5.2 million people in the United States identified as American Indian and Alaska Native, either alone or in combination with one or more other races. Out of this total, 2.9 million people identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone. Seventy-one percent of Native people live in urban areas.
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Minority Health)
“Working with youth in Sacramento County, we have to deal with child protective services and other social services sectors at the county and state level. Often times, the people that we deal with are predominately white, and that can be said for the whole social work field. It's dominated by white women which poses problems working with Native youth. So, I was kind of eager to join a program, and that be the representation of what the cohort would look like. But I was really surprised to see the actual diversity in who was represented alongside me in my classes as well as the faculty.”
“We brought mobile testing units out to different Sacramento urban Native American events like the Sacramento Pow Wow, Honor Elders Day, and Big Times.” The idea was to meet the communities right where they are rather than them having to come to the resource. Their work was so successful that they were offered and accepted a full-time position.
Val moved into the Youth Initiatives Department and worked on a new project focused on Native American youth suicide prevention. Native youth who live in urban areas have the highest rate of suicide in the country. An important piece of their work looks at how to use culture as prevention.
“We were examining how if you are a person of color, if you have a stronger sense of identity with your racial/ethnic group, you're less likely to complete suicide or use drugs or drink or abuse alcohol. As a health center we created spaces and opportunities for them to learn what does it mean to be a native person in today’s society.”
Now along with all their practical experience, Val wants to think critically about the social problems Native communities continue to face, the impact of historical trauma, and Native resiliency. “Part of what I’m hoping to do is look at is how Native people can draw upon our histories and look at ways of restorative healing. Again, turning to the aspect of culture is prevention. What are programs we can develop that help Native people reconnect or help them better understand their histories and their identities, and the legacy of resilience to become healthier?”
And there’s just one more way that Val would like to give back to and help support their community. “I would love to be a professor because I had Native professors to lean on as an undergrad. I want to continue that legacy and build that mentorship.”