February 2021
THE BASKET WEAVER
Two Feathers Native American Family Services COMMUNITY FOCUSED | CULTURALLY ROOTED | PREVENTION BASED
The Basket Weaver Two Feathers Native American Famil y Services br ings y ou monthl y updates about the p rograms, ev ents, and news from our agency to your inbox. Just as a basket is wove n, we hope that The Basket Weaver wil l weave connection, inspirat ion, and community with our l oc al famil ies and communities.
IN THIS ISSUE GREETINGS FROM LEADERSHIP
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SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE
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TWO FEATHERS NAFS RECENT NEWS & EVENTS
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YOUTH & STAFF HIGHLIGHTS
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MCKINLEYVILLE HIGH LETTER
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GOOD FEELS PLAYLIST
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LOCAL ARTIST COLORING PAGES
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Greetings from leadership: A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Community, I hope the beginning of the year brings happiness, health and hope to you and your loved ones. During the past year Two Feathers has done our best to weather the many storms of 2020. Despite the global pandemic rampant wildfires, a turbulent political climate, and seemingly endless uncertainty, we’ve continued to strive to positively impact Native American youth and families we serve. Indeed, what didn’t change in 2020 is our pledge to not only serve all Native American youth and families in Humboldt County, but our strong commitment to be a leader in Native American youth and mental health services. Over the year, we’ve accomplished many things we’re proud of, including: Hiring several new team members who have hit the ground running, Clarifying our vision and purpose, Offering consistent culturally based virtual programming, Hosting two statewide virtual youth mental health conferences Honored by the California State Assembly for outstanding healthcare services, Maintaining valuable partnerships in the community, and, Securing new sources of revenue including foundation funding. These are just a few of the many accomplishments that our team has worked together to achieve. Looking ahead, I’m confident 2020 has made us a stronger agency and team, and know we will serve our community in even deeper, transformational ways in upcoming years. I want to thank all of you who believe, support, partner and trust us. We strive to be better each day and look forward to working with you all in 2021.
Sincerely,
Dr. Virgil D. Moorehead Jr. Executive Director, Two Feathers-NAFS
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Speak Your Language "Good Morning"
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Hupa
he:yung de:xutł’e’-dung
Yurok
skuue'yen ue'koy
Karuk
ma’hiityav
Tolowa
xaaghii~'a~ Shvm
Wiyot
gouts walaqh
AT-HOME CHALLENGE
Tell three family members or friends "Good Morning" in your language. Shu' shaa nin-la to all the language speakers, learners, and teachers who continue to support us in ensuring we can include language in our newsletter and programs.
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Two Feathers NAFS Recent News & Events
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Native Door Dash On December 21st, our team put on our Native Door Dash event. In Hoopa and on the coast, we were able to deliver hot meals to nearly 200 community members. We enjoyed gathering together and being able to serve our families in this way. Food is love! We thank especially Deacon, Matthew, and Sammy's BBQ for catering delicious food.
Xmas Tree Fun In the beginning of December, we were able to bring locally harvested trees to 12 families who wanted to include these in their Christmas celebrations.
Wakara also led a Christmas Tree Decorating Contest with cash prizes. The top tree is shown to the right, submitted by Cheryllyn Pike! We also congratulate #2 to Sascheen Bowen, and #3 to Kiara Weatherford. The holiday cheer warmed our hearts.
The Healing Journey We at Two Feathers believe that stories can help promote holistic health. Stories have the power to teach and inspire us. They can create change and make movements. Stories can bring us hope, and they help us heal. With this belief, we are working in collaboration with Native communities to create the digital project, THE HEALING JOURNEY. This series will uplift the voices of Native Peoples as they share their unique journeys towards wellness and recovery. With this work, we hope to honor the great strength and wisdom that each of these participants have gained along their way. We offer this series as an invitation for everyone to share more and listen to more stories. We also hope it is a reminder that we never have to make the journey alone. Our first story is with Katlyn Garza (Cherokee Descent) who shares how she navigated through and out of juvenile incarceration and addiction. At 19-years-old, she offers advice to those of all ages who struggle with addiction and remains hopeful for a brighter future. Her story is available on our Instagram and Facebook.
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DOUK We were able to close January with a film screening of DOUK and a virtual conversation with DOUK director, Michelle Hernandez (Wiyot), and DOUK actress, Destiny Lewis (Tolowa, Wiyot, Hupa, Yurok, Karuk, Wiylaki, Chimariko). This short film dives into the heaviness of boarding schools and how that era impacted many Native People's connection to cultural lifeways. Michelle and Destiny were able to share how being a part of this project affected them, and what they hope for in the future for their communities. You can find the discussion on our Facebook. For more information about Douk, visit www.doukfilm.com
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Dreaming With Community On January 23rd and February 3rd, we hosted a Community Aspiration Board Hunt. On the coast and in Hoopa Valley, we hid a big board and put clues on our social media for families to come find us. Once they located the board, they wrote inspirational quotes or dreams for 2021 and collectively created a Community Aspiration Board! Shout out to the Youth Advocates and Youth Ambassadors who made this event possible. A handful of the written messages are included below:
tors s e c n a r u o Stand with
my dre t o c o m pa m i s bark sk lete a irt
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love with all you got.
ig h t . r s ' t a h w o d a f r a id t o p e r s o n o r a n im a l e b r e v e n , r "Neve e in g o f a n t s a r e s m a ll b ll e w e h t if e s p e c ia ll y e . S o c ie t ie s ' p u n is h m e t o n o u r s o u l is a t s t a k t h e w o u n d s w e in f li c M L K J r . c o m p a r e d teo lo o k t h e o t h e r w a y ." when w
Telling A Story for Our Children We have partnered with Native Cultures Fund to launch Telling A Story For Our Children: an intergenerational storytelling series featuring local families. Each family will be sharing a story or experience that uplifts cultural values and lessons to pass on to the next generations. This project was in response to community members expressing the desire for more connection to culture and especially missing storytelling. With permission from some participating families, we will record their story and put it on a usb drive, to be sent home to Two Feathers youth and families. The usb will also include previous episodes of our Indigenous Speaker Series that are culturally relevant. Make sure to watch our first episode with Ernie and Caleb Albers on Thursday, 2/11 at 6pm on our Facebook Live!
Foodways & Mental Health The Food Sovereignty Team finished off their virtual series with Indigenous thought leader, Dr. Michael Yellow Bird. He joined us for a conversation on Traditional Foodways and Mental Health, making deep connections beween what we eat and how it affects every part of our wellness. He spoke on traditional agriculture, hunting and gathering, and even gave us a sneak peak of his newly released book, Sahnish Ethnobotany. We are grateful to have ended this incredible series with an incredible speaker! If you missed any episodes so far, you can find them on our Two Feathers NAFS YouTube
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Reclaiming Healthy Masculunity
We launched February's Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month with a virtual panel on Reclaiming Healthy Masculinity. A rare and important conversation, this panel attracted thousands from all over the world. Audience members echoed the panelists in their desire to undo toxic masculinity and end violence in Native communities by reclaiming healthier ways. If you missed this vibrant discussion, make sure to check it out on our YouTube. Panelists included inspirational men from local Tribes and other Native Nations outside of Northern California, shown on the next page. We also included one quote powerful quote by each panelist, though there were many to choose from!
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There's not a lot of spaces like this, and it needs to be a priority in order for our communities to heal. Damen Bell-Holter (Haida) Tlaatsgaa Development Founder and Former NBA Athlete
Our community's very capable of building a bridge to a brighter future, and that includes everyone -- however you identify. We never pushed anyone away. Everyone was welcome, especially the people that have good heart and good intention. I'd say that [Two Spirit Relatives] have a vital role in our future; in reclaiming healthy communities. Charley Reed (Hupa/Karuk/Yurok) Two Feathers NAFS Youth Advocate
The most toxic thing is trying to measure my masculinity by other men, when it should be looking to those women to define what it is to be a man. Jeff Guido (Yurok/Tolowa) Trinidad Rancheria Social Services SUD Counselor
No matter how hard life may seem sometimes, Creator only pushes us so far...It's up to us to find that balance. Mettah Kuska (Yurok/Tolowa/Karuk) Two Feathers NAFS Youth Mentee and TAY Advocate
We're reclaiming our roles and our purpose in this world. And I think for a lot of Native men, that role was cut. That's why we're here today...[We are] trying to find a way that we fit into this world with respect to ourselves and our relatives. Stephan Cheney (Lakota - Kul Wicasa Oyate) High Rez Wood Founder
Bike Club Shout Outs Thank you for those who have been waiting on new updates for the Bike Wednesday Bike Club! We have been working hard to get a club container for our club’s future bike rental system that is for Native youth and their families. The club container was delivered mid January. We would like to give a HUGE shoutout to some of the awesome people who have helped make this dream a reality: A generous donation from Naomi Lang of $2,000.00 was donated from a Gofundme fundraiser she started originally for Jason Lang’s (her father) memorial. We are honoring Naomi’s father and Amada Lang’s Great Uncle Jason Lang with purchasing this container for Native Youth and Families of Two Feathers; for current and future generations. We will have a plaque in honor of Jason and the donation soon! We thank Dean Meyer of Bike Wednesday Bike Club of the Covelo Reservation for all your help with formulating our bike club and delivering our club container! Thank you to Revolution Bicycle and the Eureka Bike Kitchen for working to get Native youth out on bikes in our community alongside our club’s drive to do so! Thank you to The Redwood Coast Mountain Bike Association for your amazing donation of youth helmets! Thank you to the The Eel River Valley Daughters of the American Revolution for your collaboration with your organization to fundraise both new and used bikes, bike locks, helmets, CRV donations and funds for our club!
Movement Medicine As a way to encourage physical fitness and outdoor activities, the Two Feathers Sports Equipment project aimed to provide soccer balls, footballs, volleyballs, and basketballs to youth and families. So far, 75 have been delivered, impacting a total 193 youth. “I am very thankful for Two Feathers for the sports equipment they had gifted me. It makes us stay active and out of trouble, first basketball I ever owned.�
We reached youth in Redding, Loleta, Carlota, Fortuna, Eureka, Acrata, Mckinleyville, Big Lagoon, Willow Creek, Hoopa, and Orleans.
JOSEPH LEWIS Two Feathers NAFS Youth
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Two Feathers Ongoing Groups Beginning February 11th, we will be hosting a weekly beading group for women and girls to connect to culture and enjoy time with community. Register by calling our office at (707) 839-1933.
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Every Monday at 6:30pm, we host Red Road to Wellbreity, facilitated by Dennis Moffett. Red Road is a meeting for people looking to connect in a cultural way for support in their recovery journey. Feel free to come or share with loved ones.
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On January 27th, we launched a 12-week Virtual Fatherhood and Motherhood is Sacred group. They meet every Wednesday and Friday at 11am PST. Participants will receive a certificate if they attend all the sessions!
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Empowering Young Leaders ambassador ˈ
ədər)
(am bas noun
a lead representative and/or advocate of a particular group, activity, or project
Native Connections has blossomed tremendously since our last update to the community. Led by Shoshoni GensawHostler, this multi-year program based in Hoopa Valley has reached new heights in implementing impactful projects and developing young leaders. As an integral part to Native Connections, we recruited 21 Youth Ambassadors, some of whom already participate in other Two Feathers programming. These ambassadors participate in activities that build their skills as peer leaders, community advocates, and critical thinkers. They also meet weekly in small pods with assigned Two Feathers facilitators, engaging in areas such as food sovereignty, interpersonal violence, digital story-telling, and sexual health. Stay tuned for more updates about the conference on Indigenous school-based mental health that will be held later this year, co-led by the ambassadors.
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Youth Highlight
(Yurok Tribal Member) The Two Feathers Youth Advocacy Team nominates a youth from our program every month that we would like to uplift. This month’s Youth Highlight is Ki-Shan Daniels. Ki-Shan is 14 years old and a Freshman at Mckinleyville High School. We would like to recognize Ki-Shan for her academic achievements and for actively participating in Two Feathers Making Relatives and Mentorship Programs. Ki-Shan has faced many difficult obstacles within the last year. One of which was having lost her mother whom became another added to the MMIW (Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women) list. Ki-Shan has been able to persevere despite facing many challenges with the ongoing social distance schooling. Ki-Shan has never given up and is currently achieving her academic goals. Ki-Shan has goals to remain connected culturally and is looking forward to continuing to learn and pass on cultural knowledge to her younger sibling. We are so proud of Ki-Shan and her achievements thus far and we’re looking forward to what she does in the future.
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Employee the Month
(Black Foot / Crow) It is for good reason that Karen Santos, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been nominated as the Two Feathers December employee of the month. For nearly a decade, Karen has shown up with incredible passion and commitment to those she serves. She is known for going the extra mile for youth and families, often working long hours and driving out to harder to reach areas of the county without complaint. Two Feathers youth and colleagues alike get to enjoy the creativity and humor she brings to the work and Karen is even known around the office for elaborate and hilarious pranks! Karen doesn’t hesitate to jump in and help out, her kindness is endless and she has truly been an asset to the Native Communities of Humboldt County.
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A Message From One of Our Partners: McKinleyville High School On August 18th, the McKinleyville High School administration attended a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) listening session organized by current and former BIPOC students and their families facilitated by the Eureka NAACP. To honor what we heard, McKinleyville High School formed a Race and Equity committee composed of students, staff and community members committed to making changes in the areas identified through the listening session. We are publishing the following Letter of Acknowledgement here in hopes that this letter will reach as many of our BIPOC alumni as possible as well as making our intentions and commitment to this work known to the public.
Dear McKinley ville Communit y,
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I have always b een proud of b oth graduating from and servin g as Principal at McKinleyvil High School. M le y experience h as been overwhelmingly positive in both roles. This fall was honored an I d entrusted to li st e n to the stories and experience s of current an d former BIPOC students as well their families d uring their tim at McKinleyvil e le High School. T h e ir sharing has both saddened and had a prof ound impact on as both a memb me er of our comm u n it y as well as in my role as Prin cipal, for it is c lear, from these listening session s, that our scho ol has not alwa provided a safe ys , nurturing and e mpowering environment fo r our BIPOC stu dents, and this must change.
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Good Feels Playlist "Music has the power to heal, transform, and inspire. And we have the power through deep listening to increase our intuition and self-awareness." Andre Feriante
Generations - Calina Lawrence Dreams - Fleetwood Mac Oogum Boogum - Brenton Wood
We are happy to gift a Good Feels Playlist to our community! 50 songs have been chosen by some staff and Youth Ambassadors -songs that make us feel happy or encourage us to get up and dance! We hope it brings joy to you. We have a handful of featured songs to the right, but you can listen to the full playlist by clicking HERE.
Where is the Love? - Black Eyed Peas Look Who's Dancin' - Ziggy Marley Waterfalls - TLC Take Care - Drake, Rihanna Intentions - Justin Bieber Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers Catch & Release - Matt Simons March March - The Chicks Better - Khalid Into Me - Natural Vibrations Pray - Duendita Drift Away - Uncle Kracker Wild - John Legend Don't Stop Me Now - Queen Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
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Local Artist Coloring Pages
by Tyler Conrad (Karuk)
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