Our Programs
Empowering Native communities through culturally-centered wellness and youth leadership programs
Wellness Department
Trauma-informed, culturally-centered healing and support services
Individual & Family Therapy
- Individual and Family Therapy with a trauma informed licensed mental health professional
- Culturally knowledgeable Substance Use disorder counseling with a certified substance use professional
Motherhood & Fatherhood is Sacred
- Culturally Centered Parenting Courses
- Wellbriety Groups
- Talking Circles
- A Graduation Ceremony will convene upon completion of 12 week courses
Red Road Talking Circle
- Culturally Centered Parenting Courses
- Wellbriety Groups
- Talking Circles
How to Register for Our Program
Call: 916-910-7663
Email: info@nativedadsnetwork.org
To become a participant in the NDN Wellness Program contact our office. You will be asked to provide registration information.
Requirements:
- Tribal enrollment/membership or documentation showing descendancy from an enrolled tribal member (descendants can link back two generations)
- Intake and screening assessment to determine eligibility and appropriateness
- Program Participation Agreement signature ensuring understanding of expectations
Youth Programming
Empowering the next generation through cultural identity and leadership development
IMPACTT
Indigenous Mentors Protecting Ancestral Cultural Teachings Team
Purpose: Create a safe place for tribal youth, amplify their voices, and nurture the next generation of leaders by grounding them in cultural and spiritual traditions and beliefs.
Goal: We actively collaborate with youth, hosting workshops aimed at reestablishing their traditional identity and equipping them with the tools to become advocates for creating positive change within their communities.
What we do: Rooted in culture, spirituality, and ceremonial practices, IMPACTT functions as a youth prevention program that nurtures the growth of future leaders through workshops, listening sessions, and traditional teachings.
Tribes Represented
Female Participants
Youth Ages 14-25
Quality Rating
Featured Mural Projects
IMPACTT has completed 3 mural projects in Yolo and Sacramento county. Each project included 5 weeks of workshops, where youth ages 14-18 learned, designed, and painted murals representing original Patwin, Miwok and Nisenan culture, ceremonial and traditional lifeways. Through collaborations with Hope Through Art, we continue to promote change within public school systems.
6 Week Wellness Wednesday Workshops
A comprehensive 6-week series of classes offering cultural education and skills development for Native youth.
🎨 Activities Include:
- Cultural education sessions
- Arts and crafts activities such as necklace making
- Traditional hand games
- Talking circles for community connection
- Skills development and leadership training
🏞️ Summer Program Highlights:
- Guided youth river rafting adventures
- Introduction to ancestral Waupumne village in Coloma, CA
- Educational experiences along the American River
- Connection to traditional lifeways and cultural practices
Participants gain practical skills they can utilize in their daily lives while strengthening their cultural identity and community connections.
Next Gen Youth Conference
📍 Sacramento, California
Annual Event - Planned by and for Native youth
🎯 Purpose & Goals:
- Empower Native Youth: Provide tools and inspiration for youth to become leaders in their communities
- Cultural Connection: Strengthen ties to Indigenous heritage through workshops and activities
- Community Engagement: Encourage active participation in community initiatives and discussions
🌟 Recent Conference Highlights:
- Keynote Speaker: Alaqua Cox (Marvel's Echo star) shared her personal journey, emphasizing resilience and support
- Workshops: Sessions on healing from ACEs, stress management, and herbalism as cultural healing
- Youth Ambassadors: Created Spotify playlist featuring Native artists and booklist highlighting Native authors
🤝 Community Impact:
The conference serves as a platform for Native youth to connect, share experiences, and build supportive networks. By centering youth voices and Indigenous knowledge, the event fosters pride and purpose among participants.
Wellness Tour
A culturally grounded initiative launched in response to the escalating substance use crisis in Native communities during COVID-19. From March 2021 to June 2022, the tour reached 11 American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities across California.
Knew someone who overdosed
Female participants (ages 36-45)
Cultural relevance rating
Tribes represented
Key Features:
- Naloxone (Narcan) training and fentanyl test strips
- Cultural healing through song, dance, and prayer
- Educational lectures and adolescent-led skits
- Traditional talking circles
Impact Data:
- 30 participants admitted personal substance use
- 92.5% used marijuana, 50%+ methamphetamines
- 4.7/5 quality of life improvement rating
- High confidence in naloxone use (4.8/5)
Notable Stops:
- Bishop, CA - Cultural healing practices
- Tule River Reservation - Opioid crisis collaboration
- Pechanga Casino & Resort - Cultural education
- Tuolumne, CA - Comprehensive wellness programs
Purpose & Goals:
- Cultural reconnection through Indigenous traditions
- SUD prevention and education
- Community empowerment and healing
- Sacred spaces for dialogue and support
Annual Conferences
Transformative gatherings fostering healing, empowerment, and cultural connection
Boys with Braids Conference
A culturally significant event empowering Native American youth, particularly boys, by celebrating the importance of long hair in Indigenous traditions while addressing racial harassment.
🎯 Purpose & Goals:
- Cultural Education: Teach the sacredness of long hair and its significance in Native traditions
- Empowerment: Foster pride in cultural identity among Native youth
- Awareness: Address and combat racial harassment related to cultural practices
🌟 Featured Speakers:
- Dallas Goldtooth: Native American actor, comedian, writer, and environmental activist (Reservation Dogs, 1491s comedy group)
- Kauchani Bratt: Respected community leader and advocate for Indigenous youth empowerment
- Michael Linklater: Founder of Boys with Braids movement, professional basketball player and motivational speaker
Interactive Activities:
- Braid contests and cultural workshops
- Community engagement opportunities
- Youth connection and experience sharing
The conference serves as a platform for Native youth to embrace their heritage, learn about cultural significance, and build supportive communities that respect Indigenous values.
Wellness Tour
A culturally grounded initiative launched in response to the escalating substance use crisis in Native communities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 2021 to June 2022, the tour reached 11 AIAN tribal communities across California.
🎯 Purpose & Goals:
- Cultural Reconnection: Utilize Indigenous traditions—song, dance, prayer, and talking circles—to foster healing and resilience
- SUD Prevention: Educate communities on the dangers of opioids and fentanyl, providing practical tools like naloxone (Narcan) training
- Community Empowerment: Create sacred spaces for open dialogue, shared experiences, and collective healing
🌟 Key Features:
- Educational Components: Lectures on opioid use, adolescent-led skits, and group discussions
- Hands-On Training: Naloxone and fentanyl test strips training, equipping participants with life-saving skills
- Cultural Activities: Traditional practices to reinforce cultural identity and community bonds
📍 Notable Stops:
- Bishop, CA
- Tule River Reservation
- Pechanga Casino & Resort
- Tuolumne, CA (partnered with Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians)
📊 Impact Highlights:
- 65.3% female participants, majority aged 36-45
- 20+ tribes represented across 11 tours
- 92% of participants knew someone who had overdosed
- Quality of life rating: 4.7/5 post-event
- Cultural relevance rating: 4.8/5
Healing Together Conference
📅 June 18-20, 2025
Location: Sky Ute Casino Resort, Ignacio, Colorado
Registration: $425 (includes breakfast and lunch)
🌿 Purpose & Themes:
- Foster cultural healing through Indigenous traditions and practices
- Enhance community resilience by addressing intergenerational trauma
- Promote wellness and leadership among Native youth and families
- Focus on healthy relationships, workplace wellness, and allyship
🏛️ Conference Activities:
- Ceremonies featuring National Wellbriety Drum and Sacred Hoop
- Hands-on workshops and breakout sessions
- Evening cultural sharing events
- "Healing village" offering traditional practices and community support
🤝 Collaborating Organizations:
- Native Dads Network
- White Bison
- Native Wellness Institute
- Native American Fatherhood & Families Association
- American Indian Cancer Foundation
🌟 Community Impact:
- Reconnecting with cultural identities
- Building supportive community networks
- Gaining tools for personal and communal healing
Participants have reported transformative experiences, highlighting the conference's role in creating lasting positive change within Indigenous communities.
Get Involved
Join us in healing generational trauma and empowering Native communities
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2151 River Plaza Dr Ste 200
Sacramento, CA 95833