Planting Seeds of Justice: Introducing Redbud’s Medical Education & Research Branch

At Redbud, we believe that healing is not just personal, it’s inter-generational, relationship based, and community focused. It lives in the land, in ceremony, in stories passed down by our elders. And it lives in the systems we build when we center community over convenience, justice over comfort, and care over control.

Today, we’re proud to introduce the Medical Education and Research Branch of Redbud Resource Group. This branch of our organization was born from a simple truth: Native people deserve to be seen, heard, and cared for in ways that honor who we are and what we hold most important in our lives.

We created this space to build tools for healing and accountability in the systems that have too often ignored us, misunderstood us, or caused harm. Most importantly, this is a space where community knowledge, academic inquiry, and Indigenous advocacy come together in the responsibility to serve our Native communities. Our work focuses not only in improving the health of our communities but also on one of the most urgent crises facing Native communities today: the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) crisis.

Who We Are

This work is led by Madison Esposito (Berry Creek Rancheria Band of Maidu Indians), Redbud co-founder and Director of Research and Development. Madison is currently working towards becoming a forensic pathologist with the aim of providing support and justice to Native communities impacted by the MMIP crisis. She is joined by Research Specialist Katie Wilson (Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians). Katie is a dedicated advocate for the health and wellbeing of Native Californians and works to challenge institutions to uphold Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Katie’s work bridges clinical care, public health, and policy, with a focus on addressing systemic inequities and amplifying Indigenous voices in medicine and research.

Our work is supported by incredible contributors including:

• Dr. Emily Walck (Diné),

• Dr. Antoinette Martinez (Chumash),

• Cailean Dakota MacColl (Lac La Ronge Indian Band),

Each of us brings something different to this initiative; clinical training, cultural knowledge, research experience, lived truth. Together, we are creating research and educational programming that honors Native knowledge, strengthens clinical care, and helps dismantle the systems that continue to harm our communities.

Voices From the Frontlines: Community Testimonies on MMIP

In building out this branch of Redbud, we spent time in conversation with Indigenous advocates working on the front lines of the MMIP crisis. We asked: What do you want medical professionals to understand? How can they show up with more humility, accountability, and care?

Here’s what they shared:

Rose Hammock (Redbud Resource Group) 

“Medical providers can contribute to the process of healing from the MMIP crisis by honoring and respecting the cultural practices of Native patients. This includes allowing the presence of family or community members to contribute to medical decision making, supporting requests for traditional medicines or ceremonies, and recognizing the value of traditional healing alongside Western medicine. While not all Native patients are connected to their traditional practices and teaching, due to colonization and intergenerational trauma causing cultural loss for some, for those that are, respecting these preferences builds trust and demonstrates cultural humility. Recognizing and honoring these cultural needs can foster meaningful relationships and deliver more effective, compassionate care.”

Timothy S. Ruise (Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition, Inc.) 

“Hospitals and healthcare providers are a key point of contact and can play a critical role in recognizing, addressing and supporting the well-being of the families being impacted by the MMIP crisis. Hospital staff should be aware of the MMIP crisis and better understand the importance of their role in combating this issue, fostering a safe, supportive, and trustworthy environment. 

By recognizing the unique cultural values, historical trauma, and ongoing violence faced by these communities, medical providers can support Native American and Alaskan Native patients through trauma-informed care practices. Native people experience disproportionately high rates of interpersonal violence, including domestic abuse, trafficking, and homicide, particularly in remote and marginalized areas. Healthcare providers and hospital staff who are trained to recognize signs of violence and trauma can create a safe environment where patients feel supported and comfortable disclosing abuse. Additionally, healthcare professionals can play a key role in prevention and early intervention by identifying indicators of MMIP cases, collaborating with law enforcement, tribal leaders, and social services, and ensuring timely reporting and support for survivors.”

Cailean Dakota MacColl (MD Candidate at University of Minnesota)

“Know the difference between relationship to and relationship with. Mourning is sacred and should be treated as such. All of us, including students and family members, will have different needs at different times, and we can use your advocacy in those moments.”

These voices remind us: change starts in relationships—with ourselves, the people we care for, our histories, and our responsibilities..

Seeing Our Native Patients (SONP) Program

One way we’re supporting this change is through our training program, Seeing Our Native Patients (SONP).

SONP is a five-session, interactive clinical education series created by Native professionals for healthcare providers working with Native communities. Topics include:

• Intergenerational trauma & its impact on health

• Pediatric and geriatric care rooted in community

• Traditional healing and harm reduction

• Sexual health, pregnancy, and gender-based violence

• Trauma-informed practices for honoring Native patients in life and in death

Each session is customized to the local context of the Native communities being served, with optional modules on dentistry, palliative care, and more. It’s not just a lecture, it’s a shift in how we relate to care. SONP is available for in-person and virtual facilitation. More information on how to bring this training to your organization will be shared in our next update!

What We’re Doing

We’re not just thinking about making a change, we’re publishing, teaching, and building the changes we want to see in academia, medical institutions, and justice systems.

Over the past year, we’ve released several peer-reviewed articles to help guide better care and accountability in medicine and public health:

• “Building Partnerships With Tribal Nations: A Call for Cultural Sensitivity in Forensic Examinations” – An article educating coroners, medical examiners, and law enforcement on how to collaborate with Native communities impacted by MMIP.

• “Seeing Our Native Patients: A Case-Based Learning Module on Intergenerational Trauma in American Indian/Alaska Native People” – A resource for clinical educators looking to expand their cultural competency.

• “How Should Allopathic Physicians Respond to Native American Patients Hesitant About Allopathic Medicine?” – A piece exploring respectful and effective care approaches grounded in cultural humility.

These are just the first of many. Our goal is not only to inform, but to transform, to replace talk with action, and erasure with truth. 

Where We’re Headed

This is just the beginning. The Medical Education and Research Branch at Redbud will continue to grow alongside the needs of our communities. Future projects will include:

• National research partnerships with tribal public health authorities.

• First of its kind research and education on death and dying, and the subsequent intersection on public health surveillance.

• Expanded clinical modules for specialty providers.

• Interviews with Native professionals, students, and community members.

• Mentorship and programing for Native youth entering healthcare fields.

• Opportunities to join us in this work both in academia and in the community.

  
  

Healing takes time. Justice takes vision. We are in this for the long haul.  

Uplifting our community voices and increasing representation in the medical system is a key priority behind our research efforts and interventions. If you are a clinician, researcher, educator, or relative walking this same path, we invite you to reach out. This branch of Redbud belongs to the people. And it grows stronger when we walk together.

Stay Connected

• To stay updated on our work, visit redbudresourcegroup.org

• To learn more about SONP or to request a training, reach out through our contact page.

• To support our MMIP-related efforts, consider sharing this post or donating to Redbud.

Together, we are building a future where Native patients are seen, heard, and healed.

In solidarity and in care,

The Redbud Medical Education and Research Branch

Madison Esposito and Katie Wilson