Valencia, Cherise. "Rio Grande". October 5, 2025. 

"Sharing One Skin"  

 Jeannette Armstrong

The article explains that in the Okanagan culture, people, land, and language are all connected as one. Armstrong says her community believes we “share one skin,” meaning everyone must care for each other and the land. When people lose those connections, they lose part of who they are and life becomes unbalanced. 

Valencia, Cherise. "Last Pep Rally". September 3, 2025. 

"And Then I Went To School"  Joe Suina

The story is about a Native American boy who grows up proud and happy at home with his grandmother. When he starts school, he feels confused because the teachers tell him not to speak his native language or follow his cultural traditions. This makes him feel ashamed of his culture. He ends up feeling caught between two worlds, his home and the school. 

Valencia, Cherise. "Rio Grande". October 5, 2025. 

"How Place Names Impact The Way We See Landscape" B. Toastie

The article explains that place names affect how we understand and respect the land. Indigenous names come from stories, history, and a deep connection to nature, so they show why a place is important. When settlers renamed places, they often erased those original meanings and replaced them with names that show power or ownership instead. This changes how people view the land and can cause communities to lose part of their identity and culture. 

Valencia, Cherise. "Sunset". November 1, 2025. 

"Chronic Liver Disease in Aboriginal North Americans"

This article reviews research on chronic liver disease among Indigenous groups in Northern America. It explains that liver cirrhosis is much more common among Native people, with alcohol, viruses, and autoimmune conditions as the main causes. The authors say that more studies and medical support are needed to understand and reduce this health issue. They also point out that many communities face barriers to healthcare, which makes early diagnosis and treatment more difficult. Because of this, the disease often becomes more serious before it is treated, increasing the risk of complications. 

Valencia, Cherise. "State Fair". 2012. 

"Mortality Caused by Chronic Liver Disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the U.S, 1999-2009"

This study looked at how many people died from CLD between 1999 and 2009. The results showed that Native Americans and Alaska Natives died at much higher rates than white Americans. The problem was worse for women and young adults. The authors utilized more robust data systems to ensure the accuracy of their findings. This helped show a clearer picture of how serious the issue really is. The study also suggests that more targeted prevention and healthcare efforts are needed to reduce these death rates. 

Valencia, Cherise. "Downtown Santa Fe" . December 2, 2025.

"The Disparity between Native American Liver Disease and Transplants"

This radio podcast explains that Native Americans are more likely to suffer from liver disease but are less likely to receive liver transplants. It mentions how distance from transplant centers, poor funding, and medical bias make it harder for Native Patients to get help.

Valencia, Cherise. "English IV". January 27, 2026. 

"Hospitalization for cirrhosis in Australia: disparities in presentation and outcomes for Indigenous Australians"

This article explains how Indigenous Australians had worse health outcomes because they were more likely to arrive at the hospital during emergencies instead of getting care earlier, and they also had a higher rate of alcohol-related cirrhosis compared to other patients. They were also younger when they were hospitalized, which suggests that cirrhosis may be affecting Australian Indigenous people earlier in life and causing serious health problems at a younger age than expected. Overall, the results show that cirrhosis outcomes are connected not only to medical factors like alcohol-related liver damage, but also to larger issues such as access to healthcare, early treatment, and how quickly someone can get help before their condition becomes an emergency.

Valencia, Cherise. "Watercolors". February 12, 2026. 

"Health disparities among Indigenous populations in Latin America: A scoping review"

This article explains how Indigenous people in Latin America face worse health outcomes in many areas, including infections, malnutrition, and chronic liver diseases, and that these differences are strongly connected to poverty, living far away from healthcare services, and discrimination, which all make it harder for people to get early treatment and regular medical care. It also shows that there are major research gaps, meaning that many Indigenous health issues are not studied enough, which can lead to less awareness, fewer resources, and fewer effective solutions being created for the communities that need them most. 

Valencia, Cherise. "Photoshoot" . February 5, 2026

"Liver Cirrhosis, Etiology and Clinical Characteristics Disparities Among Minority
Population"

This study shows that liver cirrhosis can affect different ethnic groups in different ways, even when they live in the same country and have access to the same healthcare system. It explains that Arab Bedouin patients tend to develop cirrhosis at a younger age and often from different causes, especially fatty liver disease and hepatitis B, while Jewish patients are more likely to have cirrhosis connected to hepatitis C and, in many cases, alcohol-related liver damage as well.