Indigenizing Wellness and Education in Los Angeles County
Roots. Relations. Resilience.
Learn to pronounce So’oh-Shinálí Sister Project with our Executive Director, Elena Nourrie
What does So’oh-Shinálí Mean?
Understanding Our Name
We are dedicated to indigenizing education and wellness by staying rooted in Indigenous core values and the practices passed on to us by the matriarchs in our family, specifically our grandmothers. So’oh translates to grandmother in the Hopi language, and Shinálí refers to paternal grandparents in Navajo or Diné, while Shinálí asdzą́ą́ refers to one’s paternal grandmother. Each ‘S’ in SSSP symbolizes the three sisters who brought this project to life and their steadfast commitment to serving the community that nurtured and raised them.
Services and Offerings
Four pillars. One community.
We offer initiatives that reflect the diversity of the intertribal community we serve, honoring the interconnected nature of our relations. The theory of change that guides our work is anchored in four pillars: wellness, education, leadership, and resources. Explore each one in depth below.
_edited.png)
Wellness
We intentionally uplift physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness. We recognize that nurturing well-being through culture empowers our community members to cultivate connections and restore balance. We emphasize wellness through mental health scholarships, curated wellness packages, community engagement programs and quality facilitation services. Our wellness programs focus on uplifting Indigenous elders through traditional wellness gatherings and promoting health equity through seasonal food sovereignty and chronic disease prevention cohorts for intergenerational families.
.jpg)
Education
We integrate a culturally-sustaining-and-revitalizing educational approach that honors traditional knowledge. We center storytelling, connection and relationship building. We promote visibility and contemporary representation of our community through a strengths-based approach. We facilitate community health education, social equity training, and empowering digital campaigns. Initiatives include early childhood development through early literacy services and justice advocacy for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples.
.jpeg)
Leadership
We recognize our communities have the strengths and solutions to best respond to our own unique needs, challenges and opportunities. Through our leadership and organizational development trainings, we center ancestral values, relational wisdom and kinship. We offer a variety of community building professional development trainings and consulting services for schools, colleges, universities, tribal organizations, mental health providers, allies and community organizations.
Resources
We provide practical resources for working with Indigenous communities, bridging the gaps in mental health, education and representation. Our resources are designed for educators, direct service providers, mental health practitioners, and allies. Resources focus on promoting health equity, authentic representation, and effective, respectful engagement in education and wellness settings.
.webp)
.jpg)
.webp)
Join us for a Community Event!
Our organization offers community-driven, culturally rooted education and wellness services. Our events are tailored for intergenerational community members from all areas of Los Angeles County. All our programming has been chosen by community, created with community, and developed for community. All events are free of charge and open to all.
Follow us on Socials to be the first to know about our events
CONTACT US
Bring So'oh-Shinálí to your organization
Interested in working together? Complete our inquiry form and a member of our team will reach out to schedule a free initial consultation. We look forward to learning more about your needs and discussing how we can create meaningful experiences together.
"Thankful to our partners at So'oh-Shinálí Sister Project for centering us in wellness and balance. Yaw^ko and Mvto."
"I so appreciated your presentation on leadership and relational wisdom. You’re a wonderful presenter and the content was so helpful."
"Thank you again for today's workshop with such an amazing facilitator, Elena Nourrie. It’s so important that we continue to uplift and preserve Native voices and knowledge."
"I appreciate seeing Indigenous women leaders hold space. Thank you for such an interactive presentation!"
"This training met our needs and enhanced our staff's expertise with new information. Elena was well-organized and effectively engaged participants."
Current and Previous Partnerships
Join us in building community.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge and thank our Tongva, Tataviam, and Chumash relations on whose ancestral lands we reside, gather, and pray. We honor all of the ancestors and their descendants here today and the contributions of all of our relatives, past, present and future.
We invite you to support the Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy and the Tataviam Land Conservancy by contributing a financial donation, supporting a campaign or volunteering. Giving back in ways that are possible for you demonstrates reciprocity and contributes to the restoration of Indigenous-led efforts.