Indigenous Wisdom and Reciprocity: A Conversation with Mia Cruz, Rachel Bryant, and Shirley Strong
In November, the visualized narrative of gratitude and abundance is about being surrounded by found or related family and food. This time should also be a reminder of Indigenous held and practiced wisdom around respect, relationship, and reciprocity. These values focus on land, on thriving living creatures, on the web of relationships, and the abundance that comes from the practice of reciprocity.
CIIS Alum in Community Mental Health and former CIIS Beyond Land Acknowledgement Fellow Mia Cruz embodies these principles in her healing work as an educator, hospice nurse, and Indigenous death doula. She is the founder and director of Hummingbird Medicine Wellness Center, a Native women led nonprofit dedicated to providing culturally grounded support and connection through land-based activities.
Join Mia, Rachel, and Shirley as they explore Indigenous wisdoms in caring for land, caring for our human and more-than-human relatives, and the wisdoms gleaned from combining community mental health with Indigenous practice.
What is the Transformation Series?
The Transformation Series is part of the Beloved Community Initiative's commitment to critically engage with the CIIS community by platforming inspiring voices. Designed to enhance our mission of cultivating courageous conversations, bridging divides, and building connections, we hope that this series will inspire hope and transformative action.
Each Transformation session dedicates its last 30 minutes, 1:00pm-1:30pm PDT/PST, to prospective students who have questions about CIIS.
Our Guest Speaker
Mia Cruz is an enrolled member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone, South Fork Band, a graduate of California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), and a Health Education Specialist with the California Rural Indian Health Board (CRIHB).
As the founder of Hummingbird Medicine Wellness Center, she focuses on integrating traditional Indigenous healing practices, transforming the way we view wellness through reconnection, relationship-building, and community. Through her work in Indigenous health, trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and community wellness, Mia is committed to restoring balance, belonging, and collective healing for future generations.