Two Feathers Native American Family Services is a Native-led organization serving Native American youth and families in Humboldt County. Through counseling, leadership development, cultural programs, and community events, the organization supports the mental health, well-being, and self-determination of Native youth and their families. Grounded in the belief that wellness is strengthened through culture, connection, and community, Two Feathers creates opportunities for Native youth to learn from elders, strengthen their identity, and build meaningful relationships across generations.
The photographs in this series were made during He-We-Chek', I Survive: A Day of Intergenerational Sharing, a gathering held at Sue-Meg State Park that brought together Native elders, youth, families, and community members to share stories, songs, ceremony, food, and cultural traditions. The event grew out of Culture is Healing, an intergenerational project in which Native youth interviewed elders about the role of culture in wellness, healing, and resilience. Throughout the day, elders and youth connected through stories, cultural traditions, and shared experiences. The gathering offered a living expression of the relationships formed through the project and the ways those connections support individual and community well-being.
What is the value of generations coming together in programs like this?
Generations coming together not only benefits the youth but the community as a whole. It brings hope and resilience to the youth and also to the elders from whom they are learning. In native communities, there is a lot of generational trauma that can continue to be passed down to our younger generations. Elders sharing how they overcame the generational trauma gives the youth hope that they can as well. Culture and traditions are a big part of life in native communities. At one point, colonization prevented its practice. Bringing back cultural practices and sharing them with the youth allows the culture and traditions to live on, it also allows generational trauma to heal for future generations.
Kellie McGlathery, Two Feathers Youth Development Specialist
Life expectancy 2023
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