12‑Month Native American Wellness Cohort
A slow, steady Medicine Wheel journey for Indigenous minds, bodies, hearts, and spirits

Most of us have been asked to “be strong” without being given spaces that actually help us heal. This cohort is meant to be that space:

• Native‑led

• Trauma‑informed

• Ceremony‑aware

• Slow on purpose (once a month)

What This Is

A year‑long, virtual cohort where we walk the Medicine Wheel together:

• East – Fire (Feb–Apr):
  We start with mind and vision—naming historical and personal trauma, learning what ACEs and NEAR science look like through an Indigenous lens, and lighting small, realistic fires of change.
   

• South – Earth (May–Jul):
  We turn toward the body and the land—body as sacred ground, food and sobriety as medicine, and movement (even very simple) as ceremony, guided by Bear, Buffalo, and Wolf.
   

• West – Water (Aug–Oct):
  We sit by the river—making space for grief that has been waiting, and inviting joy and play back in as part of our survival, with Bear by the river and River Otter.
   

• North – Air (Nov–Jan):
  We listen to the wind and our elders—reconnecting with ancestors and Spirit in ways that respect your own beliefs, and weaving everything together so you leave with a clearer sense of who you are and what you carry.
   

What Happens in a Session

Each monthly session includes:

• Land and ancestor acknowledgment

• Opening and closing prayers

• A teaching story (Spider, Eagle, Bear, Wolf, Buffalo, Otter, White Buffalo)

• Trauma‑informed teaching (ACEs, NEAR, Indigenous trauma science)

• Regulating practices (breath, visualization, gentle/safe movement)

• Small breakout circles for sharing (always optional, always consent‑based)

• One simple, specific commitment to carry into the month

How We Work

We intentionally weave together:

• Advanced Indigenous teachings and stories

• Indigenous sobriety intelligence

• Indigenous trauma and resilience research 

• ACEs/NEAR science

• Ceremony‑informed structure

All of it is held in a trauma‑informed, healing‑centered way:

• No forced sharing of trauma stories

• Clear agreements and choice at every step

• Emphasis on safety, consent, and pacing

Details

• When: Last Sunday of each month

• Time: 9:00–11:15 AM (PHX, AZ time)

• Where: Virtual (Google Meet)

• Length: 12 sessions over 12 months

Cost & Access

• Standard full program fee: [e.g., $1,200 for all 12 sessions / $120 per session]

• Sliding scale available

• Scholarships prioritized for Native/Indigenous participants

• Cultural reciprocity/barter welcomed in a good way (medicines, beadwork, traditional items that support this work)

No one who is truly committed will be turned away solely for financial reasons if space is available.

For Tribal Governments & Organizations

This cohort can support your goals in:

• Trauma‑informed, culturally grounded workforce training and wellness

• Behavioral health, prevention, and wellness strategies

• ACEs/NEAR science implementation in ways that honor Indigenous knowledge

For partnership, sponsorship, or group rates, contact:
Casandra Stouder: casandrastouder@gmail.com

“We carry medicine for seven generations forward. This circle is one way to practice that, one month at a time.”