The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, through Doyuti T’uhkama, has awarded a $250,000 proactive grant to the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health (CCUIH) to support applied public health research benefiting Native communities across the state.
According to a local press release, the funding will advance CCUIH’s Rising Together initiative — a culturally centered effort supporting American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of violence through education, collaboration, and community-based healing.
“For generations, our people have understood that lasting solutions come from within our communities,” stated Anthony Roberts. “This investment reflects our commitment to supporting Native-led work, trusting the expertise of those who are closest to the challenges and best positioned to respond in ways that are culturally grounded and effective.”
This investment reflects the Tribe’s deliberate approach to supporting Native-led organizations, trusting their expertise to guide how funding is used. Rather than prescribing specific outcomes, Yocha Dehe works in partnership with organizations like CCUIH to ensure resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact.
CCUIH represents all Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) in California, including health clinics and rehabilitation centers serving Native people living in urban communities. These organizations collectively serve the majority of Native people in the state, many of whom are disconnected from traditional tribal health systems but remain deeply connected to culture and community.
“It is refreshing to have a partner that recognizes the importance of flexibility in funding,” said Jennifer Ruiz, who recently stepped into the role of Executive Director and is guiding CCUIH’s continued work to strengthen Urban Indian health across California. “Reducing administrative burdens helps us focus on the work and community needs, and will ultimately achieve greater outcomes,” Ruiz continued.
The Rising Together initiative builds on years of community-informed work, bringing together research, cultural knowledge, and lived experience to better understand and address the impacts of violence on Native individuals and families. The approach emphasizes healing, prevention, and solutions shaped directly by Native voices.
As part of this effort, CCUIH recently released a short film, Rising Together, which highlights the stories, partnerships, and vision behind the initiative. The film reflects a growing, statewide movement grounded in culture, community, and a shared commitment to the safety and wellness of Native people.
“This is about listening, learning, and supporting the work that communities themselves have identified as essential,” Roberts added. “When we invest in Native-led solutions, we see outcomes that are not only more effective, but more meaningful and sustainable.”
The grant also reflects a broader spirit of intertribal collaboration, with multiple tribal partners supporting efforts to improve health outcomes for Native people across California. By investing in Native-led research and community-driven initiatives, these partnerships are helping to build stronger, more connected systems of care.
“This partnership represents more than an investment in a program; it is an investment in the safety, healing and future of our Native communities,” said Wyatt Kelly, CCUIH Grant Manager. “We are deeply grateful for the trust and support that allows the Rising Together program to continue growing as a culturally rooted movement centered on resilience, connection and collective care. Our hope is that families, youth, elders and all our relatives see themselves reflected in this work and are reminded that they are worthy of safety, opportunity and a future where they can thrive.”
Through Doyuti T’uhkama, Yocha Dehe supports organizations and initiatives that strengthen communities and reflect shared values of care, responsibility, and long-term stewardship.
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation practices responsible leadership, environmental stewardship and community partnership through innovative programs that uplift people and improve shared resources, including the Doyuti T’uhkama grant program.
Doyuti T’uhkama means “to give the acorn” in the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s native Patwin language. For the Patwin people, the acorn is a cherished symbol that reflects Yocha Dehe’s commitment to sharing its resources, particularly with those in need.
The California Consortium for Urban Indian Health (CCUIH) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the health, wellness, and visibility of urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Established in 2006, CCUIH serves as a unified voice for California’s Urban Indian Health Organizations, supporting community-driven solutions through policy advocacy, public awareness, research, and capacity building.
By centering cultural knowledge, traditional practices, and community-defined priorities, CCUIH works to strengthen systems of care and ensure Native communities have access to high-quality, culturally responsive services. Through partnerships across Tribal, urban, and state systems, CCUIH is building a more equitable and sustainable future for Native health in California.
