Who we are
About Us
Indigenous Peer Recovery coaches are trained and certified in peer recovery utilizing the Wellbriety model (White Bison, Inc.). Substance use, mental health disorders and lived experience as a marginalized community member (Native American) all encompass the focus of being peer supports to our communities in the Four Corners region as well as southwest Colorado. We provide advocacy for our participants in accessing community resources and the opportunity to do community services and volunteer. Indigenous Wellbriety team collaborates with the Sih Hasin Street Medicine program to provide street outreach for our unhoused relatives.
We are proud to announce that we have added Youth Programming to our organization. Indigenous Peer Recovery Coaches for Youth currently facilitate Youth Talking Circles at Southwest Open High School every Monday after school. Our new team members are Tess Lynston (Project Coordinator), Chelsea Highelk & Marco Yazzie (both Indigenous Peer Recovery Coaches for Youth) and Beverly Lehi-Yazzie (Indigenous Peer Recovery Elder).
We are an all Native American and/or Indigenous led community-based peer recovery organization. Indigenous Wellbriety aims to collaborate and capacity build with our local organizations in Montezuma County and neighboring counties in the southwest Colorado regions including Ute Mountain Ute, Navajo Nation and Southern Ute Tribal communities. This work has been made possible by grantors. Indigenous Wellbriety is a non-profit organization and has fiscal sponsorship with United Way of Southwest Colorado.
Our Vision
A community of inclusivity, immersed in cultural awareness, family and respect for diversity for people in recovery from substance use and/or addiction, including mental health awareness.
Our Mission
Indigenous Wellbriety provides a space for those in substance abuse recovery or seeking recovery, with compassion, cultural identity, and utilizing the Wellbriety model by White Bison.
TEAM BIOS
Imo Succo, MSW
DIRECTOR
Imo Succo is a member of the Navajo Nation tribe, born and raised on Navajo reservation. Imo is of the Water Flows Together Clan, born for Bitter Water Clan, maternal grandfather clan is Mountain Cove and paternal grandfather is Mexican Clan.
Imo is Founder and Director for Indigenous Wellbriety located in Cortez, CO. Imo launched Indigenous Wellbriety Program in March 2022. As Director, Imo oversees the operations, seeks and writes grants and administrative work for Indigenous Wellbriety. Imo also provides one-on-one peer support and covers for Talking Circle facilitators as needed.
Combined with her Navajo cultural upbringing, education, and work experience, Imo participates in several team collaborations locally and is a board member with The Bridge Shelter in Cortez and the Rocky Mountain Health Foundation.
Imo enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. On weekends she likes to explore the open roads and live music.
Tess Lynston
Program Coordinator
Tess brings a profound commitment of her personal path of "healing our lineages" to our team, inspired by her mixed Indigenous heritage. This connection to her roots fuels her passion for wholistic well-being, which she views as a seed for empowerment and healing.
In her role with the team, Tess is responsible for implementing programming with the Youth Peer Coaches, as well as leading Community Engagement & Outreach efforts and Promotions & Marketing.
Tess considers herself a nature steward with a deep respect for the environment. She delights in preparing delicious and nutritious meals, as well as expressing herself through singing, dancing, writing, and creating art. Tess embodies a wholistic approach to life, combining her Indigenous heritage with a passion for spirituality and creativity.
Tess graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts, with an associate degree in Studio Arts & Museum Studies with an emphasis on Native American Contemporary Art.
She curated the art exhibit - Ancestral Homelands: Connection to Land, Space and Time at the Canyon of the Ancients Culture Center 2015. She also holds an associate degree in Wholistic Wellness.
Frankiana Tsosie
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY COACH
Frankiana Tsosie, a Dine Native woman from Southwest Colorado, is a certified Indigenous Peer Recovery Coach with Indigenous Wellbriety in Cortez, CO. Frankiana leverages her personal struggles with addiction, trauma and mental health in her daily work. She was raised in Red Mesa and Sweetwater, Arizona on the Navajo reservation. Frankiana adeptly straddles both Indigenous and Western worlds, drawing from her eight-year sobriety journey.
Currently enrolled full-time in a Bachelor's Degree program at CU Denver, she plans to pursue a Master’s in Sociology upon completion. Alongside her academic pursuits, Frankiana has earned multiple certifications in Peer Recovery Coaching, including from the Colorado Mental Health Wellness and White Bison Program. Supported by peers, family, and the Indigenous Wellbriety team, Frankiana finds strength and balance in her journey towards personal and professional fulfillment.
Sammy Antez, Jr.
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY COACH
Sammy is a member of the Navajo Nation tribe. Spending most of his summers with his Nali Lady (paternal grandmother) until moving to the Reservation in the middle of middle school years. He is an Indigenous Peer Recovery Coach for Indigenous Wellbriety in Cortez, CO.
Sammy holds four Wellbriety certifications and a certified Peer Support certificate in substance use and mental health with Colorado Mental Wellness Network. Sammy provides on-on-one peer support, facilitates Talking Circles, assists in sober friendly activities for work, participates in Street Medicine outreach services for unhoused relatives and community events in the surrounding the area. He brings a unique experience with his personal upbringing, addiction recovery path, taking personal interest in the people he helps and shares his personal story that is much similar to the majority of people seeking assistance. Sammy's motivations for his sobriety are his family, team members, elders and community.
Howard Yazzie
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY ELDER
Howard, a member of the Dine Nation, hails from Emmanuel Mission near Sweetwater, Arizona. His ancestry includes Ma’ii Deeshgiizhinii – Áshįįhnii, Táchii’nii, Kinyaa’áanii, and Bit’ahnii clans. Inspired by his own journey with alcohol addiction post-military service, Howard found purpose in aiding others, particularly youth, veterans, and their families, through Indigenous Wellbriety. His cultural upbringing instilled wisdom that guides his approach to life, emphasizing the importance of maintaining cultural teachings.
Howard's diverse experiences includes serving in the Navy during Vietnam and working in the oil and gas industry to community leadership roles that enrich his perspective and wisdom as a Native American elder. Through White Bison Trainings, he further honed his skills in supporting individuals dealing with trauma, substance abuse and mental health disorders by providing Navajo cultural teachings, healing ceremonies and integrating this knowledge into his work with Indigenous Wellbriety Talking Circles. Howard also provides one-on-one peer support to the organization and to the broader communities in the Four Corners region. Howard was nominated and awarded the Hero Award with Red Cross Colorado-Wyoming Chapter in 2022. He is the first Native American to receive this honor in Red Cross Colorado-Wyoming Chapter.
Marco Yazzie
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY COACH for YOUTH
With a diverse background spanning graphic design, culinary arts, snowboarding, and computer building, Marco brings a wide range of creative and technical skills to his role as a part-time specials teacher. Born and raised in southwest Colorado, he enjoys an active lifestyle that includes mountain biking and cooking for his wife. At home, Marco shares space with two dogs and a tuxedo cat, who keep things lively.
Marco is an Indigenous Peer Recovery Coach for Youth, certified in Peer Recovery Coach with Orion Treament and also a Wellbriety "firestarter". He is excited to support and empower young people on their recovery journeys.
Chelsea Highelk
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY COACH for YOUTH
Chelsea is a Wellbriety Talking Circle facilitator, a Certified Orion Peer Recovery Coach, Women’s Group Facilitator, and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. She is a proud member of the Cheyenne River Sioux and Navajo Nation. She is passionate about serving her community as a youth peer coach, using her voice and lived experience to educate, empower, and inspire young people. Committed to prevention and education, she helps youth make informed choices regarding substance misuse and overall well-being. Chelsea is dedicated to teaching valuable tools for emotional intelligence, emphasizing the impact of intergenerational trauma and the importance of holistic wellness through the Wellbriety approach.
Beyond her professional work, Chelsea deeply values personal development and holistic wellness, incorporating body, mind, emotions, heart, and spirit into her practices. She finds joy in her faith, running and walking in nature, reading, nutrition, and cooking. Most importantly, she cherishes time with her children and enjoys traveling to warmer climates.
Beverly Lehi-Yazzie
INDIGENOUS PEER ELDER for YOUTH
We are honored to introduce Beverly as the newest member of our Indigenous Wellbriety team, serving as the Indigenous Peer Recovery Elder for Youth. Beverly brings a deep well of wisdom, cultural knowledge, and lived experience to support both our youth community and the IW team.
A proud member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Beverly is also a dedicated part-time staff member at the Ute Mountain Tribal Park, where she serves as a Visitor Center Attendant and Tour Guide. She is deeply committed to uplifting Indigenous community members and supporting individuals from all walks of life.
Beverly has been in recovery from alcohol for nearly 20 years and is a powerful example of resilience and healing. She is a proud mother of two, grandmother to five, and great-grandmother to two. Her journey of healing and forgiveness has been transformative, inspiring her ongoing dedication to spiritual and cultural practices.
She is a Sundancer, Bear Dancer, and powwow dancer, as well as a cultural educator. Beverly generously shares her knowledge through teaching beadwork, dressmaking, and storytelling to children, youth, and community members. She begins each day with prayer to the Creator and remains open to learning and growth.
Outside of her professional and cultural commitments, Beverly enjoys staying active through crafts and running, and cherishes her time with family.
IWP Board of Advisors
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Regina is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, currently a Cross-Culture
Program Manager for Montezuma Land Conservancy and pursuing a Master's in
Environmental Management with Western Colorado University. Regina has
experience in information technology and formerly served on the Ute Mountain
Ute tribal counci
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Regina is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, currently a Cross-Culture
Program Manager for Montezuma Land Conservancy and pursuing a Master's in
Environmental Management with Western Colorado University. Regina has
experience in information technology and formerly served on the Ute Mountain
Ute tribal council in an elected position. In addition to her public service, she has
been on several boards and committees advocating for her passion in
environmental and Native American cultural issues.
Regina brings insight to the
program as a community member of Montezuma County and has extensive cultural
experience as a Native American community member.
James Anderson
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
James is a descendant of an old tribe of Mississippi Band of Choctaws. He has
experience as a counselor, firefighter, ranger and leading cultural functions such
as spiritual sweats, community cultural functions and studied human behavior,
addiction and human disorders. Most of all, James brings lived experience i
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
James is a descendant of an old tribe of Mississippi Band of Choctaws. He has
experience as a counselor, firefighter, ranger and leading cultural functions such
as spiritual sweats, community cultural functions and studied human behavior,
addiction and human disorders. Most of all, James brings lived experience in
substance use addiction and shares his journey in recovery and sobriety to Talking
Circles and sober led activities.
Roy Tso, LCSW
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
Roy Tso, LCSW
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Tso is a member of the Navajo Nation, and lifelong resident of the Four
Corners region. Roy earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from the Facundo
Valdez School of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University. He is presently
in private practice in Farmington, New Mexico. Mr. Tso is a certified Eye
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Tso is a member of the Navajo Nation, and lifelong resident of the Four
Corners region. Roy earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from the Facundo
Valdez School of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University. He is presently
in private practice in Farmington, New Mexico. Mr. Tso is a certified Eye
Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) practitioner and an EMDR
consultant.
Roy aims to restore clients to a balanced (Hozho) personal and family (K'é) life. He
understands that integration of emotional, physical, and spiritual is essential for
mental health. Therefore, utilizing evidence-based interventions combined with
holistic strength-based psychoeducation aides clients in setting and achieving their
goals.