It has been a very fulfilling experience to work with an Indian-operated organization whose staff and membership understand, care for and support the empowerment of the people that the organization was devised to help. At this time, the Tribe would like to extend their thanks for the warm reception that their keynote speaker received while attending the recent sponsored TANF (CTTP) and co-sponsored (NACEC) educational conference in Lake County.
The Tribe would especially like to thank Thomas Leon Brown, Executive Director of the California Tribal TANF Partnership and A-dae Romero, Education Director of the California Tribal TANF Partnership, for the invitation and allowing the Tribe to share their experiences with the various obstacles which face many native sovereign nations today that must be overcome in order to achieve lasting success within our communities.
The Tribe learned a great deal through participation in group study and discussion about the concerns of other native people regarding education, healthcare, safety and rehabilitation; among other topics. Discussion centered around the personal experiences of the participants and the methods which were or are currently being utilized in raising successive generations, with particular focus on the changes needed to ensure a quality future for our descendants and native communities in general. When it came time for the dinner keynote speaker Silvia Burley to address the audience, a true sense of unity was displayed in the undivided attention that was given while she read poetry, played some traditional flute, spoke of her and the California Valley Miwok Tribe’s personal struggles and of the important role that education has played in successfully addressing the issues that the Tribe faces today. For more information, please visit the California Tribal TANF Partnership’s website at: http://www.cttp.net
