By: Elizabeth Sanseau, MD, Medical Director of CHOP's Indigenous Health Unit
Attending the 2025 Native American House Alliance (NAHA) Tribal Unity Powwow last October was a profoundly humbling and inspiring experience. As a white, non-Indigenous physician and Medical Director of the CHOP Indigenous Health Unit (IHU), I approached this gathering as a learner — grateful for the invitation to listen, witness, and stand in solidarity with Tribal leaders, families, and community members.
Partnering with NAHA Executive Director Cornelia Dimalanta and her daughter, Barbara Johnson, a Lumbee Tribe member and NAHA Administrative Assistant, has been deeply beneficial for the early development and grounding of the CHOP Indigenous Health Unit. Being invited to attend NAHA’s powwow as a guest and to host a CHOP IHU table was an honor. Meeting Cornelia’s family and community, and being welcomed into a space that celebrates strength, healing, and belonging, was both powerful and humbling.
It was also a joy to table beside Chef Joe Rocchi, a Pamunkey Citizen and celebrated Indigenous chef, whose fry bread and Three Sisters Stew — made from corn, beans, and squash, known as the “three sisters” — brought people together in shared nourishment and storytelling.
From CHOP, Dakota Oliviera (Choctaw Nation) led the volunteer efforts for the event. Dakota works at CHOP as a Medical Advocate through the Lutheran Settlement House, providing direct support and advocacy for survivors of intimate partner violence, as well as education and training for healthcare professionals. Her leadership and presence at the powwow reflected the spirit of service and community care that guide our partnerships.
We were also joined by Mary Ann Baricuatro, Associate Director of the Greenfield Intercultural Center at the University of Pennsylvania, who supports Natives at Penn — a vibrant community of Native and Indigenous students. Her work highlights the importance of academic spaces that affirm Indigenous identity, belonging, and leadership.
I was grateful to share this experience with other CHOP colleagues, including Chermiqua Tsosie (Research, CHOP Indigenous Health Unit), Robin Miccio and Micah Bedrosian (CHOP Integrative Health Program), Falguni Patel and Tessi Ruiz (CHOP Office of Community Impact), and Anand Petigara (CHOP Senior Family Consultant, Patient & Family Experience Team). Experiencing the powwow together deepened our shared understanding of how community, culture, and wellness are inseparable.
Three reflections continue to resonate with me:
- Community as Teacher: The powwow embodied the strength and wisdom of community — families, elders, and youth gathering with intention and pride. It reminded me that true partnership in healthcare begins with listening first and allowing communities to define their own priorities.
- Culture as Medicine: The songs, dances, regalia, and ceremony were vivid expressions of resilience and healing. They reinforced that culture itself is medicine — a source of strength, identity, and connection. Our work at CHOP must honor and integrate this understanding into every aspect of care, education, and research.
- Responsibility as an Ally: As a non-Indigenous physician working alongside Tribal partners, I hold a responsibility to approach this work with humility, accountability, and respect. Advancing health equity for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities requires more than good intentions — it demands deep, sustained relationships and a willingness to follow community leadership.
I left the powwow with immense gratitude — for the hospitality of the organizers, the artistry of Chef Rocchi, the leadership of Dakota Oliviera, the advocacy of Mary Ann Baricuatro, and the spirit of the community that gathered that day. The songs and laughter continue to echo, reminding me that the path toward health equity is one we walk together — guided by respect, relationship, and shared purpose.
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By: Elizabeth Sanseau, MD, Medical Director of CHOP's Indigenous Health Unit
Attending the 2025 Native American House Alliance (NAHA) Tribal Unity Powwow last October was a profoundly humbling and inspiring experience. As a white, non-Indigenous physician and Medical Director of the CHOP Indigenous Health Unit (IHU), I approached this gathering as a learner — grateful for the invitation to listen, witness, and stand in solidarity with Tribal leaders, families, and community members.
Partnering with NAHA Executive Director Cornelia Dimalanta and her daughter, Barbara Johnson, a Lumbee Tribe member and NAHA Administrative Assistant, has been deeply beneficial for the early development and grounding of the CHOP Indigenous Health Unit. Being invited to attend NAHA’s powwow as a guest and to host a CHOP IHU table was an honor. Meeting Cornelia’s family and community, and being welcomed into a space that celebrates strength, healing, and belonging, was both powerful and humbling.
It was also a joy to table beside Chef Joe Rocchi, a Pamunkey Citizen and celebrated Indigenous chef, whose fry bread and Three Sisters Stew — made from corn, beans, and squash, known as the “three sisters” — brought people together in shared nourishment and storytelling.
From CHOP, Dakota Oliviera (Choctaw Nation) led the volunteer efforts for the event. Dakota works at CHOP as a Medical Advocate through the Lutheran Settlement House, providing direct support and advocacy for survivors of intimate partner violence, as well as education and training for healthcare professionals. Her leadership and presence at the powwow reflected the spirit of service and community care that guide our partnerships.
We were also joined by Mary Ann Baricuatro, Associate Director of the Greenfield Intercultural Center at the University of Pennsylvania, who supports Natives at Penn — a vibrant community of Native and Indigenous students. Her work highlights the importance of academic spaces that affirm Indigenous identity, belonging, and leadership.
I was grateful to share this experience with other CHOP colleagues, including Chermiqua Tsosie (Research, CHOP Indigenous Health Unit), Robin Miccio and Micah Bedrosian (CHOP Integrative Health Program), Falguni Patel and Tessi Ruiz (CHOP Office of Community Impact), and Anand Petigara (CHOP Senior Family Consultant, Patient & Family Experience Team). Experiencing the powwow together deepened our shared understanding of how community, culture, and wellness are inseparable.
Three reflections continue to resonate with me:
- Community as Teacher: The powwow embodied the strength and wisdom of community — families, elders, and youth gathering with intention and pride. It reminded me that true partnership in healthcare begins with listening first and allowing communities to define their own priorities.
- Culture as Medicine: The songs, dances, regalia, and ceremony were vivid expressions of resilience and healing. They reinforced that culture itself is medicine — a source of strength, identity, and connection. Our work at CHOP must honor and integrate this understanding into every aspect of care, education, and research.
- Responsibility as an Ally: As a non-Indigenous physician working alongside Tribal partners, I hold a responsibility to approach this work with humility, accountability, and respect. Advancing health equity for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities requires more than good intentions — it demands deep, sustained relationships and a willingness to follow community leadership.
I left the powwow with immense gratitude — for the hospitality of the organizers, the artistry of Chef Rocchi, the leadership of Dakota Oliviera, the advocacy of Mary Ann Baricuatro, and the spirit of the community that gathered that day. The songs and laughter continue to echo, reminding me that the path toward health equity is one we walk together — guided by respect, relationship, and shared purpose.
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