The premier Indigenous owned and operated addiction recovery center in North America for Native people.
Thundermaker Wellness is the premier Native-owned and operated behavioral health center providing American Indian and Alaska Native people with high-quality, evidence-based treatment and recovery programs. We braid cultural and traditional practices with modern methodologies, focusing on treating the whole person to support long-term recovery.
Weaving evidence-based programs with culturally infused practices
Here at Thundermaker we provide a unique, but ancient approach to addiction and behavioral health by integrating diverse treatment models into our programs while also integrating traditional Indigenous teachings to ensure that the needs of our all Indigenous clientele are met. To achieve this, our skilled staff employs a combination of evidence-based practices and integrative therapies, providing clients with cutting-edge therapeutic interventions that enhance the likelihood of improved treatment outcomes, recovery and overall wellness. And, as the nation’s first and only all-indigenous recovery center, Indigenous culture and beliefs are at the center of our programs and serves as the beating heart of the Thundermaker Wellness Center.
Native American individuals struggling with addiction face barriers to accessing effective care, often due to a lack of treatment programs that integrate traditional healing practices with modern therapeutic approaches. This absence of cultrally-braided support leads to higher relapse rates, incomplete recovery, and a disconnection from cultural identity, which is central to the healing process for many Native American individuals.
Thundermaker Wellness Center aims to address the significant gap in culturally-sensitive and holistic substance abuse treatment for Native American communities.
The program is staffed by a team of licensed therapists, trainers, and cultural experts. We also partner with local organizations and tribal leaders to provide additional resources and support.
Evidenced-based programs
Evidence-based programs are interventions, practices, or policies that have been scientifically tested and proven effective through rigorous research and evaluation. These programs rely on empirical evidence to demonstrate their success in achieving desired outcomes. They are often used in fields such as education, healthcare, social services, and criminal justice to ensure that resources are being used effectively and efficiently.
The key characteristics of evidence-based programs include:
Research and Evaluation: They are grounded in systematic research and have been evaluated through controlled studies.
Replicability: They can be consistently replicated in different settings with similar results.
Effectiveness: They have demonstrated positive outcomes and benefits for the target population.
Continuous Improvement: They are regularly updated and refined based on new evidence and feedback.
By implementing evidence-based programs, organizations can make informed decisions, improve service delivery, and achieve better outcomes for individuals and communities. Here at Thundermaker we make sure to use these best practices when treating our clients. We invite you to visit the page below to learn more about how we use these practices in our treatments.
Culturally-driven psychotheraptic programs:
Sweat Lodge
The Sweat Lodge has been practiced by many Indigenous tribes across Turtle Island. The Sweat Lodge ceremony has been used for generations as a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing practice that incorporates traditional knowledge with spirituality. On top of being a part of native spiritual practice, it has recently been accepted by certain insurances as form of behavioral health therapy.
Food Sovereignty
Connection to nature and the earth is a cornerstone in Indigenous culture. Modernly known as horticulture therapy, food sovereignty practices help nurture one’s physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing while providing connection between traditional native cultural practices and proven behavioral health therapy.
Traditional Medicines/Practices
Our Indigenous traditional medicines offer a holistic approach to addiction and recovery for Indigenous clients while providing a space that is inclusive of all nations. Our staff is made up of culture-practicing Indigenous people whose perspective and vison comes from lived experience.
How we got started
Founded in 2024, the Thundermaker Recovery Center was put together based off the lived experience of founders Hunter Thundercloud and Arrow Funmaker while working together in the addiction recovery field as Indigenous people. They recognized the lack of culture centering in addiction programs, as well as the lack of culture-practicing Native people at the heart of these recovery centers that often treat many Native American clients.
By establishing this residential treatment center, they found a way of reviving a traditional way of life while also providing treatments that cater specifically to Native people. This program is more than just a facility; it is a modern embodiment of the values that have sustained Indigenous communities for generations. Here, every client becomes an integral part of a larger circle, embraced not as patients but as relatives united by a shared journey toward healing and growth.
Much like a traditional community, the treatment center offers holistic care addressing mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. Elders and cultural practitioners provide guidance by sharing wisdom and traditional practices. Shared meals, prepared with Indigenous foods and ingredients, offer opportunities to reconnect with heritage while nourishing both body and spirit. The land itself also plays a role in the healing process, reminding us of our place in the greater circle of life.
By fostering a sense of belonging, we are not merely addressing individual challenges but rebuilding the foundation of community strength. In this space, clients can shed the burdens of isolation and rediscover their purpose as interconnected members of a greater whole. Just as our ancestors once did, we are creating a circle where healing, support, and belonging thrive, ensuring that no one walks their journey alone.
Contact Us
If you are interested in working with us, have any questions, or want to know more, please contact us by filling out this form, or join our mailing list for updates, future events, or programs.
Pinagigi/Thank you (Ho-Chunk)
Ahehee/Thank you (Navajo)