Stories from Advocates Protecting Our Relatives, Preserving Our Future.

Every November, Native American Heritage Month calls us to remember where we come from and to honor those who carried us here. At CSVANW, we know that the work of protecting our relatives and preserving our future is not only about programs or policies, it’s about people. It’s about the advocates who rise each day to walk beside survivors, families, and Pueblo & Tribal communities, guided by the teachings of kinship, love, and responsibility.

“Walk a Mile in Their Mocs” is a storytelling series that honors those advocates. It’s an invitation to walk with them, to hear their stories, to feel their purpose, and to understand why this work matters deeply in our communities.

For 30 years, CSVANW has stood with survivors and families to break cycles of violence and uplift Native voices. Each advocate who joins this movement carries generations of resilience, compassion, and cultural knowledge. Their moccasins, worn from the path of service, tell stories of heartbreak and healing, struggle and strength.

Advocates remind us that every step toward safety and sovereignty is sacred. They walk beside survivors as they reclaim their power. They hold space for youth learning to love themselves. They speak up for relatives whose voices have been silenced. And they do so knowing that when we protect our people today, we preserve the wellbeing of the generations to come.

This Native American Heritage Month, as we reflect on Protecting Our Relatives, Preserving Our Future, we celebrate the advocates who embody this mission every day. Their work keeps our communities connected, our stories alive, and our movements strong.

Join us in walking this path. Read their stories, share your own, and take action with us by becoming a CSVANW member or supporting our advocacy for safe, thriving Native communities.

Together, we honor those who walk in protection and love, for our ancestors, our relatives, and our future generations.

#NAHM2025 #CycleBreakers #CSVANW30Years

Advocate’s Stories

Teela Kipp (Tribal Citizen of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians), Domestic Violence Prevention Coordinator | Family Violence Prevention Advocate

What inspired you to become an advocate or to work in this movement?

I was inspired by the strength of our Native women and families who have endured cycles of violence yet continue to rise and protect one another. Seeing the pain within our communities — and how often our people’s voices go unheard — made me want to be that voice. I wanted to help break the silence, support healing, and remind our relatives that they are not alone. My inspiration comes from my own relatives and ancestors, who taught me the importance of standing up for those who cannot.

How does your role protect our relatives and help preserve our future?

My role is to create a safe space where survivors can reclaim their strength, culture, and voice. By connecting our people to resources, education, and traditional teachings, we protect not only the individual but the family unit as a whole. Preserving our future means helping our children grow up in homes filled with love, respect, and balance. When we heal our relatives today, we protect the generations yet to come.

What teachings, memories, or experiences guide you in this work?

I carry the teaching that we are all connected — what happens to one of us affects us all. I remember the stories shared by elders about the sacredness of women, the role of men as protectors, and the importance of nurturing our children with gentleness and strength. My experiences with families who found healing through ceremony, community, and compassion remind me why this work is sacred and necessary.

How do you see healing and culture as part of advocacy?

Healing and culture are at the heart of advocacy. Our traditional ways teach balance, respect, and love — values that directly counter the cycles of violence. Ceremony, song, and prayer bring our people home to themselves. By grounding advocacy in culture, we help survivors reconnect to their identity, their ancestors, and their purpose. True healing happens when we remember who we are.

What message do you want to share with others about walking this path?

This path is not always easy, but it is powerful and meaningful. Remember that advocacy is not just about helping others — it’s about community, compassion, and collective healing. Walk with humility, patience, and an open heart. Every step you take brings light to someone else’s darkness. And always remember: we are stronger together, and our ancestors walk with us every step of the way.

Every advocate has a story of what brought them to this work, what keeps them going, and what healing looks like in their community.