I hope this letter finds you well. As we reflect on the past year, I am filled with immense gratitude for your unwavering support of Two Feathers Native American Family Services and our mission to empower and uplift the Native youth and families in our community. The year 2023 has been marked by significant achievements and milestones, all made possible through the generosity and dedication of supporters like you. Your contributions have enabled us to continue providing vital mental health and wellness-based services to those who need it most. Throughout 2023, we continued to grow and innovate. We are now a staff of 43 employees and 50+ part time youth employees, with strong collaborations with more than twelve schools in Humboldt County.
Throughout the year, we have seen the impact of our programs and initiatives firsthand. From our school and community-based programming reaching hundreds of young people across Humboldt County, to ACORN, and the expansion of our youth employment program, the Youth Ambassador program, your support has helped us create positive change in the lives of Native youth. Together, we have been able to offer culturally relevant and empowering programming that fosters resilience, pride, and hope within our community.
As we look ahead to the future, we are committed to building upon the successes of the past year and continuing to expand our impact. We held a community listening session with youth in Hoopa in 2023, and as a result we raised funds to purchase two properties – one in Eureka and one in Hoopa – to build supportive community housing for youth in 2024. With your ongoing trust and support, we are confident that we can make an even greater difference in the lives of Native youth and families in our community.
Once again, thank you for your generosity and support. Your belief in our mission fuels our passion and drives our work forward. Together, we can create a brighter and more hopeful future for our youth.
With deepest appreciation,
Dr. Virgil Moorehead, Jr. Executive Director
Two Feathers
Who We Are
Two Feathers Native American Family Services (NAFS) is a Tribal non-profit that provides Native American mental health and wellness programming for children and families of any tribal affiliation in Humboldt County. Chartered under the Big Lagoon Rancheria, Two Feathers has 43 staff and serves over 300 youth across every part of Humboldt County locations. We serve the needs of our community by partnering with schools, families, and the wider population, utilizing the unique resources, strengths, and innate wisdom of local Native American youth and their families.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote well-being among Native American children and families living in the ancestral lands of Northwest California. Two Feathers learns and grows with our community to be an innovative community mental health organization that cultivates healthy and balanced lives. We are committed to advancing equity and justice, which at its heart is valuing our differences in class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other identities. Above all, we strive to provide free, high-quality programming to Native families regardless of tribal affiliation.
Our Guiding Principles
Two Feathers programming is built around the philosophy that relationships matter. Through deep engagement with youth and families, we increase the inclusion of cultural practices into accessible treatment and prevention services. Through this, we build meaningful relationships with our community, learning from our future ancestors – our youth – and engaging with families to cultivate a thriving community.
Our Programs and Approaches
Two Feathers promotes holistic health and fosters meaningful relationships with young people through culturally based work that results in profound engagement and transformation. Our team members focus on building trust with clients, developing personalized treatment plans, and supporting youth and families. Our services include trauma-informed psychotherapy, weekly group sessions, prevention programs informed by local knowledge, and culturally-based intensive support in schools or at home. Prevention strategies focus on healthy behaviors, including cultural programs, youth mentorship, leadership development, and community and professional training. Our healing program is based on both contemporary science and Native-centered belief systems and norms. We focus on flexible and meaningful outreach and connection strategies that prioritize and are rooted in relationships, with a focus on one-on-one counseling.
Programming Attendance
Employees
Two Feathers prioritizes being part of the community. We are proudly inclusive and have staff from a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, including the 56% of our staff who are Native. Our large staff is dedicated to our focus on mental health.
18
new employees were hired in 2023
Staff by Generation
Staff Race/Ethnicity
As our work continues to thrive and grow, Two Feathers is maintaining a strong
Partners
Our work would not be possible without the support of our generous and collaborative individual, grant, and foundation support.
Tribes
School Districts
Government Entities
Foundations
Programming
ACORN
ACORN aims to reconnect Native American youth to traditional cultural practices and provide mentorship to support the positive development of local Native youth. The program expands health and wellness through building friendships, supporting intertribal connections, and strengthening cultural identity. Our ACORN programming culminates with a five-day summer camp visiting important local cultural locations, both familiar and new. Some of these sites, including Katimiîn, are being revitalized and reintroduced.
A cknowledging ourselves
C onnecting community and culture
O pportunity and access
R elationships
N urturing nature and spirit
Tribal partners facilitate activities emphasizing cultural values, ceremonial teachings, and activities like language acquisition, regalia making, and traditional food incorporation for physical well-being.
Chekws Programming
Two Feathers aims to strengthen connections to uplift the culture, goals, and aspirations of Native youth. By participating in our program, individuals experience improved bonds with their families, develop interpersonal skills, improve decision making, and increase resilience. These positive outcomes reduce risk-taking behavior, leading to less harm, increased skill development, and improved overall health.
Number of clients engaged in services
Youth Leadership Development Program
Two Feathers’ Youth Leadership Development Program builds leadership and professional skills while fostering connection and wellness. The Youth Employment Program allows Native American youth aged 15-21 to develop leadership and advocacy skills while expanding their connection to their community and culture. Activities include peer advising, employment preparation and assistance, certifications (first aid, food safety, etc.), conflict resolution skills, landscaping and gardening skills, event coordination, activities with youth, cultural knowledge, team building, public speaking, and problem-solving. In 2023, Two Feathers Native American Family Services’ Youth Employment Program reached a total of 64 Youth Ambassadors and looks to continue to support youth leadership for years to come.
Youth took pride working in:
ACORN programming
Cultural activities
Captain John improvement projects
Two Feathers events
Helping with younger kids
Youth felt their experience would help them in the future with:
Social skills
Teamwork
Professionalism
Organization
Work ethic
Leadership
Knowledge about college and careers
Feeling comfortable working with the public
In the Spring Cohort of the Youth Employment Program
84%
30 there were Native Youth Ambassadors 14-18
of the youth who completed the Spring session worked between 80-160 hours
Youth Ambassador Spotlight: Carole Hanley
Carole Hanley, an exceptional and resilient youth, has overcome significant adversity, compounded by being a Native American in foster care. Despite these challenges, she displays remarkable inner strength, supporting her peers and community with a contagious positive attitude and unwavering resilience. Carole serves as a Native Youth Ambassador, assisting other Native youth in developing job skills and promoting wellness. Within her role as a Native Youth Ambassador, she participates in panels and conferences, demonstrating her growth, public speaking skills, and commitment to her community. Carole embodies resilience, empathy, and a drive for positive change, making her an exceptional Native Youth Ambassador.
Orleans Summer Programming
The Orleans Summer Programming was bustling with youthful enthusiasm, with daily attendance ranging from 20-35 and peaking to over 50 on some days! Our youth enjoyed enriching field trips to Camp Creek, where they engaged in cultural and envi ronmental activities led by guests from the Mid Klamath Watershed Council and the Karuk Tribe Pikyav program. From salve-making to Karuk language classes, flower dance songs, cracking acorns, water games, and self-defense training, our program offered diverse and enriching experiences. Culminating in a joyous community pot luck, it was a summer filled with fun, learning, and lasting memories.
Loleta Programming Overview
In December 2022, Two Feathers Native American Family Services expanded programming to Loleta schools, extending services from elementary through 8th grade. By 2023, our offerings extended to include community dinners, cultural events, field trips, and winter programs, enriching the community and contributing to a safe and positive school climate. In 2024, we plan to introduce Young Bucks programming and provide tailored staff training based on ongoing evaluations.
Young Bucks
Young Bucks is a new development program for young men that began in 2023. Through this program, Two Feathers seeks to introduce young men to a positive way of being through cultural activities, such as redwood stool making, brush dance demonstrations, eel hook making, and much more. In the coming year, Young Bucks will be growing to incorporate Southern and Eastern Humboldt youth, focusing on community and relationship building through group activities and community service.
Ceremony
At Two Feathers, we recognize that culture is part of our identity as Native people. Introducing ceremony to youth helps to fuel purpose and identity for our young people. In 2023, multiple youths had the opportunity to participate in ceremony for the first time and establish relationships with tribal leaders. This included preparation and support for female and male ceremonial dances: flower dance, brush dance, and jump dance.
Abalone Sisters
Abalone Sisters is a weekly cultural group for girls focused on building positive relationships between members. The group engages in various cultural activities, including making traditional bark skirts used in our 0-5 programming, braiding bear grass, beading, gathering materials, and processing acorns.
Egg Hunt Outreach Events
This was our second Annual Easter Event at Two Feathers. With the support of our Youth Ambassadors, we offered vendors, food, and fun– we had an easter egg scavenger hunt and an easter bunny visit to over 700 families. The energy was high the entire day, and we will continue to grow and improve this event to make it a “go-to” occasion for families!
Spring Break Activities
During spring break, Two Feathers hosted a variety of events: 66 people enjoyed roller skating in Fortuna, 120 youth and community members joined our Hoopa Family Fun Day, 35 gardened with us on Wednesdays, and 105 watched Mario with us at Mill Creek. We wrapped up the festivities with over 70 participants at Bowling! A huge thank you to The Boys and Girls Club of the Yurok Tribe-Kepel for consistently bringing youth to our programming. Additional special recognition goes to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Coast for their involvement and staff support and to the Wiyot Tribe’s youth program for joining us. It truly takes a village!
Back to School Night
Two Feathers hosted and attended Back to School events in 4 different partner schools this year: Hoopa Elementary, Mckinleyville Middle, Loleta, and Big Lagoon. We met with families, provided fun games and prizes, shared our Two Feathers resources, and reached nearly 500 youth! These events also gave the youth and families at schools where we work an initial introduction to the staff who would be on campus.
Back to School Attendance
2SLGBTQIA+
Two Feathers’ 2SLGBTQIA+ programming strives to offer a safe affirming space with the opportunity for youth to connect with others, explore identity, and learn more about culture and community. In 2023, Two Feathers partnered with various organizations to enhance accessibility for Native youth in rural areas. Events included a Two Spirit Photo Voice project with the Yurok Tribe and a Two Spirit mural collaboration with Charlie Perez. Lastly, Two Feathers facilitated the attendance of Hoopa youth at The Raven Project’s Queer Prom and assisted with K’ima:w Behavioral Health’s Pride Month event.
This was our Second Annual Halloween and Spooky Trail Walk. We saw over 700 families at our daytime Halloween Event and over 1,000 at our Spooky Trail Walk! During the day we had vendors, games, live music, food, and fun! When we switched to our Spooky Trail walk, we offered a delightful, kid-friendly spooky movie as well as food and goodies while families waited in line.
Captain John Activities
During the 2023 school year, Two Feathers staff provided social, emotional, and cultural programming at Captain John Continuation High School in Hoopa, California. Students participated in talking circles, men’s drum-making groups, girls’ weaving groups, field trips to gather traditional materials, cooking classes, and more. Additionally, 12 Captain John students were hired by Two Feathers as Youth Ambassadors. These Ambassadors facilitated campus improvement projects and led groups and activities for their peers. Through our programming at Captain John, students showed increased attendance, improved academic performance, and developed stronger bonds with their peers and Two Feathers staff.
Warriors Game
Giants Game
Two Feathers participated in the second Annual Native American Heritage Night at the San Francisco Giants game on July 6-8, taking 30 youth, 60 employees, and their families. We stayed in Corte Madera and spent the day of the game swimming and having fun. Some groups took the ferry to the game while others took vehicles into the city, where we all convened and had a fun tailgate dinner before heading into the stadium. Overall, it was a fantastic experience with plenty of bonding between coworkers and youth.
Two Feathers Continues to Prioritize Strong Programming in Eastern Humboldt
Worker Spotlight
“What is key is that I mindfully listen and accept whatever student comes to me with unconditional positive regard. I work to build those connections during the good times so that I am someone the students come to when a crisis arrives. I weave in emotional regulation skills as our relationships deepen and the kids can trust that I am truly here for them and that I am on their side. I take my role as a safe person very seriously and come to truly care for the kids I have the privilege to connect with.”
Maymi Preston-Donahue, LCSW, is a mental health clinician at Two Feathers and a Karuk Language teacher living in Orleans with her three children. Maymi works at Orleans Elementary, Junction Elementary, and Hoopa High School where she provides emotional support to local youth. She engages youth in art projects, nature walks, traditional necklace making, teaching Karuk language, sharing stories, sharing meals, gathering plants, playing board games, and skipping rocks at the river. Maymi builds strong relationships with students while teaching them skills to regulate their emotions. She deeply values her role as a safe and caring adult for students she works with.
Shanley Masten
“Our work goes beyond just facilitating groups - it is about supporting these relationships and strengths that are woven through the blood of the river people. With consistency and cultural humility, we aim to support healing from generational trauma while focusing on generational strengths.”
Maymi Preston-Donahue
Ayukîi
Shanley Masten is a proud member of the Yurok tribe and descendant of the Hupa people. As a mother of two incredible children, she is inspired to continuously learn and grow, and privileged to have the opportunity to pursue her education. In 2017, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a focus on Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Cal Poly Humboldt and went on to complete Master of Social Work. She works as a Child and Family Social Worker and is pursuing her license in Clinical Social Work. In her role at Two Feathers, she facilitates and participates in groups in rural Native American communities along the Klamath and Trinity River. These groups are helping to destigmatize mental health services by building relationships and community from the ground up. By fostering these connections over time, this work is laying the foundation for youth and families to access mental healthcare.
Charlena Tello, a Hupa Tribal member who works within her community to provide advocacy, and support to youth and families in the Klamath-Trinity School District. Charlena visits three schools: Hoopa Valley High School, Hoopa Elementary, and Jack Norton Elementary School. At Hoopa Valley High School she sees students at dropins and lunch activities twice a week. The purpose of her visits is to build relationships with the youth and provide a safe, and welcoming communal space. She offers emotional and educational support, brain breaks, outreach activities and promotes other activities at Two Feathers. This also gives her an opportunity to build relationships with high school staff that support the students. Once a week Charlena visits Hoopa Elementary school for a closed girls’ group, that works on building skills around self-love and respect, healthy relationships, and the substance-use prevention education. You will find Charlena at Jack Norton Elementary school once a week, where she works on maintaining relationships with local agencies, building trusting relationships with youth, and providing cultural and socio-emotional programming for students.
Charlena Tello
Training and Professional Development
School and Community Wellness Conference
The Native American Youth Mental Health Conference brought together leaders, educators, mental health practitioners, researchers, Native American youth, and other stakeholders in fields related to Native American mental health and wellness to discuss ways to empower Native American youth and families to thrive during difficult times. Participants learned to better understand the importance of neuroscience when working with Native youth, trauma-informed practices to engage youth during crisis, and how to use indigenous values and teachings to empower schools and communities.
“Two Feathers has always been so careful in the curation of wonderful learning opportunities. We are grateful for your leadership and commitment to the entire community, and specifically our indigenous youth and families.”
Boys With Braids
On April 01, 2023, Two Feathers Partnered with Native Dads Network, Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria, California Tribal TANF Partnership (CTTP), Northern California Indian Development Council (NCIDC), and Trinidad Rancheria Social Services to host the first local Boys with Braids Conference. Over 300 participants learned about the traditional teachings of the sacredness of hair, bullying prevention education, advocacy for Native youth within the education system, and more. The day was full of positive energy, support, and love for our Native youth. We brought Youth Ambassadors in to help support this event, and some even participated in a Flower Dance demo for the first time. Thank you to all the youth, community members, and staff who could participate in this with us, and a huge shoutout to our community partners for being the masterminds behind bringing such a wonderful event to Humboldt!
Women in Wellness Conference
On July 1, 2023, Two Feathers collaborated with Trinidad Rancheria Social Services, California Tribal TANF, and the Inter-Tribal Council of California to host the 2nd annual Women in Wellness Conference. The event featured local leaders in our community who held a blanket honoring ceremony and spoke about traditional 111 tattoos, healing practices, female leadership, and personal empowerment. There were a total of 127 women who attended the conference.
Future Site of the Two Feathers Wellness Village
In October 2022, Two Feathers Native American Family Services purchased a property in Hoopa to establish a Wellness Village to address the mental health needs of youth in the area. Since then, Two Feathers has secured four grants to support this initiative, with Hoopa Property,
The initiative will address the challenges faced by Native youth in Humboldt County, California, including historical trauma, economic hardships, and limited access to culturally relevant mental health services. The project will engage with intergenerational trauma and promote community wellness. By collaborating with youth, elders, and cultural experts, the Wellness Village hopes to reshape mental health strategies based on Indigenous knowledge and community voices.
