NEW YORK—The desire to preserve and pass on authentic teachings from America’s indigenous people is embodied in Yvonne Wakim Dennis.
It is perhaps a fitting passion for a Cherokee Bird Clan member. Members of the Bird Clan were traditionally known as messengers between earth and heaven, according to the Cherokee Nation website.
“A lot of people don’t know their clan, so I feel fortunate,” Dennis said.
Dennis started working in education in the 1970s, but it has been challenging to promote American Indian culture in a meaningful way in today’s society and schools, she said.
She was a founder of Nitchen, a nonprofit founded in 1993 with a goal to rebuild healthy families. Nitchen means “our children” in the language of the Lenape, the predominant tribe in Manhattan 400 years ago.
Nitchen was able to provide assistance to indigenous families based on traditional modalities.
“The traditional Native way of looking at things is that health is never just in one place. Maximum health is when you’re balanced spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally—it’s all one,” she said.
“Native people are not comfortable in the public mental health system, which doesn’t understand intergenerational trauma.”
