OAKLAND, CA – Native American Health Center (NAHC) is proud to announce Dr. Anjuli Piya as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Piya brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to healthcare excellence, innovation, and community health to her new role at NAHC. NAHC’s CEO, Natalie Aguilera, welcomes Dr. Piya to her new role, stating, “Dr. Piya’s exceptional leadership skills, combined with her deep understanding of our community’s healthcare needs, make her the ideal CMO. Her appointment marks a significant step forward in our journey to provide the best possible care to those we se ..read more

OAKLAND, Calif. — Native American Health Center (NAHC) is excited to announce Natalie Aguilera, MPA (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective November 1, 2023. Having dedicated over 18 years to NAHC, Aguilera previously served as the Chief Administrative Officer. With a Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Public Administration from Syracuse University, Aguilera brings extensive experience and a profound understanding of the local community to this role. She follows in the footsteps of her grandmother, Alice Carnes, who work ..read more

Walking into NAHC’s Oakland WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Office, visitors are now greeted with a vibrant mural that paints a story beyond the beautiful colors and designs. This mural serves as a testament to the strength and beauty of motherhood across diverse Indigenous cultures and the commitment of our WIC team to promote holistic health and nutrition. This new addition to our office features four women, each in a different stage of motherhood: including pregnancy, cradling an infant, embracing a child, and breastfeeding (the first sacred food). The most notable part of the design is ..read more

“This isn’t fast fashion, this is first fashion,” said Acosia Red Elk at New York Fashion Week 2023. The Ribbon Skirt is a symbol of Native survival and identity. Over the past several months, our Chief Cultural Officer, Community Wellness Team, and photographer Irwin Lewis have been working together to create stunning portraits of women within our community wearing their Ribbon Skirts. This project is a representation of healing through Native American traditions and modern-day reclamation of culture that gives our people hope and a reason to live. In this way, Ribbon Skirts are an active ..read more

OAKLAND, CA – After four transformative decades, Martin “Marty” Waukazoo (Lakota), the visionary CEO of the Native American Health Center (NAHC), will retire on November 1, 2023. NAHC’s Board of Directors has appointed Natalie Aguilera (Choctaw), the current Interim CEO and Chief Administrative Officer, to succeed Waukazoo. The Board is confident Aguilera will carry forward the vision and passion that Waukazoo has instilled in the center for decades. “As I look at the past years as a board member and current Chairperson, I am proud of what has been accomplished for our Native community through ..read more

Native American Health Center (NAHC) is excited to announce Dr. Utaka Springer as our first Chief Behavioral Health Officer (CBHO). Dr. Springer has been an integral member of NAHC’s leadership team since he joined the organization as NAHC’s Director of Behavioral Health (BH) in 2012. His transition into this new role is a strategic effort to uplift the work of our BH team and strengthen support of mental wellness and social determinants of health, which are fundamental to NAHC’s overall vision of healthy and thriving communities. “In BH, we have an excellent team that’s oriented to partnerin ..read more

This week we have been deeply saddened by the passing of a cherished member of our NAHC family. Jerri Davis dedicated 30 years of her life to NAHC and became an integral part of our community and the history of our health center. As a member of the Pomo Tribe in Clearlake, CA, Jerri came to the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1980s. She started here on a whim, filling in for an absent employee in our fiscal department. But even with no finance training, Jerri quickly realized she had a knack for numbers and immensely enjoyed the job. After retiring in 2017, Jerri continued to stay a part of NAHC ..read more

Oakland, CA – Native American Health Center (NAHC) is excited to announce Anthony Guzman (Northern Ute) as our first-ever Chief Cultural Officer (CCO). For the last two years, Guzman has served as NAHC’s Community Wellness Department (CWD) Director, and we are honored to transition him into this new role. The CCO will lead NAHC’s efforts to institute and sustain a healing framework for the organization guided by Tribal beliefs and value systems. Guzman earned his Master of Social Work in 2006 with a Public Services emphasis at the University of Utah. He has over a decade of administration and ..read more

In honor of late Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, NAHC was proud to host a Holiday Children’s Vaccine Event in December, 2021.  We provided a safe and fun environment for families to participate with a bouncy—house, games, music, a toy giveaway, – and a special appearance from Santa and the Grinch!  During this event, approximately 200 children received their much needed second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. NAHC has remained a trusted leader in protecting and supporting our community through the COVID-19 pandemic. NAHC is committed to continuing our efforts in the fight to prot ..read more

Oakland’s Indigenous Red Market returns to celebrate Native culture and connection After a 14-month hibernation, the Indigenous Red Market, a celebration of Native artists, vendors, music, dance, and food came roaring back to life this month at the Native American Health Center parking lot on International Boulevard in Fruitvale. The post Oakland’s Indigenous Red Market returns to celebrate Native culture and connection appeared first on Native American Health Center ..read more