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Native Empowerment Schools 

   National throughout Turtle Island

Native Empowerment is planting seeds of hope in Native Youth.

 We share our personal experience, strength and hope of growing up in alcoholism, abuse and poverty.

 

We share where we are at now,and how we got here, and how we stay here,

We help fill the students tool box with practical tools for dealing the prevalent issues.

 

Creator plants seeds of hope in souls.

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It isn't enough to tell a child or anyone to "not drink."  It isn't enough to read about addiction. 

Real change happens when hearts are opened.  Real change happens when souls are touched and creator inspires us.  We believe personal stories coming from Native Americans shared with youth is the beginning. 

 

Children need to know that they matter.  That they are not alone.  That it is okay to talk.  That there is hope.

Our speakers have walked the Red Road.  Some are trained in trauma healing and Wellbriety Mending Broken Hearts.

  Meet our presenters

Call or text Carmen for more information and to schedule. 

 602-434-1289.  

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Philip Siers, Lakota Sioux
Vice President

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Certified Peer Support Specialist

I had a vision of speaking at schools to help children.  This is my mission.  I believe in this cause of Native Empowerment.  By helping the children we are helping all. I stay sober one day at a time though AA.  Part of me staying sober is giving back freely to others.  As a kid, I never heard things about self-esteem, addiction, and trauma.  No one taught me.

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After I became involved with Native Empowerment I realized that I knew the founder Redcorn.  We sweated together in prison.

Vida, Enrolled Standing Rock
 

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Hello...everyone, I'm Vida. I'm enrolled in Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota and I live in Spearfish, SD in the Northern Black Hills.  I have a passion for helping our youth.  I want to share what I have learned and pass it along.  I have learned so much about trauma healing, tradition and spirituality.

 

 I am doing my best to be a good example and grandma. I’m doing work dealing with trauma and alcoholism. I am a beautiful work in progress. I am active in my culture.

i am going to go back to college to get my degree to in Psychology to help kids.
My number is  605-569-2848

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Certified Peer Support Specialist

Starla, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Sioux

Our Mission in my own words:

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 To empower youth to live what we call "Mino-Bimaadiziwin" which means "The Good Life".

In Dakota Culture it's called "The Red Road".

This means healing from trauma, abuse, sexual abuse, drug/alcohol addiction and how to stay clear from it. The goal is to provide guidance for our youth if they are struggling with these issue's outside of school, or maybe even in school. Our personal stories have achieved victory and freedom from the same areas in life. We want to pass our tools down to them to help them advance to to the next level in life in a good way. Using our personal experiences as testimonies of victory.

 

Aho!  Starla

 

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Behavior Health Tech & Certified Peer Support Specialist

Chief Daniel Ramos

Chief Daniel Ramos walks  “Red Road” of Wellbriety recovery and healing path.

“Wanka Tonka” (Great Spirit) has given me the teachings and ceremonies of the Lakota (Sioux) people and the White Buffalo Prophecies to guide my Star path among others. I lead a ceremonial life that advocates teaching and emphasizes the White Buffalo prophecy of the great healing (Mending of the Sacred Hoop) of our world and ourselves in this cosmic time through the “Sacred Feminine.”

Ramos’s life’s work has always been heart-work. He served over 40 years helping people by being a social worker in Los Angeles.  His work included helping at risk youth and families.  He currently works at a addiction recovery facility in Cottonwood, AZ where he incorporates Native teachings and customs

Judason Taylor
Navajo
Studied at Dine College

I live near Pinon, AZ on the Navajo Reservation.   I'm working on my recovery every day.  My experience can help others.

 NOW IS THE TIME,, to make that change... that is why we are sharing this. this could really open the kids eyes.. There was nothing like 
when I grew up.  I am different, I am an Albino Native American. I was bullied.  

 

I am really touched by this program. I am part of this movement to help make change.

My life experience and the tools I have learned in recovery are what I have to offer.  I have a relationship with  my higher power.

I was raised Christian and Traditional.

We need help out here on the reservation.. There aren't many meetings. 
On July 15, 2023 I made decision to be sober.  I am sober one day at a time, contingent upon my spiritual connection.  The bootleggers come up to me and offer me alcohol.  I share with them what is different about me now.. . they see the difference and ask me questions

 

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 I am a little native .. not enough to be enrolled.. I grew up on the leech lake Minnesota reservation ... My dad is from white earth. Ojibwe

My blessing was rock bottom, my blessing was hopelessness, my blessing was coming to the end of myself. My blessing was desperation. You might think my blessings look like a curse, but I know what it’s like to be gripped by hell, tormented by demons…… then be rescued by a living God, who loves, who never leaves. Yes, my God is never late and never fails. I surrender today because I love him, I give him my life because I want to. I’m no longer a slave to sin. I’m no longer a slave to my mistakes. I am no longer a slave to my trauma. I am FREE!
I don’t have to escape anymore, I don’t need drugs. I can face life exactly how it comes, imperfect. I can get through anything with Jesus by my side. I have no reservations, and I have no desire to go back. I have no regrets, I know it took THAT to know HIM like THIS. Hell don’t scare me, and the devil can’t touch me.😜
I had to die, to know what living really is. I own my past, it’s part of me, it was my best teacher, and it served the purposes of God. The darkness was allllll part of the plan, now watch out because we are just getting started

 

Samantha Strangel
 

 
Certified Peer Support Specialist

Demetria
 

Demetria Nez,Dine

Demetria grew up on the Navajo Reservation, both of her parents died from alcoholism.  By working the 12 steps of Alcoholic Anonymous and working a strong recovery program, Demetria now has a new life.  The promises of working the AA 12 steps are coming true daily.    Demetria gives back to others by sharing what others have shared with her.  She is a certified peers support and works full time as a patient care technician at John C Lincoln hospital.  She attends many meetings and is continually learning more about herself, her people and the disease of alcoholism and how to continue living a good life of recovery. 

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Carmen Gustin
 

Executive Director

Carmen is grateful  and honored to be a part of Native Empowerment.  She was a good friend of Redcorn's and hopes to help carry on his vision of helping the Native American Community.  Redcorn spoke of helping others to become empowered from the prevalent issues of: poverty, trauma, and alcoholism.  She believes that reaching out to children and offering healing spiritual principals through story telling,  will  help extend healing and positive change out to the entire community and world.

Carmen loves the philosophy's and teachings of Wellbriety.  She has been approved to Facilitate Wellbriety meetings and is learning more every day.

Her medicine is her personal experience of the continued journey of healing from trauma.   

She has a teaching degree and countless hours of trauma education and personal experience.

Meet Recovery Rockstars!

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  • Native Empowerment showcases Indiginous men and women who have made a change in their life and are living a life of sobriety.  

  • These people look like their audience and have similiar backgrounds.

  • Their stories tell what it was like for them, how they got sober and what it is like now.

  • These stories are threaded with some common experiences such as: 1) growing up on the reservation  2) having alcoholism in the family   3) poverty   4)  trauma recovery  5) cultural connection

  • Each person has their own unique sobriety journey.  Some people get and stay sober through native tradition, Wellbriety or AA.

  • Stories of sobriety typically include the importance of getting out of isolation and getting closer to your creator.

  • Studies show that the sharing of stories by people who look like you and have a similar life are impactful .

  • Native Empowerment is planting seeds of hope by uniting indigineous men and women.

  • Staying sober often involves giving back to others and being active.

 

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