Native News
by the Sacramento Native American Health Center

Sacramento Native American Health Center’s Community Wellness Program:

The Sacramento Native American Health Center hosted a 12 week Just Move It! Boot Camp from January 9 - March 26, 2008. Boot Camp sessions were held in either the Health Center Community Room or in the Parking Lot. Cars passing by enjoyed watching us sweat! Activities during Boot Camp included: aerobic conditioning, strength training, flexibility training, kick boxing, walking/running and circuit training. Participants were given fitness tests on the first and last sessions to measure improvement.
Boot Camp Session 1 was so well received, we are continuing our program from April 9 - June 25th. American Indian/Alaska Native people from the Greater Sacramento Area will be participating in our second session. We will continue to Just Move It! this summer! Stay tuned for more!

Titman and Rivera honored with 2008
Firestarters of the Year Award:
Posted: April 28, 2008
By Ellen Johnson

Photo courtesy Dean Hoaglin – Albert G. Titman, Sr., and Carlos Rivera awarded the Firestarter of the Year Award at the 7th Annual Wellbriety Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Photo courtesy Adrienne Lent – Albert G. Titman, Sr., Dean Hoaglin and Carlos Rivera attended the 7th Annual White Bison Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Titman and Rivera were selected as recipients of the 2008 Firestarter of the Year Award.

SACRAMENTO - White Bison, Inc. recently announced the selection of Albert G. Titman, Sr. (Miwok) and Carlos Rivera (Pomo) as the recipients of the 2008 Firestarters of the Year Award. The awards were presented during White Bison’s 7th Annual Wellbriety Conference on April 18, 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “They are people who really stand out and who do whatever it takes to make the Steps available to the community,'' said White Bison Program Coordinator Kateri Vergez in an interview. Medicine Wheel and 12 Step Programs are facilitated by individuals who have completed the Firestarter Certification process offered through White Bison. This program focuses on the methods for helping others work through the Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps using the videos, workbook and syllabus. Among other criteria, a Firestarter must be willing to make a 4-year commitment to facilitate the trainings. Titman and Rivera were recognized for their hard work and efforts in facilitating Firestarter Circles in their community. They were cited for providing support, encouragement, continuity and commitment to those who want to participate in the Medicine Wheel and Twelve Steps. The award is usually given to one man and one woman at the annual conference – however this year it was difficult to choose between the two men – so both Titman and Rivera were given awards. Both men were equally humbled by the experience. “I felt like I didn’t really deserve the award, because it wasn’t about me alone – it was because of Creator and all the support we get from our supervisor, clinic director, clinic staff, and community,” said Titman. Both recipients work for the Sacramento Native American Health Center, Inc., which is a community-owned and operated non-profit health center in Sacramento, California. This year’s Wellbriety Conference theme was, Healing the Hurts: The Youth and Families Speak (Understanding the Power of Forgiveness).

 

New to Board of Directors!
Michelle Villegas-Frazier,
Pomo

Michelle Villegas-Frazier is the Outreach Officer for the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. She is a Pomo Indian, enrolled with the Pinoleville Rancheria in Ukiah, California. She has been the Chairwoman of the University of California American Indian Counselor Recruiter’s Association since January of 2004. For the past 15 years, Michelle has worked in programs and efforts specifically designed to increase the number of college eligible and college bound American Indian students. During this time she has coordinator campus outreach programs as regional Outreach Coordinator for the UC Early Academic Outreach Program, for the UC Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services Office as Immediate Outreach Officer and as a Health/Nutrition Coordinator for the Inter-tribal Council of California. During this time, she has also served as Administrator for the California Student Aid Commission’s Outreach Grant which provides financial aid literacy to eight rural high schools throughout California, State Indian Education Centers, School-based Indian Education Programs, Tribes and educational communities.