Land Acknowledgement and Blessing: Mark Macarro
Mark Macarro is the Tribal chairman of the Pechanga Band of Indians in Temecula, California, currently serving his 30th consecutive year in this role. A dedicated advocate for Tribal sovereignty and cultural preservation, Macarro has led with a vision to strengthen Pechanga’s political self-determination and economic self-reliance while upholding its unique cultural identity. He currently serves as president of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and has held numerous appointments, including the California Truth & Healing Council, the University of California President’s Native American Advisory Council, and the Board of Directors for the Indian Gaming Association. His past leadership includes serving on the boards of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, and as a founding member of the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival (AICLS).
Opening Address: Karalee Joseph
Embracing Community and Cultural Connection
Join us for an inspiring Welcome Dinner address by Karalee Joseph as she shares heartfelt insights on community, culture, and connection. Drawing from her extensive experience and deep passion for supporting others, Karalee will highlight the power of unity and the beauty of cultural celebration. Her words will offer encouragement, reflection, and a call to embrace the shared journey ahead, creating a welcoming atmosphere that invites us all to fully engage in our time together.
Karalee Joseph is a proud member of the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe and was raised on the Hopi and Navajo Reservations. She serves as an instructor at UC Davis, specializing in equitable and inclusive approaches to leadership, case management, mental health and wellness. With more than 15 years of experience, Joseph has collaborated closely with Tribal governments, programs and businesses to strengthen services and programming within Tribal TANF. Her work focuses on cultivating meaningful partnerships that enhance outcomes for Native communities. Currently, she continues her dedication to supporting Native American communities as a leader of the Washoe Tribal TANF in the Bay Area.
Welcome Dinner Address: Grant Bruno
Braiding Care: Family Centered and Ceremony Informed Support for Indigenous Communities
Indigenous families often navigate both Western service systems and their own cultural traditions, yet mainstream approaches often fail to recognize Indigenous ways of knowing and being. This keynote presentation will explore the vital role of kinship, storytelling, ceremony and language in creating supportive, culturally grounded environments for Indigenous children and youth.
Attendees will gain insight into how service providers, educators and families can collaborate to integrate Indigenous and Western approaches, fostering holistic, healing-centered care. We will also address the lasting impacts of colonialism on access to care, systemic barriers in health and education, and the critical need for culturally safe, community-driven solutions that honor Indigenous knowledge and strengthen families.
Grant Bruno, Ph.D., is nêhiyaw (Plains Cree), a registered member of Samson Cree Nation and an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta. With a background rooted in nêhiyaw understandings of health, Bruno’s work focuses on creating culturally responsive healthcare models that support Indigenous children and youth, particularly in the areas of neurodiversity and child and youth health. As a proud First Nations scholar, his research weaves nêhiyaw knowledge systems and Western frameworks to create inclusive, decolonized approaches to healthcare. He is currently the academic lead of Indigenous Child Health for the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) and is the founder of the Ispimihk Awâsisak (Sky Children Program) and the Indigenous Caregiving Collective.
Closing Address: Jackie DeLaCruz
The Power of Presence: Leading with Compassion and Empathy
As we close out the 20th year of the National Tribal TANF Institute, we will reflect on the impact of the past two decades and look ahead with hope. This closing session will include a guided group activity designed to foster connection and gratitude, followed by a large circle gathering to bring us together one last time in a meaningful, collective experience that honors the compassion, empathy, and community that make up the heart of our work.
Jackie DeLaCruz, M.Ed., is an instructor at UC Davis Human Services and a Stanford Medicine Ambassador of Compassion. She was honored with the UC Davis Outstanding Service Award for Teaching in recognition of her dedication to education. Utilizing a variety of techniques (including journaling, guided reflection, and group discussion), DeLaCruz helps individuals gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences, empowering them to make positive changes in both their personal and professional lives. Passionate about the power of empathy and kindness, she is committed to teaching that every person has the ability to cultivate these qualities within themselves, contributing to a more compassionate and connected world.