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Directory
In the spirit of our values of Relationships and Reciprocity, So’oh-Shinálí Sister Project (SSSP) has created a directory to help promote and uplift Indigenous consultants, firms, and organizations. We invite you to explore the directory below and connect with the many talented individuals and teams doing important work in our communities.
1212 Documents
Contact Information:
1212documents.com
Lupe Lopez, is a Paralegal that offers low cost legal services in the area of Family and Probate Law.
Analisa Rockbridge and Mother of Sage Yoga
Contact Information:
motherofsageyoga.com
Analisa Rockbridge's background and experience are with physical health and nutrition. She tries to find the balance between the two worlds when working with individuals and the community. Guiding and navigating the journey of a safe and healthy lifestyle while incorporating the traditional teachings and knowledge of nutrition, finding a fusion in the kitchen to pay homage to our ancestors.
Anderson Gould Jr
Contact Information:
andersongouldjr.com
Anderson Gould Jr is an artist based out of Southern California specializing in photography, videography, and graphic design. His creative journey started at a young age, where he exhibited a strong interest in design and illustration. Prior to pursuing his passion, he served honorably in the United States Marine Corps. After 10 years of military service, he reembarked on his creative path and received his B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts from CSU San Marcos. Today, he works throughout the Southern California area and travels for work as needed.
Avril Cordova of AC and Associates
Contact Information:
Avril Cordova (Oglala Lakota, Taos Pueblo) is a dedicated advocate, educator, and facilitator working to uplift Indigenous communities through cultural wellness, education, and advocacy. She is a sixth-generation descendant of Chief Red Cloud of the Great Oglala Lakota Nation. As the owner of AC & Associates, Avril provides consultation, training, and workshops that support Native youth, families, and elders, focusing on intergenerational healing, cultural connection, and community empowerment. She has collaborated with numerous Native organizations, facilitated Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) trainings, and led culturally rooted wellness initiatives. Avril also cohosts Sissy, Unci & Aunties, a live virtual event amplifying Indigenous voices and stories. She remains committed to strengthening community ties and creating spaces for cultural resilience and growth.
Ba'ac Garcia of RedBoy Productions
Contact Information:
redboyproductions.com
RedBoy Productions is a Native owned dance company that exhibits Native culture through song, dance, and storytelling.
Carrie Johnson, Ph. D
Contact Information:
sacredpath.org
The mission of Sacred Path is to honor our traditional values and teachings by working to improve the quality of life for Indigenous individuals and families and by providing innovative health, behavioral health and research with community involvement, technical assistance, training and respect for tribal and cultural diversity. Services provided include: Individual Therapy, Support Groups Workshops, Prevention and Intervention Services, Case Management, Linkages, Evaluation and Research Training and Consultation.
They provide their services to Los Angeles and Orange County American Indian/Alaskan Native residents and offer some services to Indigenous Peoples across California.
Chelsey Luger
Contact Information:
wellforculture.com
Chelsey Luger is an author and wellness advocate who aims to reclaim healthy ways of life in Indigenous communities.
Luger is Anishinaabe, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (maternal) and Sans Arc and Hunkpapa Lakota from Cheyenne River and Standing Rock (paternal). She was born and raised in North Dakota and now resides in O’odham Jeved (Arizona) with her husband, Thosh Collins, and their children, who are citizens of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. She is a trainer/facilitator for the Native Wellness Institute and is the cofounder of Well For Culture, an Indigenous wellness initiative. Luger has worked as talent, cultural consultant, producer, content creator, and copywriter for brands such as Nike, Faherty, Athleta, On Running and REI.
Luger & Collins are the authors of The Seven Circles: Indigenous Teachings for Living Well, now available everywhere books are sold. Her forthcoming non-fiction title, Sacred Space: Transformative Wellbeing through Indigenous Home Teachings, will be published by Harper One in 2025. They are represented by Sterling Lord Literistic.
Dartmouth College, B.A. '10
Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism, M.S. '13
Turtle Mountain Tribal College, Certificate in Indigenous Public Health '23
Cherine Mendoza
Contact Information:
shopcherine.com
Cherine Mendoza is a Chicana artist whose vibrant and soulful creations serve as a powerful celebration of her heritage and community. With a passion for storytelling through art, Cherine brings to life the rich tapestry of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) experiences, honoring their stories, struggles, and triumphs.
Claudia Serrato, LLC
Contact Information:
claudiaserrato.net
Dr. Claudia Serrato is an Indigenous culinary anthropologist, chef, and educator dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous foodways and promoting food justice. Rooted in Mesoamerican culinary traditions from East Los Angeles, she co-founded “Across Our Kitchen Tables” to empower women of color in the culinary industry. Dr. Serrato actively collaborates with Indigenous chefs and communities across Turtle Island, emphasizing the importance of decolonizing diets and preserving ancestral culinary knowledge. She also offers virtual and in-person classes, fostering critical engagement in decolonial practices.
Dannie Cesena, MPH CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
Contact Information:
californialgbtqhealth.org
Dannie Ceseña (He/Him/They/Them), is the first Two-Spirit, Native, Director of the CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. Dannie has over 15 years of experience working with non-profits in program development and advocacy. He has extensive knowledge in creating TGI healthcare collaborations utilizing upstream interventions and addressing the root cause of lack of access to TGI affirming health care. His knowledge and leadership have assisted in the creation of two TGI community health care clinics and a monthly TGI legal clinic in Orange County, CA. Dannie has become a trusted leader in LGBTQ health among partners in the California Tobacco Control Program. He is responsible for building We Breathe: Supporting Tobacco-Free LGBTQ Communities from the ground-up and has established the program as a leader statewide, nationally, and even internationally. He has provided leadership and guidance for LGBTQ organizations who are new to working with the Department of Public Health, helping them navigate the complicated bureaucracy and ensuring LGBTQ project staff always have a place to turn to with their questions and concerns. He is in high demand to present on LGBTQ health at trainings, meetings, and conferences throughout the country, and internationally.
Dannie is currently serving, and has served, on several appointed seats, including the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity Advisory Committee and California Reducing Disparities Project Task Force, the Department of Managed Health Care’s (DMHC) Health Equity and Quality Committee and the Transgender Intersex and Gender Non-Conforming Work Group, Department of Health Care Access and Information Hospital Equity Measures Reporting Advisory Committee, Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Task Force, Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health Advisory Committee, and the Department of Health Care Services Consumer Advisory Committee Technical Advisory Group. He serves as a committee member for the Coalition of Demographic Data Equity, is a board member for GLMA (Gay and Lesbian Medical Association) and participates in their Policy and Government Committee, California Health Interview Survey SOGI Data Work Group, and International AIDs Society.
Dannie is a founding member of the Transgender Health Research Ethics and Advocacy (THREAT) Team which includes members form TGI-led organizations, trans-identified mental providers, and academic researchers. Dannie served as a Community Investigator on a research team at UCLA called “Just Research? Trans Futures in Health and Scientific Knowledge”. He is currently serving as a Community Investigator on The Role of Local Structural Stigma in Alcohol Related Inequities among SGM Young Adults at UC Berkeley, and Together for Wellness/Juntos at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Human Science and Behavior. He is co-author of two research papers; Engagement, Use, and Impact of Digital Mental Health Resources for Diverse Populations in COVID-19: Community-Partnered Evaluation, and Impact of Online Mental Health Resources During COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ Adults and Compared to Male and Female Heterosexual Adults.
In summary, Dannie has demonstrated a record of community service and productivity in areas of high relevance for 2SLGBTQ+ health related issues that have a statewide reach. Moreover, he has practical experience with developing boards and committees addressing health disparities and improving health outcomes. His experience and leadership have assured that any proposed research project design is current with 2SLGBTQ+ related issues and needs, reflecting California’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Together with various research institutions, community organizations, and state departments, Dannie is a significant contributor to health care advocacy, mentorship, and 2SLGBTQ+ health care reform.
Dannie has been awarded Community Icon of the Year by Orange County Pride, Pro Bono Community Partner of the Year by UC Irvine School of Law, Diversity Spirit Achievement Award by City Career Fair, The Courage Award from the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association and the Beacon of Light Award from the City of Costa Mesa. He has been recognized by Congressman Lou Correa, CA Senator David Min, CA Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris and the Orange County Board of Supervisors for his work in LGBTQ Health Care and Advocacy.
Dannie is a graduate of CSU Long Beach with Bachelor’s Degrees in English and Political Science, and is a graduate of National University with a Master Degree in Public Health.
Dr. Erik James Escareño, DSW, LCSW and Wombat Mental Health Services LCSW PC
Contact Information:
wombatmhs.com
Wombat Mental Health Services, LCSW PC (Wombat MHS) is a dedicated team of mental health professionals committed to providing equitable and accessible mental health services for our underserved communities. They aim to foster a safe and supportive space tailored to the needs of our communities. They emphasize on offering culturally appropriate, non-judgmental, and affirmative mental health services specifically designed for our Native Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer communities. Recognizing the unique cultural heritage and needs of our communities, Wombat MHS delivers compassionate and relevant care. They are dedicated to reindigenizing mental health by providing culturally appropriate care for Deaf, Disabled, LGBTQIA2S, and BIPOC communities, as well as other historically underserved groups, including Kink and Sex Workers.
Ely Valdivia, Earthy Corazon
Contact Information:
earthycorazon.com
Ely Valdivia (she/they) is a community space holder, herbal artisan, and candle maker behind Earthy Corazon, a Chicana queer-owned small business in East LA. Rooted in Ely’s journey of healing intergenerational trauma, Earthy Corazon offers handcrafted wellness tools that honor self-care as a sacred act of liberation and collective healing. Through intentional products and community workshops, Ely creates a space that emopowers communities of color and cultural connection.
Emma Robbins and The Chapter House
Contact Information:
thechapterhouse.org
The Chapter House is a community arts hub for Indigenous Peoples and allies to appreciate art, convene and collaborate, celebrate individual and shared Indigenous cultures, and explore the complexities of the 21st century Indigenous experience. It is a space for Indigenous empowerment and community, but all who share a desire for universal empowerment are welcome here.
Hood Herbalism
Contact Information:
hoodherbalism.com
Hood Herbalism™ is an autonomous and community-based herbal education project. They gather to unlearn and decentralize colonial ways of understanding plant wisdom and relationship with land. Their goal is to help people feel supported, grounded, and equipped with basic herbal knowledge to help take care of the community during these times.
Indigenous Circle of Wellness
Contact Information:
icowellness.com
Indigenous Circle of Wellness is a Native American-owned and operated group therapy practice founded in 2017 by Monique Castro (Diné/Xicana), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, Lic.# 104427). Created to address the need for healing spaces that honor Indigenous core values, they offer culturally-centered mental health services for Indigenous people, communities of color, and anyone seeking a personalized, relationship-centered therapeutic experience. Our approach transcends conventional medical models, providing a supportive environment that uplifts cultural identity, resilience, and authentic healing.
Today, their team is composed of exceptional licensed mental health providers and a dedicated administrative staff. They proudly serve their communities in person at their locations in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Riverside and extend our therapy services virtually throughout California. Additionally, they are honored to travel nationwide, bringing their wellness services to organizations, tribes, universities, and other institutions.
Jessa Calderon
Contact Information:
jessacalderon.com
Jessa has done message (different modalities including aromatherapy) and energy work for 29 years. She offers guided mental calming practices and hypnotherapy.
June Beach Designs by Birdie- Brighid Pulskamp-Lewis
Contact Information:
linktr.ee
Ms. Brighid Pulskamp is a citizen of the Navajo Nation, Tsinajinnii clan. Brighid (aka Birdie) was born and raised in Tongva traditional territory (Los Angels, CA). Brighid has been professionally working with Native youth and families for the past 25 years and has had the opportunity to share her stories, knowledge, inspiration and art work with many. Ms. Pulskamp is an advocate for cultural and language preservation and revitalization and community wellness. She providing workshops/trainings from art classes to educational and advocacy trainings. Brighid's art work is highly sought after in the community. Her work has been featured in publications such as the New York Times and Time for Kids. Brighid's work is in permanent collections at the Autry National Center and the Ford Museum.
Katya Adachi Serrano of Serrano Natural Health
Contact Information:
serranonaturalhealth.com
Katya Adachi Serrano, MD is a physician and clinical herbalist, board certified in Family Medicine, Addiction Medicine, and Integrative Medicine. Through her natural health practice, Serrano Natural Health, she provides natural health and body work consults, herbal and Indigenous medicine education, culturally responsive medicine presentations, and community education workshops as well as a line of medicinal teas and skin salves through her Herb Shoppe. Dr. Adachi Serrano is proud to be HoChunk (Thunder Clan), White Earth Ojibwe, Japanese, fluent in Spanish, and from the Bay Area.
Keely Linton of Strong Hearted Native Women's Coalition, Inc
Contact Information:
strongheartednativewomen.org
Keely Linton is an Íipay & Kupa citizen from the Mesa Grande Band and the Executive Director for the Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition. She is the Chairperson for the Judicial Council of the Intertribal Court of Southern California and Mesa Grande Business Development Corporation. She has worked in the violence against women field for 20 years. She is devoted to her community, to assist with the reduction in family violence, and hopes to make policy changes within the local tribal governments she serves to better protect our families.
Maggie Acosta of Indigenous Women Rising
Contact Information:
Maggie Acosta provides counseling services at a low cost and uses a Native approach where their clients are able to feel connected and understood during counseling sessions.
Melanie J Cain of Blue Joy Psychology
Contact Information:
bluejoypsychology.com
Dr. Melanie J. Cain is from the Santa Clara Pueblo and Jicarilla Apache tribes of Northern New Mexico. She is a licensed psychologist and is the owner of a private practice, Blue Joy Psychology. Dr. Cain works with the Los Angeles Department of Public Health and has 11 years of experience with the American Indian Counseling Center, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Her career as a psychologist began with the San Diego American Indian Health Center in 2007.
Dr. Cain obtained her Doctorate Degree from Oklahoma State University and holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University Northridge. The majority of her clinical career has been focused on direct services and program administration with American Indian/Alaska Native populations, primarily centered on the integration of culturally relevant care within a Westernized, public, mental health structure. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force and comes from three generations of Native women serving the military.
Melinda Hale
Contact Information:
Melinda Hale comes from the Diné (Navajo). She was born and raised in Los Angeles county. She has four brothers and two sisters, of which she is the youngest. Her late parents are both from Arizona. They were both re-located to Sherman in Riverside where they met and married. Melinda has been dancing since she could walk. She is a Southern Traditional Cloth dancer, instructor, facilitator, and speaker for our Native community in Drum/ Dance & Regalia. She also sews, creates, and designs for her clients. She tries to give back to our Native community with knowledge that she learns, was instilled and taught. She loves her Ndn community.
Monique Castro Coaching and Consulting LLC
Contact Information:
mcastrocoaching.com
Monique Castro is a proud Diné (Navajo) and Xicana, rooted in the ancestral lands of the Tongva people (Los Angeles, CA). As a dedicated and collaborative leader, she is deeply passionate about co-creating spaces that nurture healing, wellness, and sustainable leadership.
Bringing over 16 years of professional experience to the table, she is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, certified professional coach, consultant, facilitator, and advocate. In all her endeavors, she strives to uphold and center Indigenous values such as community, kinship, reciprocity, and relationships.
Her leadership journey includes co-founding the California Native Vote Project, So'oh-Shinálí Sister Project, and establishing the Indigenous Circle of Wellness, where she proudly serves as the founder and CEO. Additionally, she is the founder and owner of Monique Castro Coaching and Consulting, LLC.
Educationally, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles and a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Mount Saint Mary's University. Through her work and experiences, she is committed to making a positive impact rooted in cultural values and holistic well-being.
Naqmayam Communications
Contact Information:
naqcom.com
Dr. Joely Proudfit, a Luiseño/Payómkawichum and Tongva scholar, is a national leader in American Indian education, equity, and representation with over three decades of experience. As Department Chair of American Indian Studies and Director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center at CSU San Marcos, she has transformed Indigenous education through innovative research, including groundbreaking annual reports on Native American education in California.
A thrice-tenured full professor in the CSU system, Dr. Proudfit co-edits a 10-book series on Indigenous education across U.S. regions while simultaneously leading transformative initiatives in media and marketing. As founder of Native Media Strategies and Naqmayam Communications (NaqCom), she champions authentic Indigenous representation, working with major networks including BBC, PBS, National Geographic, ABC/DISNEY, and Netflix. Her recent work on "Spirit Rangers" earned 7 Emmy nominations, exemplifying her commitment to authentic storytelling.
Dr. Proudfit's influence extends into policy and advocacy. President Obama appointed her to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education in 2016, and in 2021, she became the first Indigenous woman appointed to California's Commission on the Status of Women and Girls by Governor Newsom. She serves as Vice Chair for the Native American Caucus of the California Democratic Party and is a founding member of California Indian Education for All (CIEFA).
Her groundbreaking work has earned numerous accolades, including the 2013 American Indian Educator of the Year, 2022 Variety Magazine Educator of the Year, 2024 National Indian Education Association (NIEA) Educator of the Year, and the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Award for Outstanding Public Service. With a Ph.D. in political science and expertise in culturally informed marketing strategies, Dr. Proudfit continues to shape policy, education, and media representation, driving systemic change through strategic communication and community empowerment.
Native American Made
Contact Information:
nativeamericanmade.org
Native American Made's mission is to inform, educate, and inspire Native and non-native Americans and once more to encourage Native elders and youth so as to understand our long sustainable history.
Together let us rediscover the true heritage of the Native American People and promote preventive health measures through modern digital self-care technology.
Today, urgency is needed to save our Indigenous population.
Native Muse Productions, LLC
Contact Information:
nativemuseprod.com
Jennifer Varenchik, from the Tohono O’odham Nation, is a facilitator dedicated to uplifting Indigenous communities through education, storytelling, and wellness. Her workshops, including The Psychology of Money, Grassroots Filmmaking, and Intro to Meditation, provide tools for personal growth, creativity, and balance.
As the owner of Native Muse Productions, LLC, Jennifer’s brand, Indigenous Stories. Every Genre., reflects her commitment to amplifying Native voices. With over a dozen short films, PSAs, and commercials to her credit, she is now developing her first feature film, In Our Own Hands. A short proof of concept is available on YouTube.
Based in Kaneohe, HI, Jennifer frequently travels to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. She is committed to promoting strengths-based approaches and building connections that empower Native and Indigenous communities.
Pamela J. Peters
Contact Information:
tachiiniiphotography.com
Pamela J. Peters is a multimedia artist from the Navajo Reservation. Her multimedia work explores her vision of what she calls Indigenous Realism, exploring the complexities of contemporary American Indians. Her work pushes viewers to critically analyze the psychological and historical structures underlying the representation of Native Americans in mass media.
Return to the Heart Foundation
Contact Information:
return2heart.org
Return to the Heart Foundation is an intermediary grantmaking foundation created by Native
Womxn, for Native Womxn and Girls, out of the dire need to empower and resource
Indigenous Womxn, bringing holistic healing to their communities and beyond. The foundation amplifies
their voices, changes damaging and dominant narratives, and supports gender, racial and
environmental justice.
Stephanie Guadron of Corazón de Lucero
Contact Information:
Stephanie Guadron has had the privilege of working with grassroots-led non-profit organizations, local government, and public schools. Each unique experience has helped her grow as a professional while helping to empower her community.
Stephanie obtained her BA degree from California State University, Northridge and her MA degree in Education from Claremont Graduate University.
Tatiana Morales Morales & Co
Contact Information:
As a Researcher and Business Development Consultant, Tatiana specializes in cultural competent media development, bilingual interpretation/translation, and strategic growth for organizations across various sectors. In her recent work, she has led the design and execution of qualitative research across federal contracts, maintaining compliance with regulatory standards while managing bilingual data collection and reporting.
She has successfully managed presentations and facilitated workshops for clients like the NDN Collective, Architect of the Capitol, and Indian Health Services, using platforms such as PowerPoint, Smart sheet and Mural. Her approach is centered on collaboration and long-term partnerships, which has led to budget increases of $80K to $100K for key clients.
With a strong background in both qualitative research and business development, she helps organizations expand their impact through culturally competent strategies, data-driven decision-making, and innovative program development.
Tekenya sanchez. (Tlalli Creations)
Contact Information:
Tekenya Sanchez is a Navajo and Nahua woman raised in Los Angeles with strong ties to her heritage. Her art blends urban influences with traditional Navajo and Nahua symbols and stories, reflecting her cultural identity. Tekenya explores her heritage, nature, and revitalization to connect the past with the present. Staying in touch with the earth and using her pottery as a means to stay balanced as she walks the road of an urban Indian American.
Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural & Bookstore
Contact Information:
tiachucha.org
The mission of Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore is to transform the community in the Northeast San Fernando Valley and beyond through ancestral knowledge, the arts, literacy and creative engagement. The cultural center/bookstore provides a positive space for year-round on-site and off-site free or low-cost cultural arts and literacy bilingual intergenerational program experiences.
Tumbleweed Nutrition LLC
Contact Information:
tumbleweednutrition.com
Denee Bex is a Registered Dietitian from the Diné (Navajo) Nation and is an advocate for
healthy diets which include cultural foods without judgement in Native communities. She is the
Charcoal Streak Division of the Red Running Into Water clan and born for the Coyote Pass
People. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Arizona State University in 2011,
a Master of Public Health with a focus on community health education in 2017 from New
Mexico State University and is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She
completed her dietetic internship with Wellness Workdays, which helped her realize the power
of entrepreneurship. She received her registration status and licensure in 2018. She has worked
in Native communities for over 10 years and recognizes and understands the challenges and
barriers to equitable health and focuses on providing inclusive nutrition education for her
Native community. She has been featured in numerous publications including the New York
Times, Leading the Way, The Arizona Republic and various podcasts. Denee is the owner and
founder of Tumbleweed Nutrition LLC, a dietetics and nutrition education consulting firm that
aims to provide inclusive and evidence-based nutrition consultations for organizations and
farms which honors American Indian history and heritage. For additional information, please
visit www.tumbleweednutrition.com or follow @tumbleweed_nutrition on Instagram.
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