Keynote Speaker - Tuesday General Session
Charles W. Grim, Director - Indian Health Service
Charles W. Grim, D.D.S., M.H.S.A., is a native of Oklahoma and a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. As the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), he is an Assistant Surgeon General and holds the rank of Rear Admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service. He was appointed by President George W. Bush as the Interim Director in August 2002, received unanimous Senate confirmation on July 16, 2003, and was sworn in by Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, on August 6, 2003, in Anchorage, Alaska.
As the IHS Director, Dr. Grim administers a nationwide multi-billion dollar health care delivery program composed of 12 administrative Area (regional) Offices, which oversee local hospitals and clinics. As the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, the IHS is responsible for providing preventive, curative, and community health care to approximately 1.8 million of the nation's 3.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Keynote Speaker - Wednesday General Session
Cathy Stueckemann, Public Health Advisor/National Director
Community Health Representative Program
Cathy Stueckemann, JD, MPA, is a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law. While she is an attorney licensed in the state of Florida, since May 2002 she has served in the capacity of a program administrator as National Director for the IHS CHR Program. Her previous experience includes job duties such as: Client Rights Advocate at the San Diego Regional Center; Executive Director of the Haskell Intervention Program; Program Director of the Health Management Program at the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas; and consultant with Native American Research Associations, Inc..
Recently she turned over domestic engineering duties to her retired Naval Aviator/submariner/helicopter pilot/jet Flight Officer husband to coordinate house and home for their two boys, Andrew, "nearly" 17, and Austin, 14. She enjoys spending time with her family, outdoor activities, and reading. She desires to ensure that CHRs are trained and equipped to provide the best possible outreach, health promotion and disease prevention services possible to AI/AN communities; that CHRs become more integrated into the interdisciplinary health care team; and that CHRs are recognized for their mission and invaluable contributions to individuals and communities.
Keynote Speaker – Thursday General Session
Dr. Scout Cloud Lee – "Survive and Thrive"
Dr. Scout Cloud Lee is a breathtakingly inspirational, motivational speaker. She recently starred as a Castaway on CBS's #1 reality show, Survivor Vanuatu. As a speaker, author, storyteller, singer, songwriter, rancher and corporate executive she brings her life experience to the stage and offers a spellbinding, uplifting performance. Audiences are actively engaged and inspired to tap their personal excellence. Scout was an Olympic torchbearer and lives the slogan of "light the fire within". Her boundless energy and innate enthusiasm for life sparks audiences to "catch the fire" of their own spirit. She quickly transforms audiences into the stars of the show, alive, vital and in step with the message and music she presents.
Scout draws from her Survivor television experience, 39 days on a deserted island with no food or shelter provided, to set the stage for her presentation. She knows all about "pulling herself up by the bootstraps". She has survived divorce, bankruptcy, artificial knee replacements and terminal cancer, to become a "Master of Celebration" and a stunning feminine model of "LIVING YOUR DREAMS". Her elegance, radiance, contagious wit, and remarkable sense of humor light up any stage as she encourages audiences to accomplish the dreams of their heart. Her re-sounding message for the 21st Century is how to joyfully "Survive and Thrive".
Sharing Stories, Music and Dance - Tuesday Awards Reception
Jackie Bird - Native American Cultural Presentation
Among the words you could use to describe Jackie Bird are mother of four, hoop dance performer, fancy shawl dancer, designer, artist, and singer. This remarkable American Indian woman shares a deeply spiritual message of respect, love, energy and joy through her music and dancing as she honors her culture with her many gifts.
Jackie is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribe, currently living in Bushnell, South Dakota. Her mother, artist JoAnne Bird, and her Mandan/Hidatsa grandmother Pansy Parshall played an important role in teaching her about the value of family, and walking "the good road." She feels that she has been given a responsibility by her Creator to be an example for youth. As she continues to spend time with elders, learning from their wisdom and experiences, Jackie honors them and her family by sharing their values and teachings with all the people she meets. Her positive message brings joy to all ages as she shares the beauty of her Native American culture in an expression of love and respect for the whole world.
In all of her performances, Jackie has been praised for her ability to get her audience involved with her contemporary and traditional music, songs and dances. She was once honored by a Montana Crow tribal member after a performance by being given a Crow name, which translated means "One Who Makes the People Smile."
"Health Through Humor" - Wednesday Awards Banquet
James & Ernie - Native American comedy promoting health
James Junes and Ernest Tsosie III are "James & Ernie", a Native American comedy duo who are members of the Navajo Nation. The duo's comedy performance is a mixture of reservation humor, stand up comedy, sketch comedy, and musical parodies of life in the 70's & 80's to the present. Along with their sidesplitting comedy, the pair delivers a positive message promoting healthy lifestyle choices of wellness, fitness, and saying no to drugs, alcohol and domestic abuse.
Former substance abusers themselves, James and Ernie are now proud sober and drug free Native American men. They use their own lives and stories as their weapon in this fight against the destructive negative lifestyles that plague all people. The pair met backstage at a native comedy competition in 2001 where James won first place and Ernie was the runner up. That competition marked the beginning of their solid friendship, brotherhood and comedy careers for both performers. They have shared the stage and even the screen with some of the best Native American entertainers of North America, Charlie Hill, Vanessa Short Bull, Drew Lacapa, Vincent Craig, Chance Rush, Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Gary Farmer, Derek Miller, George Leach, Lite Foot, Ulali, and many others.
James and Ernie are so "serious about being funny" that they quit their day jobs to pursue comedy and acting on a full time basis. Their message to others is this..."You don't know what you can do until you try!"