where representatives from Shasta County and the Redding Rancheria will come together to celebrate this important investment in the veteran community. The current VSO is located at 1855 Shasta Street, Redding. ###
Redding Rancheria Tribal Council Giving Thier Donation to the Veterans of Shasta County.
Council Member and Army Veteran, Leon Benner accepts thanks from the County Board of Supervisors
Employee Of The Month
Redding Rancheria is proud to present the March Employee of the Month to Phil Meier. Phil is caring and compassionate. Phil makes everyone feel at ease, which is crucial for working in the HR department. Mr. Meier has been a steady element during staffing shortages within the HR department. He is dependable and is willing to fill in any gaps during this time. Over the last several months, Phil has taken it upon himself to redo several of our forms and emails. He is always willing to help fix any issues with formatting or emails. We applaud your efforts to support and assist with whatever the task. Redding Rancheria is honored to have you on the team. Congratulations Phil Meier.
