Indigenous Rights Movement Radio 5pm Central Sunday Jaclyn Bissonette

Please join David Hill and myself Sunday the 4th at 5 pm central when our guest will be Jaclyn Bissonette. Here is some information to share with you on Jaclyn. My name is Jaclyn Bissonette and I am a 31 years old. I'm Oglala Lakota and Paiute/Shoshone from Bishop California. I am an enrolled member of the Bishop Paiute Tribe. My fathers family is Lakota from Kyle South Dakota and the surrounding area. I grew up with my mother in California. I currently reside in Pasadena CA and I work in Los Angeles at United American Indian Involvement, Inc., (UAII). UAII was established in 1974 and is a non-profit organization that offers a wide array of health and human services to American Indians/ Alaska Natives living throughout Los Angeles County. During the relocation era of the late 1940's and early 1950's the US Government offered homes and jobs to Indian people if they moved off the reservations and to citys like Denver and Los Angeles. Many of the Natives who came to Los Angeles ended up homeless. They found that the government did not supply good housing or sustainable jobs. UAII has grown from a small community -based organization providing social services to American Indian/ Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) living in the Skid Row area, to a multidisciplinary comprehensive service center meeting the multiple needs of AI/AN county and statewide. UAII has expanded its services to include a primary health clinic. We also service AI/AN who need assistance and may be traveling through the LA area. UAII has been dedicated to addressing the needs of American Indians in Los Angeles County for the last 35 years. I am a recovering alcoholic and it was through UAII that I was able to find a rehab program. Next month I celebrate my one year of sobriety. As a young Native woman I now know my worth and what I have to offer. This came from spritual strength, from my Higher Power, my Creator. I now look forward to living a long and successful life.