Speakers: Sienna Hunter-Cuyjet and Melanie Johnson, M.Ed.
Sienna Hunter-Cuyjet, LMSW, LCSW, ACSW
Sienna is an enrolled member of the Shinnecock Nation born and raised on the reservation located on Eastern Long Island, NY. ). Sienna served as a former Tribal Council member who chaired the governance and election committee that brought the Trustee elections back to the territory. Recently she joined the team at Wopila Consulting LLC, a newly founded woman owned small business, as the Technical Assistant(TA) Coordinator. Sienna is providing training and technical assistance (TTA), both virtually and onsite, to a portfolio of American Indian/Alaska Native tribes across the Nation receiving federal grants to prevent substance use and misuse, prevent suicide including tribal youth suicide, and promotion of mental health. She assists the grantees with the successful development, implementation, and evaluation of Strategic Action Plans and any other related activities. Prior to this work Sienna served as the Executive Director of Tribal Operations for the Shinnecock Nation during her tenure she worked diligently to build relationships with other Tribal Nations, governmental agencies, various organizations and individuals to enhance the services and programs at the Nation. Sienna graduated from Southampton High School then continued on to receive her Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Smith College in Cultural Anthropology and Studio Art; her Masters of Social Work degree from Stony Brook University; and a Post-masters certification in Military and Veteran Behavioral Health from Widener University.
Melanie Johnson, M.Ed.
As the project manager for the Strategic Prevention Framework Partnership for Success (PFS) and winner of the 2017 National Exemplary Award for Innovative Substance Abuse Programs, Practices, and Policies, awarded by the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors.
Melanie and the Oklahoma Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) team, a division of the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, and four tribes in Oklahoma, demonstrated that Tribes and TECs can successfully work together, under the structured guidance of a native managing entity, working collaboratively as the Oklahoma Intertribal Consortium.
Melanie is an enrolled member of the Sac and Fox Tribe of Oklahoma and has committed her career to addressing behavioral health disparities among Native youth and young adults. She supports efforts for collecting tribal- specific data needed for addressing substance abuse, reducing suicidal behavior, trauma, promoting mental health among American Indian/Alaska Natives and to further develop culturally based prevention programs.
Lunch Buffet: $20 on line or $25 at the door. Guests are welcome.