By Johnny Lopez
Communications Manager
Sacramento Native American Health Center
www.snahc.org

The Sacramento Native American Health Center (SNAHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center that is in two convenient locations in Midtown and South Sacramento. SNAHC offers Medical, Dental, Behavioral Health, Vision, and a number of community-based educational programs. The health center is committed to enhancing the quality of life by providing a culturally competent, holistic, and patient-centered continuum of care. There are no tribal or ethnic requirements to receive care at SNAHC.

November is Native Heritage Month which is a time to celebrate the culture, accomplishments, and contributions of Indigenous people who first inhabited and stewarded this land. The history of the Sacramento area, and the people, is rich in heritage, culture, and tradition. This area was and is still the tribal land of the Nisenan people (my side of the river) located throughout the central valley, the Foothills and Southern Maidu people, and the Valley Miwok and Me-Wuk people, located on the east side of the American River, known to tribal people as the “Mokelumne” or Condor River. To the west of the American River and the south of the Sacramento River, are the Patwin people, the Wintun People and the Wintu people. These local tribes possessed an extraordinarily detailed understanding of the resources that were available to them, and they passed this knowledge down from generation to generation and are still very much part of who we are today.

During the month of November are numerous community events and conferences, one being the Boys with Braids Conference. Boys with Braids is a gathering to share teachings about the sacredness of hair, provide youth & adult workshops, and will feature Dallas Goldtooth from 1491’s and Reservation Dogs as their keynote speaker. This conference is put on by Native Dads Network a local non-profit whose purpose is to protect and restore the indigenous family structure through culture, education, and inter-generation healing.

Moreover, SNAHC is also launching a social media video series during the month of November called “For Us, By Us!”. This series will feature some of SNAHC’s Native staff as they describe the significance of the month, what It means to them, and some cultural values. These episodes will air every Wednesday, so make sure to follow all our socials with the link down below.

Lastly, SNAHC’s vision is a vibrant community built upon a strong foundation of cultures and traditions, where healthy lifestyles include the balance of mind, body, and spirit – a restored legacy of well individuals and families.

Ways to support SNAHC

Ways to support local Native Organizations

Sacramento’s Local Tribe

More in honor of Native American Heritage Month

UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May and Michelle Villegas-Frazier, director of the Native American Academic Student Success Center, share a message to the campus community and invite everyone to check out upcoming events during the month. Native American Academic Student Success Center: https://naassc.ucdavis.edu/.

Additional resources