NATIVE AMERICAN CONFERENCE 'IS ABOUT THE TOGETHERNESS OF NATIVE WOMEN

Native American conference 'is about the togetherness of women'




10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, August 16, 2009

By DIANE A. RHODES
Special to The Press-Enterprise

Learning how to heal physically, emotionally and spiritually was the goal of the third annual women's wellness conference at The Oaks on the Soboba Indian reservation.

About 125 women registered for the retreat, which started Friday and focused mostly on the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault. It was a collaborative effort between The Luiseño Native Women of Soboba, Riverside and San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc., and the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal TANF (Temporary Aid for Needy Families).

Speakers touched on topics that emphasized the importance of healthy relationships.

Rose Parker-Sterling talked about how she received clemency in 2000 from then-Gov. Gray Davis. She was incarcerated for 15 years for killing an abusive boyfriend in what she said was a case of self-defense.

Other speakers, Manuel and Vivian Hamilton, from the Anza reservation, have been married 32 years and shared their healing journey of sobriety.

Jacqueline Agtuca, a North Carolina Eastern Band Cherokee, is an attorney who spoke about laws that have been passed to protect Native American women and children against violence. She also gave out copies of "Sharing Our Stories of Survival: Native Women Surviving Violence," to which she contributed.

According to the National Congress of American Indians' Web site, www.ncai.org, the rate of violence is much higher -- almost double -- for Native women than it is within the general population.

"And we are the least protected by laws," said Wendy Schlater, who works with the Tribal TANF. She is a La Jolla tribal member, one of Soboba's six sister tribes.

"The presenters addressed the mind, body and spirit, and now the women can practice their rights," said Schlater.

"We started a domino effect," said Carmelita Vallejo, who founded The Luiseño Native Women of Soboba about four years ago with Virginia Duenaz and Lorina Duro. The group, whose motto is "All Women Are Sacred," now has about a dozen members.

"It's a grass-roots movement within the tribal infrastructure for women to address issues with the support of the tribal council," said Schlater.

Cheryl Bear, an evangelist and singer from Canada, offered an emotional after-dinner program of prayer and inspirational songs. It was a culmination of Saturday's full day of speakers and activities.

"It was a wonderful experience -- I felt as if the Holy Spirit was here," said Eva Alford, of San Jacinto. "This is about the togetherness of women. We all have the same hurts and pains as sisters, wives and mothers."

"This is my third time here. I wouldn't miss it for anything," said Oneida Barrera, of San Jacinto. "You come here thinking you have such a burden and it's nothing compared to what some of these (other) people are facing."

Representatives of the Indian health organization offered screenings and information about diabetes, high blood pressure and healthy eating. Printouts urged at-risk women to follow up with their physicians based on the findings.

"These are very common sicknesses with Native Americans," said Angela Ramos, of the Yokut-Tejon Indian Tribe, who also works with the Tribal TANF.

Sylvia Morton, of Riverside, said she finds the conferences to be inspirational, uplifting, beneficial and renewing. Attending for the third time, she said she has not found any other outreach resources for the Native community.

Schlater said the most popular comment she heard as the women packed up to leave Sunday morning was: "Thank you -- we needed this."

For information, call Vallejo at 951-306-6466, or Tribal TANF at 951-300-1687 or 800-914-1282.