Dr. Harry Cuervo it’s a Kumeyaay Elder, lead Bird Singer and tribal member of the Cambo Kumeyaay Nation. In this video Dr. Harry shares about growing up with parents that drank a lot and how addiction took their lives. He shares how he fell in love with Bird Singing and the culture and how he has been sober his whole life, dedicated to a life of Singing Bird. Dr. Harry shares about what it means to think Indian and to carry on the traditional ways. He shares about blood quantum, elder wisdom, meditation and living in a changing World. In this video Dr. Harry shares about bad medicine and how we can heal and find our way back through connection to the Earth and animals.

Chairwoman Erika Pinto from the Jamul Indian Village of California shares her story of growing up in the 80’s and being sexually abused and how that led to a struggle with addiction. She shares her journey of connection back to Maay Ha, her higher power and how through practicing the Native American 12 steps she has been sober for 9 years. In this video she shares about coming of age, growing up in poverty and how the future is bright because in the midst of adversity natives now share a seat at the table.

Chris Alvarado is lead Kumeyaay Bird Singer from the Waipuk Clan that’s part of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians. In this video Chris shares about growing up in the culture and how it taught him to be. It taught him how to pray, how to be kind, how to cry, and how to think as we and not I. He shares his experience of leaning into the culture and the path of Bird Singing to avoid falling into addictions present in his community. Chris believes the future is bright and shares why and where he see his Kumeyaay Nation headed.

Jamie LaBrake is a Kumeyaay Elder from the Sycuan Band of Mission Indians and a Kumeyaay Bird Singer. In this video Jamie talks about struggling with his addiction in his youth and how he felt he didn’t deserve to be a part of his culture. He shares that through the accepting and embracing of his culture he was able to overcome his addiction and now he feels he has so much to live for. Jamie touches on the Kumeyaay creation story and how the Creator came to give us language. He talks about the four stages of life and what it means to live with the Creator's heart.

Mathew Alvarado is Kumeyaay from the Waipuk Clan that’s part of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians and is a Kumeyaay Bird Singer and firefighter. In this video Mathew shares about the loss he has witnessed on the San Pasqual Reservation due to addiction and Fentynl. He explores the idea of connection to culture, taking care of your body, mind and spirit to stay in balance and in service of a community where addiction is in excess.

Dr. Stan Rodriguezis a Kumeyaay Elder and Bird Singer from the Lipay Nation of Santa Ysabel. In this video Dr. Stan shares about Indian Boarding Schools and how cultural practices have been punished throughout history in an attempt to eradicate the language. He shares how learning the songs and language is an act of resistance and important to hold onto the Kumeyaay traditions. He also shares how embracing the culture, songs and language can help fight addictions present in today's world and on our Reservations. Dr. Stan also shares his perspectives of displacement, addiction and not enrolling members of our tribal communities as tribal members.

Richard Bugbee is a Pala member, Kumeyaay Ethnobotanist, Payomkowishum Elder. In this video Richard shares about native plants and their cultural uses including white sage. He talks about the importance of language and the revitalization of native languages. He shares how language connects us to the spirit realm and our ancestors. This video talks about the connection between the youth and elders and the time Richard spent learning under Kumeyaay Ethnobotanist Jane Dumas. He shares about historical trauma and how culture plays a role in sobriety. He talks about different cultures around the globe including tribal indo european cultures and everyone’s right to connect back to a tribal perspective.

Chairwoman Bernice Paipa is a Kumeyaay Elder from the Lipay Nation of Santa Ysabel. In this video she tells her story of struggling with her addiction in her youth and how the culture and songs woke her up and led her down a path of sobriety to be there for her young children. She shares how her life was transformed by leaning into the culture and what she has learned as a Chairwoman and what that accomplishment means to her and her family today.