Moses Mora, Traditional Sundancer

Moses Mora was born and raised in Ventura, California, amongst the Chumash people. Mora's Indigenous lineage is Mexican / Pueblo from his father's side and Mexican / Apache from his mother's side, which is typical of bloodlines for people who have lived in New Mexico for centuries. For most of his adult life, he has concerned himself with attending to the preservation of traditional North American Indigenous ways by conducting the native ceremonies as handed down through the generations. Moses started participating in Native spiritual ways in 1976 and began establishing Sweat Lodges for ceremonies in 1986 that have continued to this day.

Moses embraces the perspective that the arts and ceremony are interwoven into the fabric of the Indigenous ways and there is no way of separating them. He teaches that we are a people that believe that the ways of our ancestors keep us centered, grounded, and in balance. Staying connected with traditional indigenous ways helps us to be better, more productive, responsible, and caring people as we move forward with a clearer vision and understanding. 

Growing up, Moses was not connected to the Indigenous ways. After graduating from Ventura High School in 1967, he was soon drafted into the U.S. military in a combat role. He arrived in Vietnam at the tender age of 18 years in 1968. He returned home the next year, still not old enough to vote or drink. To say that he returned from Vietnam as "damaged goods", is an understatement. Upon his return, he sunk into a world of drug abuse and incarceration. His life took a turn for the better in 1976 when he was fortunate to meet the late Lakota elder Archie Fire Lame Deer. Under Lame Deer's guidance and direction, Moses started a spiritual journey that continues today, over 45 years later. Following Archie’s example for ten years, he learned how to conduct Pipe ceremonies, Sweat Lodges, Vision Quests, and he was initiated into the Sundance ceremony and way of life.

An example of the ways Moses gives to his community is his 16 years of going into the California Youth Authority to provide Sweat Lodge ceremonies for young men and women inmates. This has enabled incarcerated youths to find their spiritual connections, strength, and clarity. The community Sweat Lodges Moses established has helped many people who are in recovery, including veterans, and some who have been incarcerated or homeless to find their strength and guidance.  Moses adheres to the Indigenous wisdom that teaches us to help all those in need within our community.

The ceremonies he established have been the backbone giving strength to countless numbers of people who seek to heal from trauma, addiction, poverty, and regain mental health. The ceremonies have helped people to find their way to their ancestral roots. He also considers this work as decolonizing, and peacemaking that incorporates restorative justice protocols and understanding.

Ana M. Becerra  

Ana was born in San Bernardino, California where many of her ancestors migrated north from four areas of Mexico at the end of the 1800s and her great parents are buried. Her grandmother graduated from Sherman Indian School in Riverside, California in 1908. She was a strong influence in Ana’s life and still walks with her today. Ana’s indigenous roots are Guachichil and Cora. Ana has walked the Red Road and participated in indigenous activities, events, and ceremonies for most of her life.

At age 18, she was a founding member of Red Wind, the first indigenous nonprofit organization based on principles of decolonization in 1972 in Ventura County.

In 1973, Ana participated in the occupation of Wounded Knee, South Dakota to bring attention to the grave injustices suffered by the traditional Oglala Lakota people at the hands of local and federal government and law enforcement agencies. This critical event was transformational for Ana and for indigenous people throughout this country.

Ana embraces the belief that we are born whole and healthy and good, and the ceremonies and community give us a place to recover ourselves while serving others. The Indigenous ceremonies, cultures, languages, and ways of life provide us a familiar foundation. It is a long-term strategy of decolonization to work towards transforming systems, shifting power and generating sustainable solutions for the challenges we face with the environment and social and climate justice.

Growing up, Ana’s first hand lesson about systemic political injustice occurred in 1966, when her parents took her and her younger siblings on the final day of the California Farm Workers Delano to Sacramento march led by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta to speak to the Governor about the many injustices farmworkers suffered in the fields. However, when they arrived at the Capitol grounds, the Governor had left town! At 12-years old, Ana looked around and realized the harsh reality-contrary to what they were telling her in school, this government was not for all people. This experience and others to follow lead to work in schools and organizations to eliminate systematic racism and other forms of oppression in their internal working culture and their outward delivery of services.

Early on, Ana was blessed to work as a teacher’s aide on an Indian Reservation in Montana where the tribe supported her to become a teacher in a bilingual/bicultural (Cree & English) school. Later after furthering her education, she also worked as a teacher and administrator in Nevada, California, and Oregon. Ana has worked in social justice nonprofit organizations and taught several university courses. Ana has a bachelor’s degree in Education, a master’s in science education, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Organizations.

Ana has led women’s healing circles since 2010. She leads ceremonies and holds talk circles, including virtually during the pandemic. Ana supports the work of our community, including the women’s drum and the veterans. She also seeks funding, support, and opportunities for all the special interests and talents that exist within our community, so that it may continue to prosper.