Luana Reyes
Encyclopedia
Luana Reyes) was an American Indian
health care administrator. As executive director of the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) 1972–1982, she grew that institution from a staff of five to nearly 200 and made it a model for urban Indian
institutions; subsequently, she worked for the federal Indian Health Service
, eventually becoming deputy director of that 14,000-person institution.
On October 10, 2001, shortly before her death from aplastic anemia
at the age of 68, she received the Presidential Rank Meritorious Award.
); her father, Julian Reyes, was Filipino
, but had largely assimilated to an Indian way of life. Her mother's father, Alex Christian, was known as Pic Ah Kelowna, "White Grizzly Bear"; her great uncle (brother of her maternal grandmother) was Chief James Bernard, a Sin Aikst leader in the early 20th century.
Reyes' early childhood was spent largely on the Colville Indian Reservation
in Washington. In 1935–1937, during the period of construction of the Grand Coulee Dam
, her parents had moved to the Coulee and started a Chinese restaurant even though "[n]either of them could prepare Chinese food except for simple dishes such as pork fried rice, egg foo-yung, and chop suey". They soon acquired an ethnically Chinese partner and cook, Harry Wong; Wong bought them out of the restaurant in 1937. Her parents separated in 1939 and subsequently divorced; her mother would later work again for Wong in Tacoma, Washington
, and eventually marry him.
From 1940 to 1942, Reyes and her older brother Lawney were students at the Chemawa Indian School
five miles north of Salem, Oregon
After graduating at the head of her class from Okanogan High School (Okanogan, Washington
) in 1951, she moved to Tacoma, Washington
, living with her mother, working in a department store and for Harry Wong's restaurant. She worked over the next twenty years in the private sector in San Francisco, Hawaii
, and Seattle
before succeeding her younger brother, activist Bernie Whitebear
, as executive director of the Seattle Indian Health Board, which, over the next decade she transformed from a tiny organization with a staff of five into "a comprehensive community health care center with a multimillion-dollar budget and over 190 full-time health professionals and support staff." During this time, she helped to found the American Indian Health Care Association, now known as the National Council on Urban Indian Health. Subsequently, after a brief stint as executive director of the Puyallup Nation Health Authority community health program, she worked at the headquarters of the federal Indian Health Service (Rockville, Maryland
), eventually becoming director of headquarters operations, chief financial officer, and deputy director of that 14,000-person institution.
; her older brother Lawney Reyes
is a sculptor, designer, curator, and memoirist.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
health care administrator. As executive director of the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) 1972–1982, she grew that institution from a staff of five to nearly 200 and made it a model for urban Indian
Urban Indian
Urban Indians are Native Americans in the United States who live in urban areas. Urban Indians represent a growing proportion of the Native population in the United States...
institutions; subsequently, she worked for the federal Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service is an Operating Division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . IHS is responsible for providing medical and public health services to members of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Natives...
, eventually becoming deputy director of that 14,000-person institution.
On October 10, 2001, shortly before her death from aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia is a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells. The condition, per its name, involves both aplasia and anemia...
at the age of 68, she received the Presidential Rank Meritorious Award.
Life
Reyes was born in Portland, Oregon. Her mother, born Mary Christian, was Sin Aikst (now known as Lakes tribe, one of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville ReservationColville Indian Reservation
The Colville Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Washington, inhabited and managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which is recognized by the United States of America as an American Indian Tribe...
); her father, Julian Reyes, was Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, but had largely assimilated to an Indian way of life. Her mother's father, Alex Christian, was known as Pic Ah Kelowna, "White Grizzly Bear"; her great uncle (brother of her maternal grandmother) was Chief James Bernard, a Sin Aikst leader in the early 20th century.
Reyes' early childhood was spent largely on the Colville Indian Reservation
Colville Indian Reservation
The Colville Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Washington, inhabited and managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which is recognized by the United States of America as an American Indian Tribe...
in Washington. In 1935–1937, during the period of construction of the Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
, her parents had moved to the Coulee and started a Chinese restaurant even though "[n]either of them could prepare Chinese food except for simple dishes such as pork fried rice, egg foo-yung, and chop suey". They soon acquired an ethnically Chinese partner and cook, Harry Wong; Wong bought them out of the restaurant in 1937. Her parents separated in 1939 and subsequently divorced; her mother would later work again for Wong in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, and eventually marry him.
From 1940 to 1942, Reyes and her older brother Lawney were students at the Chemawa Indian School
Chemawa Indian School
Chemawa Indian School is a Native American boarding school in Salem, Oregon, United States. It was opened on February 25, 1880 as an elementary school, but as of 2005, served ninth through twelfth grades. It is sometimes referred to as Chemawa High School...
five miles north of Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
After graduating at the head of her class from Okanogan High School (Okanogan, Washington
Okanogan, Washington
Okanogan is a town in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,552 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Okanogan County.It has a small commuter airfield, Okanogan Legion Airport - with one paved runway of in length....
) in 1951, she moved to Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, living with her mother, working in a department store and for Harry Wong's restaurant. She worked over the next twenty years in the private sector in San Francisco, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, and Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
before succeeding her younger brother, activist Bernie Whitebear
Bernie Whitebear
Bernie Whitebear , birth name Bernard Reyes, was an American Indian activist, a co-founder of the Seattle Indian Health Board , the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, and the Daybreak Star Cultural Center....
, as executive director of the Seattle Indian Health Board, which, over the next decade she transformed from a tiny organization with a staff of five into "a comprehensive community health care center with a multimillion-dollar budget and over 190 full-time health professionals and support staff." During this time, she helped to found the American Indian Health Care Association, now known as the National Council on Urban Indian Health. Subsequently, after a brief stint as executive director of the Puyallup Nation Health Authority community health program, she worked at the headquarters of the federal Indian Health Service (Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
), eventually becoming director of headquarters operations, chief financial officer, and deputy director of that 14,000-person institution.
Family
She had one child, a daughter, Kecia, born in 1985. Reyes' brother, Bernie Whitebear (1937–2000), was a prominent activist, not only founder of SIHB, but co-founder of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, and the Daybreak Star Cultural CenterDaybreak Star Cultural Center
The Daybreak Star Cultural Center is a Native American cultural center in Seattle, Washington, described by its parent organization United Indians of All Tribes as "an urban base for Native Americans in the Seattle area." Located on 20 acres in Seattle's Discovery Park in the Magnolia...
; her older brother Lawney Reyes
Lawney Reyes
Lawney L. Reyes is an American Indian artist, curator and memoirist.-Life:Reyes' mother, born Mary Christian, was Sin Aikst ; his father, Julian Reyes, was Filipino, but had largely assimilated to an Indian way...
is a sculptor, designer, curator, and memoirist.