Two Feathers NAFS Fall 2022 Newsletter

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Two Feathers Newsletter

FALL 2022 Rainbow Extravaganza • Rainbow Collaborative • Big Lagoon Flower Dance • Bay Area Giants Game • Hoopa Elementary • Orleans Elementary Summer Programming • New Hires

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RAINBOW EXTRAVAGANZA Two Feathers closed the 2021/2022 school year with its Second Annual Rainbow Extravaganza at Pookey’s Park in Hoopa, California, on June 25!

Thank you to all our community partners who tabled and showed their support for our LGBTQIA+ community in the Hoopa Valley.

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RAINBOW COLLABORATIVE The Rainbow Collaborative is a LGBTQIA+ affirming group held during the Thursday lunch hour at Hoopa Valley High School. Two Feathers’ facilitators Tai Parker, Livey Ampudia, and Jasmine Pedroza came together weekly to create a safe and affirming space for queer students and allies on campus.

“I realized even in the beginning, obviously it was going to be a really accepting place, which was good for me not being fully out at the time. But now that I'm like out, basically not to everyone, but near everyone that knows about it. It's really helpful. It's given me a lot of like courage to come out, too.”

– Youth

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“It’s made me definitely more confident and comfortable being able to express my feelings about the whole community and the club itself as well. Just being a part of the community in general, it makes me feel safer to actually be able to talk about it and express my concerns and all that stuff. And just knowing I have a pillar to fall back on, like a safe place to fall back on.”

– Youth

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BIG LAGOON FLOWER DANCE

Two Feathers was excited to partner with Big Lagoon Rancheria in hosting their first Flower Dance in 150 years. The communities came together to dance and sing for Big Lagoon tribal member Sasha Neyra, as she made the transition into womanhood. Two Feathers was grateful to have been asked to be a part of this ceremony as it provided opportunities for six of our youth to dance, some for the first time. Youth were able to hold roles such as assisting in helping Sasha, helping in women's dance camp, cooking in the kitchen, and running with Sasha. A few young girls who attended are now excited for their own Flower Dance and have since begun preparing.

Our Executive Director Virgil shared

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“It was awesome to have you all come and participate. One of the things my niece said, reflecting on the flower dance experience, is, ‘You know, I really want to help other people have that experience.’ I think that's one thing we’re trying to do here at Two Feathers: offering positive experiences and thinking about other people. It was very powerful. It was good to do a little bonding with people at the camp. It was a great experience.

When I was dancing in the middle of the night, it made me realize this isn’t about me this is a commitment to the family, to the baby, to the community. It takes sacrifice. I don’t think I’ll ever think the same about ceremonies. This is about uplifting a community, a family.”

“It was just really humbling to be in a space where it’s the first time for so many of us, and as a guest here, it’s such a huge honor to be invited to participate to that extent. And just to be able to offer up prayer to guide Sasha into womanhood was such a moving experience. I feel really privileged that our daughter got to be part of a flower dance so young in her life. I’m excited to plan her flower dance in the next 10 to 14 years, I feel really lucky in that way.“ –Two Feathers Employee

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BAY AREA GIANTS GAME

On June 12th, Two Feathers had 27 youth (transition-age youth included) and 15 adults travel to the Bay Area for the Native American Heritage Night at the San Francisco Giants game. The group stayed the night in Corte Madera, where they enjoyed swimming in the pool, soaking in the hot tub, playing cornhole, visiting with one another, and barbecuing dinner! The group also celebrated the recent high school and 8th grade graduation of several on the trip!

The next day, the group drove into San Francisco, where they visited Pier 39 and experienced a city tour on a Big Bus! For many on the trip, it was their first time visiting San Francisco and driving over the Golden Gate Bridge. And it wouldn’t have been a true San Francisco trip without a street performer!

The Giants game was a big hit among the group, with the Giants winning the game! One of our youth even ended up on national television for enjoying his ice cream.

Throughout this trip, the group strengthened and built relationships by having fun and sharing experiences. The adults were impressed with how the youth showed respect for the chaperones, the city, and others they interacted with. We believe by having relationships and modeling our values, we all can live in a good way.

HOOPA ELEMENTARY

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During the school summer break, a team of Two Feathers staff, supported the Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District’s summer school programming at Hoopa Elementary. Our team members worked on campus for two hours, three days a week, hosting fun activities for the youth. The activities included painting, beading, dodgeball, chalk art, obstacles, and making sensory boxes and bottles, all while promoting helping others and teamwork. On average, 45 youth attended.

ORLEANS ELEMENTARY SUMMER PROGRAM

During the school summer break, a team of Two Feathers staff members organized and hosted a summer camp at Orleans Elementary. This camp was held for three hours, two days a week, providing the space for youth to hang out with their friends while learning, being creative, and having fun. On average, 20 youth attended each session and in surveys, they expressed their favorite parts were (1) hanging with friends, (2) the snacks, and (3) the water games.

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INDIGENOUS EVALUATION Indigenous Evaluation and Culturally Driven Mental Interventions

SASHA NEYRA

Since the nation we now know as the United States of America was formed, questions concerning the importance of knowledge have been discussed. Prominent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) scholars ask more specifically, whose knowledge counts and whose knowledge is discounted? The answers, even if conditional, have shaped the formation of institutions we have in this land.

I am junior at Arcata High School, a Native of this area, a proud member of the Big Lagoon Rancheria, and of Yurok and Tolowa ancestry. I have taken this question of knowledge into consideration over the past few years as I gained insight about my Native culture and our teachings. I have asked myself, what is important knowledge to Natives and how is it represented, or not represented, in the educational institutions I attend?

In October 2021, I completed my personal Flower Dance. The Flower Dance is a four-day coming-of-age ceremony for Indigenous girls, marking their first menstrual cycle as a new phase of their life: womanhood. During my experience, I gained knowledge I will use for the rest of my life. I was taught how and why our ancestors lived and thrived on this land. I was told stories that are relevant to my life and changed my perspective and just about saved me. I was introduced to a whole new family. This family is full of people willing to devote time and energy to make sure I have a good life and to dance and sing all night in the cold to introduce me to the world as a strong, independent, Native woman. More importantly, it is a family devoted to telling everyone we are still here and are still practicing what is sacred to us even after centuries spent trying to erase us.

9 I have frequently thought about how these experiences and what I was taught relates to my mental health and well-being and how knowledge about the matter is being spread in schools. We are taught to seek help, but we need to explore the ways we do that and how it may look different for others. For me, the introduction to my culture and the feeling of being a part of something bigger than myself, goes hand in hand with a spark or an increase to my mental, spiritual, and physical health. I believe that more people, specifically Native youth, should have opportunities similar to mine, to explore themselves and realize that they have a community of people that come with nothing but support and love.

This experience has made me keener to learn about the benefits of culturally driven experiences such as my coming-of-age ceremony.

Accordingly, I am now working as a student research assistant for Two Feathers Native American Services. In one of Two Feathers’ signature programs, ACORN, we are exploring the topics I have been reflecting on regarding knowledge and the Flower Dance. We are looking at the impact that the Flower Dance and other local cultural teachings have on young people’s mental health. We honor all aspects of health including physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual through activities such as fitness, prayer, language, and ceremony. We teach the benefits of how our ancestors lived and how we can learn and evolve by following in their footsteps. Last, we teach about the importance of roles and how our roles are dependent on each other to thrive. This personal experience has shown me the importance of culture in strengthening mental health, and I hope to spread this message.

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Two Feathers is strengthening our evaluation team. As we have been starting programs, we have found the need for an in-house evaluation team.

Amanda Young, PhD Postdoctoral Associate MHA Nation and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

Two Feathers is excited to welcome our student research assistant. Part of her work will be learning more about Indigenousbased evaluation and research. In this piece, Sasha reflects on what she is learning. At Two Feathers, we hope to build more capacity to conduct Indigenous-based evaluation and research.

Aniin (Hello, how are you?), my name is Amanda Young (She/Her/Ikwe) and I am one of the new members of Two Feathers Native American Family Services.

I am Hidasta from MHA Nation of Fort Berthold Reservation and Aanishinaabe Ikwe of Turtule Mountain Band of Chippewa Reservation. I am Bear Clan and Child of Knife Clan. Both reservations are in what is colonially known as North Dakota. I have traveled and lived in many places in pursuit of my counseling psychology PhD degree but I will always be a North Dakota reservation girl. I am humbled to have been welcomed by Two Feathers and Humboldt County. I am excited to continue my work here as a psychologist serving the surrounding tribal communities and Native American youth.

Peace and Much Love – Amanda :)

Sasha Neyra Student Research Assistant 16 years old, junior at Arcata High School, and Member of Big Lagoon Rancheria

NEW HIRES

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Two Feathers has welcomed new team members this summer.

Kendal Dummer Youth Mentor

Jasmine Pedroza Child and Family Social Worker

Jody Swan Mental Health Clinician

Misty Case Grants & Contracts Administrator

Aysha Melendrez Intake Coordinator Max Keller Mental Health Clinician

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Two Feathers Doubles Down on SchoolBased Mental Health!

LOOKING FORWARD

Unmet mental health needs rank among the most pressing concerns for our community, directly affecting many of the families we work with. Schools have an important role to play in addressing mental health needs of school-age youth, but schools can’t do it alone. At Two Feathers, we continue to strive to support our local schools with comprehensive mental health services for Native students aged 9-18 with a strong focus on students facing multiple stressors.

With our school mental health priority, we are proud of the partnerships with schools that we have developed over the past several years. These partnerships include Klamath Trinity Joint Unified School District, Big Lagoon Elementary, Trinidad Elementary, Northern Humboldt Union School District, McKinleyville Middle School, Fortuna High School, Eureka Community School, and Margaret Keating. At all of these schools, we have mental health counselors doing meaningful mental health work with Native students.

In addition, summer and fall 2022, has been an exciting time for expansion of our prevention and mental health promotion based services in schools. During the summer and fall, we have hosted various fun, cultural, and inclusive community events and programs.

These include: Orleans Summer Camp Hoopa Elementary Summer Camp

BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS

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Back-to-school BBQ Prizes, contests, and fun!

Meet MKS Teacher and Two Feather’s Native American Family Services Staff Margaret Keating Elementary School

Collaboration with Orleans Elementary School Big Lagoon Elementary School Hoopa High School

Spaghetti Dinner, Fun, Raffles BBQ Potluck Tacos, Raffle, Fun

Family Picnic Spend time together and visit with past, current, and future Indian Education participants Collaboration with Northern Humboldt Indian Education Pierson Park

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Back-to-school BBQ Music, food, fun games, and raffle prizes!

Captain John High School

Indigenous Parent Night Share resources available in our community and gather feedback on how to make students and families feel more welcome and supported on campus Fortuna High School

Look out for more to come!