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 all Native American and/or Indigenous led. 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 and Southern Ute Tribal communities. This work has been made possible by grantors. Indigenous Wellbriety is a non-profit entity of United Way Southwest Colorado.
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.
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.
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.
She is currently the Director for Indigenous Wellbriety located in Cortez, CO. Imo launched Indigenous Wellbriety Program in March 2022 under the approval of a health education center. Now operating on as an organization with fiscal sponsorship.
As Director, Imo oversees the operations, provides grant writing 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.
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 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.
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 three 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.
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.
MSW / Volunteer
Toiyabe Hoyopatubbi is a member of the Choctaw Nation. They are currently volunteering with the Indigenous Wellbriety after completing MSW grad school internship with program. Engaged in the vital work of acquiring peer credentials, Toiyabe contributes both programmatic and administrative support to the Director. Their role extends to supporting Talking Circle facilitators and they actively engage in community outreach alongside a street medicine team. Toiyabe brings a passion for community empowerment and positive energy to the team driven by a
commitment to guide and uplift others along their journey to
Wellbriety and recovery.
Note: Toiyabe has graduated earning their Master of Social Work Degree from University of Denver, Four Corners GSSW Program in Durango of June 2024.
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.
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.
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.
-Barney Bush, Shawnee Nation
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