Advocates to the Front! 2024 WSCADV Conference

Yeha:wi means “holding her sacred.” In our Yeha:wi Service Center, we deliver powerful cultural healing services that nurture, embolden, and honor a new generation of Native women leaders. This panel will discuss the ways that Mother Nation supports Native and Indigenous women in their healing journeys from gender violence and homelessness by reclaiming their cultural heritage, building strong relationships of sisterhood, and participating in their community.

Mother Nation was founded in 2013 by Norine Hill, with a mission to deliver social and cultural healing services for Native women that nurture, create stability, and inspire growth through sisterhood. Today Mother Nation is a Native American 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers culturally informed healing services, advocacy, mentorship and homeless prevention in Washington State. We support Native and Indigenous women during times of transition from chronic homelessness and gender-based violence to stable housing by providing counseling, connection to social services, sisterhood, community, and spiritual support.

Join us for an insightful breakout session exploring the phenomena of secondary trauma as a form of countertransference, focusing on how these experiences can serve as a mirror for self-discovery and personal growth. Participants will learn to identify and understand various autonomic physical and emotional reactions that arise when working with stories of trauma, and gain valuable insights into their personal strengths and vulnerabilities. Together, we will develop practical strategies for leveraging these insights to enhance personal well-being, improve case management, and strengthen professional resilience.