Honoring Martin Waukazoo, CEO, Native American Health Center

In July of 2021, the Oakland City Council officially approved the renaming of 31st Avenue in Oakland to “Waukazoo Way” to honor Native American Health Center CEO, Martin Waukazoo.

My future generations will be able to walk by that building there, look up, and there will be a little bit of pride – Martin Waukazoo

On November 9th, to help celebrate Native American Heritage Month, Native Americans and non-Native Americans alike joined together to attend a public ceremony in Oakland to celebrate this renaming and to honor Martin for his lasting impact on the health of Oakland residents. For over 40 years, Martin has been at the forefront of addressing historic healthcare disparities that affect the communities of the Bay Area, specifically in the Fruitvale district of Oakland.

Watch the full video below

Also this month, Martin was honored as an “Impact Warrior” by the NBA’s Golden State Warriors during their halftime event to celebrate Native American Heritage Night 2021! Impact Warriors are community members who have dedicated their lives to the well-being of our communities and to improve the quality of life for those that are underserved.

Martin being honored at the Alameda County Board of Supervisor’s Meeting

Lastly, Martin was honored by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on November 16th in a proclamation that November 2021 is “Native American Heritage Month” and recognizes individuals like Martin Waukazoo for their commitment to raising awareness and providing safe spaces for students and community members alike to learn about Native American and Indigenous heritage. You can read the full proclamation HERE.

You can learn more about Native American Health center HERE.