by Antonia Gonzales and Sarah Gustavus

Los Angeles is a city, which covers more than 460 square miles and has nearly four million residents. Less than two percent of the population is Native American, according to U.S. Census statistics. It can often be difficult for Native people in Los Angeles County to find culturally relevant services, but people are turning to a Native center to help fill those needs.

On a summer evening in Los Angeles, men, women and children gather in a circle as a group of men sing and drum.  They begin with a round dance and then transition into different styles of powwow dancing. Showing the steps to young people along the way. The social gathering is a service provided by United American Indian Involvement (UAII), which was started in the 1970s to help homeless Native people living on Skid Row.

Dance instructor Dave Patterson has been teaching powwow style dance for 12 years and said it is part of reliving his culture by teaching and participating in classes and social events.

“I go to work just like anybody else, I make a living, the hustle and bustle, especially in California it’s really fast,” Patterson said. “Sometimes I need that break to go back to my culture.”

Patterson is from the Sac and Fox, and Kickapoo tribes. He finds connecting with cultural activities provides balance in his busy life. He is among many urban Indians who are willing to travel long distances to get together with other Native people in LA County.  Emcee of the class, Phillip Hale, Navajo, added that the class is about more than dancing.

“It helps our families here (in LA) who over the generations have lost their identity to gain back that identity and retain that knowledge to teach their kids and grandkids,” Hale said.

The disconnect from Native culture and identity is linked to federal government relocation policy of the 1950s. Native Americans were encouraged to leave reservations, get jobs in major cities, including LA, and assimilate.

Connie Fast Horse’s family was relocated from the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota to California.  The Sicangu Lakota grandmother prepared food for the evening and said she brings children she knows to the cultural classes, which include traditional clothing instruction.

Fast Horse said young Native people living in the big city benefit from the people and services at United American Indian Involvement, “they have to learn it here and they begin to feel pride in their Native culture and it strengthens them spiritually.”

Combining cultural components such as beading, basket weaving, sage picking and family activities into Western programs is producing better outcomes for individuals and families, according to Dr. Carrie Johnson.

Johnson is the Director of Seven Generations Child and Family Services at United American Indian Involvement.  Johnson is Wahpeton Dakota and is a licensed clinical psychologist.  She added that isolation is often connected to child abuse and UAII used to see many reports around the holidays until the community requested more cultural teachings.  About three years ago UAII started increasing cultural workshops after taking advice from its community advisory group.

Tso Yanez takes part in a drum and dance class at United American Indian Involvement in Los Angeles, California. The cultural activities have helped him with sobriety. (Photo-Antonia Gonzales)

“Once we started doing this, we haven’t had one child abuse report during the holidays,” Johnson said. “Most of them (clients) will have therapists or care coordinators who then talk to them about cultural activities and then they start coming to them.”

Back at the drum and dance class, Tso Yanez, Yaqui, Iroquois and Navajo, said Native culture helped guided him away from gangs and addiction.

“Even if you have that life you can remember where your culture and where your roots come from,” Yanez said.

The father of three brings his wife and kids to the classes and is a mentor to others struggling with addiction.

“If I wasn’t Native American and I was an addict I’d have a lot less fair of a chance because I grew up with ceremony, I grew up with teachings, I grew up with songs, I grew up with the dance,” Yanez said. “So, coming back to it gave it a reason to tie it all back together.”

Measuring success can often be challenging. That is why UAII is currently undergoing a five-year study of the drum, dance and regalia program. The research will produce data on whether it decreases mental health problems and substance abuse.  The research project will also examine assessments of social connection and cultural identity.

This story is part of a joint project between National Native News is teaming up with New Mexico In Focus with help from the USC Annenberg-Center for Health Journalism and the Dennis A. Hunt Health Journalism Fund. You can view additional stories in the project about health and Native Americans here. 

By Antonia Gonzales and Sarah Gustavus

Native parents in Los Angeles County are turning to the Southern California Indian Center for support. Families face a number of challenges living in a large urban area, and some parents may not have access to services and help with necessities or raising their children with their extended family members or their tribe.

Through a fellowship with the USC Annenberg-Center for Health Journalism and the Dennis A. Hunt Health Journalism Fund, National Native News and New Mexico In Focus traveled to LA and looked at a program, which is helping ensure babies and parents are safe and healthy while also connecting them to other Native Americans in the big city.

Minimum wage in Los Angeles was raised this summer from $10.50 an hour to $12.00, while the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment is nearly $2,000.00.

April Cardenas, David Jr. and David McGeisey Diaz. (Photo-Antonia Gonzales)

“Living in the city, in LA especially, it gets expensive,” said David McGeisey Diaz.

David McGeisey Diaz, who is Seminole Creek and Pima, grew up in the LA-area.  He has an infant son with April Cardenas, who is also Seminole Creek.

The parents take part in programs at the Southern California Indian Center, which are offered to Native Americans in Los Angeles County.  Cardenas believes the support she receives there is worth traveling the distance.

“I still don’t have my license so it’s really complicated I have to take an Uber,” explained Cardenas.  “What would it be would be a ride from and over from my house to the train station and then the 20 to 30-minute ride over here,” she added.

The couple initially came to the Indian center for help with baby items including diapers, but also found a place where they felt comfortable talking about other issues.

“A lot of people think that we’re like from over the border, (there is) a lot of racism that goes on and a lot of misconceptions of our heritage,” said McGeisey Diaz.

Parents like David and April are taking part in the American Indian Family Partnership program, which has been at the center for eight years.

“It’s all about family and that kind of makes me feel at home,” said Cardenas. “I’ve never really had a family and this is really cool.” 

Many parents are in crisis when they first arrive, according Raymond Estrella an outreach counselor.

“They’re on emergency mode right now, they’re not thinking about tomorrow or they’re hungry, and they need stuff right now,” said Estrella.

After those immediate needs are met, families can focus on healthy living including helping high risk moms who have experienced abuse or need mental health services.

Vivian Garcia is Cherokee Nation and came to the center for support after her daughter was born.  Transportation, jobs and housing are among the many challenges facing Native people in LA, Garcia said she yearned to connect with other Native people.

“Taking the classes and knowing that I just wasn’t alone in this journey was really the biggest blessing for me because it did kind of restore that fact, you know, I can do this,” said Garcia.

Parents are encouraged to go through training that covers health, safety and how to create a nurturing environment. Cultural activities, such as beading and cradleboard making, are included side-by-side with services.

“We have families, grandmas and you know uncles and everybody would come in and work with the cradle board,” said Pamela Smith, who is Navajo and works with families at the Indian center. “When that baby is in that cradleboard everybody has a hand on that cradleboard, the whole family is there constructing this carrier for the baby for them to be safe and it’s nothing but good thoughts and laughter.” 

One of the biggest challenges for the Southern California Indian Center is funding cuts, but the organization is working to adapt programs with current finances.  Families benefiting from services at the center maintain it helps them reconnect to their Native culture while providing a support system.