Tasha Norton-James

Tasha Norton-James

Community Wellness Trainer

Tasha Norton-James is an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and a descendant of the Yurok and Karuk Tribes of Northern California. She has been privileged to grow up in the original ancestral territories of her tribes. Tasha started working with youth while she was a youth herself. Her passion and dedication seems from her love of wanting to make this world a better place for her people.

Throughout her professional career, Tasha has devoted herself to supporting BIPOC youth and families by developing mental health programs that are informed by youth and community needs and rooted in cultural teachings, while also integrating aspects of Western medicine. She has extensive experience working in both rural and urban Native American environments, serving as a project manager and director for several Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants, including Circles of Care, Native Connections, Garrett Lee Smith, and the Strategic Prevention Framework.

 In addition, Tasha is a trained facilitator for various curricula, including the Gathering of Native Americans (GONA), Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid, SafeTALK, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).

 Tasha’s dedication to serving Native communities commenced at an early age, as she actively participated in her own community activities, ceremonies, and cultural events. Inspired by the sentiment that “Rez Girls can do anything” Tasha embodies this belief and aspires to motivate the next generation to pursue their aspirations with perseverance and determination.