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Celebrate Indigenous Life

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The American Indian Cancer Foundation invites you to join us in recognizing National Cancer Survivor Awareness Month this June. Cancer is the leading cause of death among Native women and the second leading cause of death among Native men. AICAF’s Celebrate Indigenous Life campaign aims to honor, support, and raise awareness of Native cancer survivors. Because this national campaign happens on a digital platform, community members are able to participate from anywhere! Get involved by raising awareness of Indigenous cancer burdens, uplifting the voices of our community, and celebrating the strength and resiliency of survivors everywhere. #CelebrateIndigenousLife

Wear Lavender.

Wear lavender and cherish relatives impacted by a cancer diagnosis on Thursday, June 22, 2023 for Celebrate Indigenous Life Day. Listen to their stories, learn from their wisdom, and celebrate their sacred lives.

Share.

Start a conversation on Indigenous cancer burdens with members of your community. Share how cancer has impacted you by participating in AICAF’s Virtual Cancer Survivor Support Circles and Community Conversation sessions.

Learn.

Learn from our culturally-tailored resources and Indigenous cancer survivors. AICAF will be sharing Indigenous Cancer Stories from; survivors, caregivers, and their families. It aims to uplift the voices of our warriors, providing them with a platform to share their experiences while inspiring Native people to be proactive about their health. 

Engage.

Like the American Indian Cancer Foundation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming events and cancer awareness campaigns. 

Use the 2023 Celebrate Indigenous Life Social Media Toolkit! It includes sample posts for social media that can be easily copied and pasted into the social media platform of your choice. We encourage you to personalize these posts with pictures and information that is unique to your community and use the hashtag #CelebrateIndigenousLife 

Donate.

A gift to the American Indian Cancer Foundation helps us strengthen our programs, build larger campaigns, and provide more resources to families across Indian Country. While grants and contracts fund specific projects, generous donors like you play a vital role in making this work happen!

Meet our 2023 #CelebrateIndigenousLife Campaign Advocates

Kimberly J. Hand

Kimber is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, cousin, and friend. Hand is an enrolled member of Cochiti Pueblo of Cochiti, NM. She is recently NED from Stage IIIA HER2+ Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and Ductal Carcinoma in-situ. Kimber is an active member of The Steven G. Cancer Foundation and Elephants & Tea’s Patient Advisory Committee (PAC). Furthermore, Kimber is a regular contributor to Elephants & Tea’s quarterly print publications and is the columnist behind Elephants & Tea’s online presence with “Cannabis Column with Kimber.” Hand is a West River Eagle News columnist, the number one news source for Dewey and Ziebach counties and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota. She is a strong advocate for plant medicine, people, and all spirits that need a voice. Hand was the Vice President of the American Marketing Association’s (AMA) collegiate chapter at The Illinois Institute of Art–Chicago during college. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, Kappa Omicron Nu. Kimber graduated magna cum laude in 2008 with a degree in Marketing & Management. She resides in the suburbs of Chicago, IL with her husband, their three children, and their dog. 

Stephanie Bolman-Altamirano

Stephanie Bolman-Altamirano is a descendant of both the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Kul Wicasa Oyate, and the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation. Stephanie is a breast cancer survivor and has dedicated her life to the service of helping others. Stephanie's background in healthcare, and nonprofit leadership, and her education, coupled with her 30-year experience in community advocacy, have helped her gain valuable insights. Serving across these many capacities, she learned the skills in leadership, teamwork, and organization unique to individual settings and brought them to bear in her official service as an elected Tribal Council Member for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in Lower Brule, SD. Stephanie worked with the Centers for Disease Control Covid-19 Tribal Support Team, the American Red Cross, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist in tribal efforts to prepare, plan and respond to the Covid-19 Pandemic. She also served on the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Emergency Management Team, Technology Task Force, Rural Water Steering Committee, and Constitutional Reform Committee. Coming from a fifth-generation ranching family, Stephanie is no stranger to hard work, risk-taking, and meeting challenges head-on. She is a National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional and was CEO of Cross-Cultural Solutions, an organization that offers solutions to local community concerns and social injustices. Outside work, Stephanie loves spending time and working on her family ranch. She is married to a loving and supportive husband, Enis, and daughter Sequoia.