KQED | American Indian Heritage: Local Heroes


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American Indian Heritage 2003 Local Heroes:
Ruth Villasenor

Honoree Ruth Villasenor is a Chiricahua Apache Mexican woman. For the past 4 years, Ruth has worked as a Treatment Advocate for the Native American Health Center (NAHC) in San Francisco. Ruth is a core member of the Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) -- a local organization whose mission is to create forums for the spiritual, cultural and artistic expression of Two-Spirit people. She also serves as a member of Hummingbird Lodge, a Two-Spirit women's community. Using her different roles, Ruth has been a vehicle for proud unity and change in our community. Through her energetic spirit and tireless efforts of helping other Natives connect to their cultural traditions and to the gay/two-spirit community, she has helped to increase acceptance of homosexuality in a community that is not always tolerant. Her work has helped other Natives to increase their self-esteem, put their trust in health care, prevent HIV infections, and decreased AIDS related deaths.

Through her work at NAHC, Ruth has developed a weekly beading class that also serves as a community support and treatment advocacy group. Additionally, Ruth organizes regular sweat lodges at the Hummingbird Lodge for NAHC clients, which brings spiritual healing to HIV positive patients, helps to encourage the choice of sobriety among patients, and serves as a bridge to traditional ways. She also connects gay Native Americans to monthly potlucks and gay pride events. In 2002, she encouraged a number of NAHC clients to work together with BAAITS to build and ride a float in the Gay Pride parade, for which they won Best Musical Float Award. Ruth obtains free tickets for the Native American Film Festival and the Gay and Lesbian Film Festivals, providing the opportunity for NAHC clients to participate in cultural events they would otherwise not have the means to attend.

For the past several years, Ruth has cared for her elderly mother -- visiting her almost daily, brightening up her day with fresh flowers from her garden and advocating for her at the nursing home. Together, Ruth and her wheelchair bound mother regularly attend local Pow Wows and other Native American Community Events.

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American Indian 2003 Local Heroes
	Don "Little Cloud" Davenport
	Smoke Johnson
	Ruth Villasenor
	Kathy Wallace

American Indian 2002 Local Heroes
	Sandra George Medi-Cal Program, City & County of San Francisco
	Ruth Hopper Native American Studies Program University of California, Berkeley
	Nelson Jim Clinical Director, Family & Child Guidance Clinic Native American Health Center
	Mark Owens Program Facilitator Marin Abused Women Services, Men's Program
	Paul Owns the Sabre Artist
	Patrick Orozco Chairman, Pajaro Valley Ohlone Indian Council

Honor in Memoriam
	Virgil Cross Guns Northern Traditional Dancer
	Millie Ketcheshawno Executive Film Producer

American Indian 2001 Local Heroes
	Gilbert Blacksmith Medicine Warrior Dance Troupe
	Dr. Leslie Gray Executive Director and Founder, Woodfish Institute
	Deni Leonard Founder and Chairman, United Native Depository Corporation
	Michael Smith Executive Director, American Indian Film Institute
	Helen Waukazoo Medicine Executive Director, Friendship House Association of American Indians

American Indian Heritage Features & Resources
	American Indian Resources
	American Indian Local Heroes
	Educator Resources