August 2024
NEW
SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AT HEAD
START & CHILD CARE
REDDING RANCHERIA HEAD START
Our Head Start & Child Care had the pleasure of welcoming 51 new and returning students to our Back to School Day on August 12 and 13th! Parents and students were able to meet school staff, tour their classrooms and they had a chance to play on our nature-inspired playground. It was wonderful to meet new faces and see old friends. Classes started back up on August 14. For some of our newest learners, this was their first time in a school setting and for that, we could not be more proud that they chose the Redding Rancheria to share in their education journey. We are so excited classes have started back up. We have tons of fun activities, lessons, and events planned for the year that will make the 2024-25 school year the best one yet!
2023 DISCOVERY HEALTH FAIR
REDDING RANCHERIA TRIBAL HEALTH SYSTEM
On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, the Redding Rancheria hosted their Annual Discover Health Fair. The WinRiver Resort & Casino Events Center and Redding Rancheria Community Center were full with nearly 100 health and wellness vendors, arts and craft dealers, and food artisans. Free health screenings and resources were provided to the residents of Shasta County by the staff of the Redding Rancheria Tribal Health System, ranging from diabetes pre-screens, blood pressure readings, body fat analysis and more. Vitalant was on-site collecting lifesaving blood donations and achieved their goal for the blood drive. Thank you to all that donated.
Guests enjoyed entertainment from Native American dancers, KIXE Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Elmo, as well as Disney Princess characters and Deadpool. The Tribal Health System hosted its second annual “DunkA-Doc” booth, providing fair-goers the opportunity to dunk medical providers in a water tank for charity. Response to the booth was overwhelmingly positive. All proceeds benefited our local Environmental Camp.
With over 400 people receiving health screenings and hundreds more who came to discover new health trends and information, the 2024 Discover Health Fair was a huge success.
FAMILY FIT EVENT – LAKE DAY FUN
REDDING RANCHERIA
We kicked off August in the best way possible! We gathered at the beautiful Whiskeytown Lake for a fun-filled evening with our work family. Employees and their families enjoyed the serene waters, taking to the lake in kayaks, and indulging in delicious snacks by the shore. It was a perfect opportunity to unwind, connect, and soak up the natural beauty of our surroundings. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this memorable event!
CHAIRMAN JACK POTTER JR. AT NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION ACT HEARING IN SACRAMENTO REDDING RANCHERIA
On August 6, Jack Potter Jr., the chairman of Redding Rancheria Tribal Council, spoke at a Native American Graves and Repatriation Act news conference on August 6, 2024. Chairman Potter is one of the many tribal leaders in California who have worked to repatriate ancestors in university collections.
California universities, under scrutiny for non-compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), have pledged to return thousands of Native American ancestors and belongings. Despite progress, challenges remain, such as inadequate storage and funding.
Chairman Potter emphasized the urgent need for repatriation, criticizing universities for their slow response and lack of cultural sensitivity. Tribal leaders, along with state representatives, demand accountability and expedited efforts to meet NAGPRA requirements, highlighting the ongoing struggle for cultural justice and human rights.
Chairman Potter expressed frustration over the financial and bureaucratic hurdles faced by tribes, emphasizing the deep cultural and emotional significance of repatriating ancestors. He called on universities to act with empathy and urgency, stressing that returning the remains and cultural items should not be delayed any longer.
Chairman Potter
REDDING RANCHERIA DONATES TO MERCY FOUNDATION NORTH TO SUPPORT NEW CANCER FACILITY
REDDING RANCHERIA
Redding Rancheria is proud to announce a generous donation of $100,000 to Mercy Foundation North’s Regional Cancer Center. This substantial contribution is a testament to Redding Rancheria’s commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of the local community.
The Regional Cancer Center will be built near the intersection of Cypress and Hartnell. The state-ofthe-art facility is expected to open its doors in Spring 2026. The new center will consolidate various cancer treatment services under one roof, including chemotherapy, radiation treatments, physician appointments, lab draws, imaging scans, and family support services. This comprehensive approach will eliminate the need for patients to travel to multiple locations, providing a healing environment by the river and streamlining their care.
“Supporting the health of our community is at the heart of Redding Rancheria’s mission,” said Tracy Edwards, CEO of Redding Rancheria. “We believe that the Regional Cancer Center will provide essential, centralized care for cancer patients and their families, greatly improving their treatment experience and outcomes. We are honored to contribute to such a vital project and we are grateful for the much needed services that Mercy will be able to provide for our community.”
UNITED WAY HOSTS BOSS OF THE TOSS
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT – WRRC CHAMPIONS!
WIN-RIVER RESORT & CASINO
It was a brisk and cool day, as the Shasta Fair Grounds came alive with bean bag slingers and flingers for the 2024 United Way Boss of the Toss. Win-River Resort & Casino is proud to be a “CORN”ADO Sponsor for the Boss of the Toss. We are proud to support the United Way because we are both committed to helping and serving our community. We both like to have fun with purpose! We are appreciative of the work the United Way does to serve those in need.
We don’t want to toot our own horn and our very own Assistant General Manager of Win-River Resort & Casino and his team took home FIRST PLACE! Congrats TEAM! Here is to next year!
AUGUST ALL STAFF 2024 REDDING RANCHERIA
On Wednesday, August 28th, our team gathered for the bi-annual All Staff Meeting—an event we look forward to every April and August. This event was organized by our Human Resources department, and was jam-packed with essential trainings, updates, and, of course, a whole lot of fun! Our staff had the opportunity to explore one of our newest benefits: Nivati, a holistic mental health program designed to support every aspect of employee well-being. We also took a deep dive into financial wellness with insights from BOK Financial, our 401(k) record-keeper.
Additionally, we received valuable updates from our Wellness, Public Relations, and Organizational Communications departments. The meeting concluded on a high note with the announcement of our August Employee of the Month, followed by a lively All Staff Raffle.
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2024
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Miranda Edwards Favorite
Sr. Director of Organizational Communications
Email: Miranda.edwards@reddingrancheria-nsn.gov
Maria Orozco
Sr. Director of Public Relations
Email: Maria.orozco@reddingrancheria-nsn.gov
Office: 530-242-4562 Office: 530-242-4516 Cell: 530-227-7718
Redding Rancheria Tribal Health Opens Center for Advanced Care
Redding, Calif.-Rancheria is delighted to announce the grand opening of its highly anticipated Center for Advanced Care, providing access to specialty care services for Native Americans and underserved communities in the region. The state-of-the-art facility will offer a wide range of specialized medical services, including dermatology, neurology, cardiology, podiatry, psychiatry and endocrinology. Additional specialty care services are set to come online in the upcoming months, further expanding access to comprehensive healthcare for all.
This new Center for Advanced Care marks a significant milestone in Redding Rancheria's commitment to promoting the health and well-being of the community. By enhancing access to specialized medical services, we aim to improve health outcomes and longevity for Native Americans and underserved populations. We are dedicated to providing culturally sensitive care that meets the unique needs of our community, and we look forward to serving and supporting individuals in their healthcare journey.
The facility is equipped with the latest medical technology and staffed by highly trained healthcare professionals, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care. “We are excited to open the Center for Advanced Care as a beacon of hope and healing for our community,” said Glen Hayward, Executive Director of Redding Rancheria Tribal Health Systems. “Our goal is to provide exceptional healthcare that is accessible to all, while honoring the cultural values and traditions of our people.”
Glen Hayward, Executive Director of Redding Rancheria Health Services www.rrths.org
LIFE HAPPENS VENDING MACHINES AT RRTHS CAMPUSES
REDDING RANCHERIA TRIBAL HEALTH SYSTEM
The Redding Rancheria Tribal Health System is happy to announce a new convenience for our patients and community. The Recovery Program at Churn Creek has sponsored two new “Life Happens” vending machines, one for Churn Creek HealthCare, and one for the Tribal Health Clinic at Liberty Street (coming soon).
The vending machine at Churn Creek is stocked and open to access; it includes free harm reduction and health hygiene items such as Narcan, xylazine test strips, fentanyl test strips, sharps containers, as well as a few types of hygiene and dental kits. Harm Reduction helps individuals and the community connect to resources they need and tools to stay safe. Harm reduction has proven to decrease the spread of disease and the use of drugs by linking individuals to appropriate healthcare without the fear of judgment. Have questions about xylazine or fentanyl in our community? Our Recovery Program at Churn Creek Wellness and Dental Center is open to questions, referrals, and new patient appointments five days a week.
The Liberty Clinic vending machine will also include other essential items such as diapers, protein shakes, baby food and more. All of these items will be free of charge in order to support the community and removing barriers for those in need. The Redding Rancheria is happy to promote health and well-being for all, for more information visit www.RRTHS.org.
CEO TRACY EDWARDS AND COO STACEY CARMAN PRESENT AT WEWIN 2024
Redding Rancheria’s Chief Executive Officer Tracy Edwards and Chief Operating Officer Stacey Carman had the honor of presenting at the Women Empowering Women for Indigenous Nations (WEWIN) National Conference, held at the Mystic Lake Casino in Minnesota. This event highlights the vital role of strong women in leadership, particularly within indigenous communities, and serves as a platform to inspire and empower future leaders.
Tracy and Stacey’s presentation focused on the theme of “Strong Women in Leadership and Wellness.” Drawing from their extensive experience with the Redding Rancheria, they shared valuable insights into the importance of Native women leaders to foster and create a diverse and inclusive work environment. They provided examples of how the Redding Rancheria actively supports this mission through wellness initiatives and enhancements to the work environment that benefit all employees. Their presentation emphasized the power of wellness and leadership in driving positive change and creating a supportive and thriving workplace for everyone.
WELCOME TO THE TEAM JULIE EAKER!
REDDING RANCHERIA TRIBAL HEALTH SYSTEM
Redding Rancheria’s Trinity Health Center is pleased to welcome Julie Eaker, PA-C. Julie is a board certified Physician Assistant specializing in family medicine. She graduated from San Joaquin Valley College as the class Salutatorian in August 2014. Julie also has extensive background in emergency medicine as a paramedic here in Trinity County and a Flight Paramedic in Shasta County on both fixed wing and rotor wing aircraft.
Julie is passionate about being a part of your health care team, working together with you to achieve your healthcare goals. Julie has been a trinity county resident for 49 years, most of her life. She understands the unique challenges facing us in rural and frontier medicine.
Besides working in medicine, Julie loves animals. She has 2 horses, 3 dogs, 7 cats and 46 chickens. She also loves to make quilts.
Welcome Julie Eaker, PA-C
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Sheena Wiegand
August 2024
Please help us congratulate Sheena Wiegand for being named Employee of the Month for August 2024! Sheena received this award for
the following reasons: She consistently jumps in to help with whatever needs to be completed, no matter how big or small. Sheena is always looking for new ways to assist departments with her grant research. She is also eager to learn new things and loves volunteering. Sheena takes a team approach, encouraging others to participate in all activities. She is very dedicated, with a kind and caring nature that is truly an asset to the Finance department and the entire Redding Rancheria team. Thank you, Sheena, for being an example of dedication and focus! We appreciate your spirit and are thankful you are a part of the tribe. Well done, Sheena!!!
Congratulations Sheena!!
