Staff Biography
Sunni Domiguez
Tribal STAR Program Manager
sadominguez@sdsu.edu
Howka, my name is Sunni Dominguez. I am Iipay/Kumeyaay from the Ipay Nation of Santa Ysabel. I sat as an elected official for my tribe for 14 years. I also served as a Board Member for the California Tribal Families Coalition and currently am a board member for the Tribal Advisory Committee for the CDSS Office of Tribal Affairs. I have over 20 years of experience working within the Tribal community in the areas of Family Advocacy, Early Childhood Education, Tribal Youth Coordinator, and Cultural Site Monitor. I currently work for the Academy for Professional Excellence Tribal STAR program as the Program Manager. Most importantly, I have been honored and blessed to do the work of a Mother, Grandmother, Foster Parent, and Indian Custodian. My purpose is that of spiritual growth and dedication to healing and protecting our past, present, and future generations.
I have been working with the Tribal STAR program at the Academy for 7 years. The impact it has had on my life has been great! Not only have I developed as a professional, but I have also learned to understand better the importance of well-being as I navigate the challenges of training such a heavy topic that hits so close to home. As a trainer for ICWA: Working with Native American Families and Tribes, I have had many emotional moments of understanding the way and why some of my experiences as a Native woman raised with my tribe. It has caused me to have a reflection on the unresolved grief and loss not only for myself but also for my community. I see the need for daily attention to my well-being with an emphasis on spiritual healing to continue to grow and be the best I can be for my family and tribe. In addition to the impact on my healing journey, the work I do has been rewarding as I get to share my story and experiences to assist with the changing of the hearts, minds, and practices of the professionals that we serve, which leads to better outcomes for o ur Native American children and families.