Blue Lake Rancheria would like to congratulate Michele Johnson-Kindred, who just recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Capella University, achieving her BA in Psychology! Michele Johnson-Kindred is a Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Member, who has made this incredible achievement all while balancing a full-time job, serving on the Board of Education, being a dedicated grandparent, and caring for her foster child, father and step-mother. Looking to the future, Michele will be continuing her Master’s program at Cal Poly Humboldt. Congratulations Michele!
To coincide with this news, the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Education Agency has just recently secured a $2.49M Native Youth Community Partnership award, which will be used to create and launch a Child/Family Mental Health & Wellness Program. Michele Johnson-Kindred will use her expertise to work with the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Education Agency to help develop the policies and protocols for family mental health services. This will include the implementation of the American Indian Life Skills curriculum by Dr. Theresa LaFramboise, which has been adopted by both Blue Lake Rancheria and the Humboldt County Office of Education.
In addition to the creation of the Child/Family Mental Health Program, the Native Youth Community Partnership Grant will also expand the Pathmakers and Modern Youth Internship Academies programs, and solidify the next five years of ongoing programming. This means the continuation of Drone Legends & Robotics Club, Native Clubs, Garden/Food Sovereignty Clubs, and Art Clubs at all of Eureka City Schools & NHUHSD Schools. Funding has been secured for field trips, internships, annual college campus visits, and student led conferences like Success in Both Worlds and the California Native Celebration Day event. This funding will also cover Native Ways of Knowing libraries, book clubs using evidence-based practice Reading Apprenticeships (Reading Villages), cultural workshops, and partnerships with Cal Poly Humboldt Food Sovereignty Lab and NCIDC.
Originally Published: 10/9/2025