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The mission of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley is to help ensure the survival and healing of American Indians/Alaskan Natives and our community by providing high quality, comprehensive health care and wellness services.
The purpose of the IHC newsletter is to build community and promote health and wellness, while highlighting the services we provide to all. Here, you will find critical updates about our services, important resources for the community, and highlights featuring our awesome staff.
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The IHC Gala is Around the Corner!
Join Us!
This is a virtual celebration of the resilience, perseverance and dedication of those we serve and who make it possible for Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley (IHC) to continue providing nationally acclaimed health care to over 20,000 members (patients), while specializing in the unique health care needs of American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
What to Expect
The event will consist of a program overview, cultural presentations, online auction, and of course, comedy to heal our collective heart and bring that GOOD MEDICINE!
This is a Fundraiser
As the only agency in Santa Clara County specializing in services for American Indians and Alaskan Natives, IHC is All proceeds raised will directly benefit youth and families that participate in IHC Wellness and Prevention Services and Inter-Tribal Resource Department programs.
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MMIW Awareness Month
#MMIWG2S Awareness Month
In 2021, President Joe Biden declared May 5th as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Those who have been advocating for this for years, did so with the intention of increasing visibility, justice and resources to stop this epidemic here in the US, and throughout the Americas. CEO, Sonya Tetnowski, alongside the dedicated team at #IHC continues to fight on a national level on behalf of American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
This May 5th, Sonya, who is a Makah (tribal) member, was featured on a panel hosted at San Jose State University, to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People, in Santa Clara County, and beyond.
Other panelists featured Soma de Bourbon, who is a professor at San Jose State University and Board of Directors member for IHC; and Sharon Rose Torres, who is a Mental Health Peer Support Worker for Santa Clara County. All three panelists are long time members of the Red Earth Women’s Society.
In addition, on this National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day, Sonya was named to the Not Invisible Commission by Deb Haaland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, of the Biden Administration. According to the the U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs, "The Commission’s purpose is to make recommendations to the Department of the Interior and Department of Justice to improve intergovernmental coordination and establish best practices for state-tribal-federal law enforcement to combat the epidemic of missing persons, murder, and trafficking of Native Americans and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs)."
Sonya had this to say, “I am honored and proud to be appointed to the Not Invisible Act Commission. In this role, I will work hard to shed light on the devastating impact of violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living in urban areas.”
#REDEARTHWOMENSSOCIETY
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IHC at City Hall
#IHC Director of Development and Communications, Gerardo Loera was joined by his wife, Corina Herrera-Loera, a member of our IHC’s Circles of Care Committee, to provide the invocation for the San Jose City Council meeting, on May 17, 2022. The couple was invited as guests of San Jose City Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco.
Councilmember Carrasco had this to say:
“It was an honor to invite both Gerardo & Corina Herrera-Loera who led us in a moment of reflection, and reminded us to be mindful of the space we occupy and the impact of our decisions. They are a powerful, spiritual force in our community, serving as critical role models at a time when so many of our residents are searching for meaning in their lives.”
The audience was also reminded that “It wasn’t until the 1978 American Indian Freedom of Religion Act was passed, that our First Nations people were afforded governmental protections to freely practice our ceremonial and cultural ways.” However, this has been a fundamental right for all others, since the inception of the United States.
#StillHere
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IHC is Going Solar!
In support of Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley’s ongoing efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, they submitted a grant application to the Indian Health Service (IHS) California Area Office, Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE), for a total of $326,527.
IHC was recently informed that they won the award!
As a result of this funding, IHC will be able to reduce environmental impacts of its existing infrastructure by incorporating energy efficient and renewable energy components.
Conducted by PowerOnSolar, the project will commence in the spring, concluding in the summer of 2022. Taking place at the main campus of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley located at 1333 Meridian Ave, the 230 SunPower solar panels will be installed at Building A, Main Clinic.
"Over the next 30 years, it is expected that the project will generate $1,595,484 in utility energy savings."
The Return on Investment (ROI) for this project will be 422% at a 5% discount rate over a 30 year period. . .64% over 10 years, 225% over 20 years, and 422% over 30 years” (IHS, 2022). The main campus currently uses 187,104 KWh annually. With the new installment, this annual energy usage will dramatically decrease to 152,351 KWh per year. Within its first initial year of operation, the main campus will accumulate up to $38,702 in annual savings. Over the next 30 years, this amount will amass up to $1,595,484 in savings.
“Reducing our carbon footprint, being good stewards of the environment, is a critical step in alignment with our mission and means more resources for our members and staff.”
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