Community
A Heartfelt ‘Thank You’ To Richmond and Native Communities from a Cancer Survivor
Recently, I received a powerful spiritual anti-cancer turtle medicine bag medallion and rope necklace from Chief Gordon Plain Bull Jr., a member of the Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation located near Fort Peck, Montana. He is the great-grandson of Chief Plenty Coups and the great-great nephew of Sitting Bull, the famous defender of native lands against settlers during the 1800s.
By Mike Kinney
Recently, I received a powerful spiritual anti-cancer turtle medicine bag medallion and rope necklace from Chief Gordon Plain Bull Jr., a member of the Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation located near Fort Peck, Montana.
He is the great-grandson of Chief Plenty Coups and the great-great nephew of Sitting Bull, the famous defender of native lands against settlers during the 1800s.
Chief Plain Bull’s gift was particularly powerful to me, as it was emblematic of the immense kindness and generosity of the communities in which I live and work, which includes fellow Native Americans and my neighbors here in Richmond.
Aside from reporting stories about people, places and events in the Richmond Standard, I have been a Native news journalist for some 45 years here in Richmond, writing for publications such as Native Hoop and Native News Online.
Today, as I celebrate my first-year anniversary as a cancer survivor, I’m taking a break from reporting on the issues of the communities I cover in order to tell my story of recovery. The reason is that my journey in the past year shines a light on the powerful bonds within the Richmond and Native communities. I am forever grateful to write about them, and to be part of them.
In November of 2021, I was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer on my left lung. I had been a career cigarette smoker for 40 years. I gave it up finally in 2014. Naturally, the diagnosis had me fearing death.
On March 13, 2022, I underwent robotic surgery to remove the cancer at the John Muir Hospital campus in Concord. The surgery team removed a quarter of my left lung. It was successful, and I remained at the hospital in recovery for seven days.
But the journey was far from over. Upon returning home, I was required to use an oxygen concentrator until my lungs healed, stripping me of the activities I most loved, from riding my mountain bike to taking long hikes at Wildcat Canyon. I feared being a burden on others, but was limited in what I could do physically.
Moreover, my doctor informed me of my need to undergo chemotherapy and immunotherapy. I would have a monthly infusion from IV bags. While I was fortunate to suffer no pain or side-effects from these therapies, hair loss from the chemotherapy meant I lost my Native ponytail, which was crushing to me.
And I was angry at myself. For 40 years, I chose to smoke cigarettes. I had no one to blame but myself for my condition, and that was difficult to handle; it drove me into depression. I felt alone, but due to the support from members of the Richmond and Native communities, I wouldn’t be alone.
Countless neighbors and Natives rallied to my side. My close friend, the well-known Richmond community activist Antwon Cloird, went out of his way to drive me to out-of-town medical appointments.
Cloird also offered powerful words of encouragement. Rather than considering this condition as the beginning of the end of my life, Cloird pointed out this was in fact my “second chance at creating a first-class life.”
There was also the kindness of Rev. Dr. Ofa Haunga from St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Richmond, who along with the church community ensured I had fresh cooked food and prayers during my recovery. My good friend Georgette Bynum, a veteran registered nurse, acted as my medical coach, providing invaluable advice.
Richmond resident Don Gosney of “Radio Free Richmond,” along with Tyler Swartz, my nephew Ben, Denise Gianni and Richmond resident and photographer Ellen Gailing, all helped me shop for groceries and attend medical appointments.
Michelle Milam, a Richmond resident who serves as the city’s Crime Prevention Manager, offered prayers and also numerous drops of bottled water to my home to keep me hydrated.
Local Richmond residents John Ziesehenne, owner of M.A. Hays Insurance and Robert Rogers, district coordinator for County Supervisor John Gioia, were also powerful sources of support and encouragement.
Meanwhile, Native people and tribal communities across the nation conducted prayers on my behalf.
Carolyn Martell, a well-known Ojibway tribal artist and photographer in Denver, Colo. conducted numerous sacred ceremonies to support a successful surgery and recovery.
Meanwhile, Pomo tribal elder and leader Connie Reitman instructed me on important spiritual aspects of recovery as my being a Cherokee tribal person.
There are many more examples of generosity, too many to list here. Perhaps the cherry on top was receiving the spiritual anti-cancer turtle medicine bag medallion from Chief Plain Bull. He is a master of beading Native jewelry that comes to him in visions.
“All of my work comes from the Creator,” he told me. “I sit in Prayer for an hour or more before I start. Once the vision is given to me, I begin the work. Sometimes I start with the medallion and sometimes the rope is first. I always ask the person who’s receiving the special gift what their favorite color is.
“Then I start their Protector. When I get close to sewing up the medallion, I put the medicine in it. I have been instructed by the Creator to use seven herbal medicines to put in the medallion,” he said.
The many examples of healing power, from advice from loved ones on positive thinking, to powerful spiritual guidance and medicines, served to dissipate my depression and launch a life of recovery and spiritual journey.
I realized being Cherokee was important to my recovery. I returned to reconnecting with my culture, language, history and most importantly our spiritual and belief value system. Meanwhile, I was reminded why I live and love Richmond.
Recently, my doctor informed me that I am now free of cancer. I believe fully that in addition to the incredible care of medical staff, the incredible care and support from my communities are responsible for this positive outcome.
Thank you, wholeheartedly, to my fellow Native Americans and to the people of Richmond. I love you. You have enriched my story. Now, my mission is to double-down on enriching yours.
See you at the press conference.
Bay Area
Gov. Newsom Requests Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Counties Impacted By Storms
Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a request Tuesday for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for nine California counties, including Monterey County. If approved, the move will pave the way for federal aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be provided to local governments and individuals impacted by storms in February and March.
By Thomas Hughes
Bay City News
Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a request Tuesday for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for nine California counties, including Monterey County.
If approved, the move will pave the way for federal aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be provided to local governments and individuals impacted by storms in February and March.
In addition to Monterey County, the request included Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, along with Calaveras, Kern, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Tulare and Tuolumne counties.
Four other counties were added to a previous emergency declaration from the governor, including Alameda, Marin, Modoc and Shasta counties.
“Over these past months, state, local and federal partners have worked around the clock to protect our communities from devastating storms that have ravaged every part of our state. We will continue to deploy every tool we have to help Californians rebuild and recover from these storms,” Newsom said.
If approved, aid from FEMA can be used for individual housing assistance, food aid, counseling, medical and legal services. It will also cover some storm-related costs like debris removal.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors has requested additional state aid to help undocumented residents receive direct assistance that they aren’t eligible for from FEMA.
The governor said in a press release that funding from the state’s Rapid Response Fund would be made available to those residents and will ensure that families with mixed immigration status can access federal aid.
A local resources center opened Wednesday at the Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building at 215 E. Beach St. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through April 7. The center is staffed with personnel from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Monterey County emergency staff who will help guide Monterey County residents through the recovery process.
An eviction moratorium was passed by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will provide limited eviction protection for residents who lost income because of the storms. If the Presidential Disaster Declaration is approved, FEMA assistance could help some eligible residents receive money to help pay rent, which will not be forgiven during the moratorium.
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Activism
20 Years Later, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund a Testament to Faith Fancher’s Enduring Legacy
When a woman is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, chemotherapy and radiation often make her too weak to work. If she is working a low-paying job or unemployed, the mounting bills can become overwhelming. For 20 years, the Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC) has provided a lifeline. The Berkeley-based non-profit organization administers the Faith Fancher Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, which gives cash grants of up to $595 to low-income women in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties who are battling breast cancer.
By Tammerlin Drummond
When a woman is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, chemotherapy and radiation often make her too weak to work. If she is working a low-paying job or unemployed, the mounting bills can become overwhelming.
For 20 years, the Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC) has provided a lifeline. The Berkeley-based non-profit organization administers the Faith Fancher Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, which gives cash grants of up to $595 to low-income women in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties who are battling breast cancer.
Grant recipients have used the money to help pay for food, utilities, rent, car insurance, medical co-pays and other necessities. One woman who was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer said she used her $595 grant to buy an oxygen concentrator.
“You could say the air I breathe is because of your generosity,” she said. “I am so incredibly grateful to you and am feeling better every day.
The fund is named in honor of Faith Fancher, a popular television reporter at KTVU who died in 2003 after a valiant battle against breast disease, the web site says. Fancher saw her own cancer as an opportunity to use her public profile to raise awareness and educate others about the importance of early detection.
Fancher founded an organization called Friends of Faith that was dedicated to raising funds for low-income women with breast cancer.
It was 20 years ago this March that Fancher first approached the Women’s Cancer Resource Center about setting up an emergency grant program for women going through breast cancer treatment.
One of the earliest recipients was a 50-year-old homeless woman who used her $595 grant to pay for moving costs into housing she could afford.
“Faith understood the financial burden that low-income individuals faced when diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Dolores Moorehead, who oversees the fund at the WCRC. “This was the first fund dedicated to financial support being offered in the East Bay.”
Over the past two decades, the Faith Fancher Breast Cancer Emergency Fund has given out $992,000 in one-time cash grants. There have been 2,500 beneficiaries, including women and some men with breast cancer.
Ricki Stevenson, a founding member of Friends of Faith, reflected on Fancher’s legacy and the enduring impact of the emergency fund that she created.
“It says that Faith continues to be a presence and it wasn’t just about her,” Stevenson said. “It was so all of the other sisters who come behind us they now have help even though they don’t have the same resources.”
Rosie Allen, another founding member of Friends of Faith, said Fancher left a lasting impact. “Twenty years later Faith is no longer with us, but the breast cancer emergency fund lives on and the need is even greater than ever.”
The Friends of Faith used to host an annual 5K walk/run at Lake Merritt to honor Fancher after she died. It raised funds for the emergency fund and other Bay Area non-profits that provide services to breast cancer survivors.
After Friends of Faith disbanded in 2017, the To Celebrate Life Foundation, former Friends of Faith board members and community members have continued to support the breast cancer emergency fund.
Shyanne Reese used her grant to help pay her rent while she was going through breast cancer treatment.
“I often reflect on how I wish I could share with Faith the impact her life and friends made on me in a non-judgement environment, relieving the financial stress of simply paying the rent so that I could focus on healing,” Reese said.
“With your support, we are able to continue this fund and support our community members when they need us most, said WCRC Executive Director Amy Alanes.
To donate to the Faith Fancher Breast Cancer Emergency fund, visit https://tinyurl.com/FaithFancher.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of March 29 – April 4, 2023
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 29 – April 4, 2023
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Gov. Newsom Requests Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Counties Impacted By Storms
20 Years Later, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund a Testament to Faith Fancher’s Enduring Legacy
Oakland Post: Week of March 29 – April 4, 2023
5 Large-Scale Art Projects Approved for Shields-Reid Park
Fremont: City Appoints First Female Fire Chief
Silicon Valley Students Stranded by Shuttered Schools
National Coalition of 100 Black Women SF ‘Hats and Gloves’ Tea Returns
Menlo Park Residents Fear Loss of Onetta Harris’ Legacy in Facebook Offer to Overhaul Community Center
UC Berkeley Professor Wins World-Renowned Prize for Research on Women and U.S. Slavery
Registration Opens for Richmond’s 1st Annual Citywide Garage Sale
State Attorney General Issues Consumer Alert for Storm Price Gouging
New Bill Would Require Hospitals to Meet Behavioral Health Staffing Standards
Kia, Hyundai Under Scrutiny From Attorneys General Over Lack of Vehicle Anti-Theft Devices
Bay Area Saw Wind Gusts of Up to 88 Mph As Tuesday’s Storm Whipped Through Region
Artificial Intelligence In School: Virtually Chatting With George Washington And Your Personal Gpt-4 Tutor
Oakland Post: Week of March 29 – April 4, 2023
Oakland Post: Week of March 22 – 28, 2023
Oakland Post: Week of March 15 – 21, 2023
Oakland Post: Week of March 8 – 14, 2023
Oakland Post: Week of March 1 – 7, 2023
Oakland Post: Week of February 22 – 28, 2023
Oakland Post: Week of February 15 – 21, 2023
Crumble and Whisk Patisserie, a Black-Owned Bakery and Café, Opens in Laurel District
Help Save North Oakland Missionary Baptist Church, the 2nd oldest Black Church in Oakland
Hidden History Black Museum Opens in Los Angeles
Alameda County Supervisors Will Allow Tenant Eviction Protections to Expire at End of April: Oakland’s eviction moratorium remains in effect for local residents
Holy Names University Hires Real Estate Firm to Sell Campus for High-End Housing
Unapologetically Black Mayor of Bay View Hunters Point Charlie Walker Leaves SF Legacy
Mississippi’s House of Representative’s Pass Jim Crow Law
Reparations: California Legislative Analyst’s Office Proposes “Paths” For Payments
August 18 | The Conversation with Al McFarlane – Companions
August 19 | The Conversation with Al McFarlane – The Healing Circle
BLACK is Beautiful: JaRule and Sounds of Blackness joins the Conversation
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The Right to Vote
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August 17 | The Conversation with Al McFarlane – Building Wealth and Community
NBA LEGEND ISIAH THOMAS : A LEGACY of SUCESS
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LIVE – Let It Be Known @ 7:30am ET – Episode 11
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LIVE! — #LET IT BE KNOWN — MON. 7.12.21 7:30AM ET
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