Meet the Staff
Dr. Amy Stiffarm, PhD, MPH
Founding Executive Director
Amy Stiffarm is a member of the Aaniiih (White Clay) Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community. She also is a descendant of the Chippewa Cree and Blackfeet Tribes of Montana. Amy received her MPH from the University of Montana in 2017 and earned a PhD in Indigenous Health at the University of North Dakota in 2023, where she focused on Perinatal Mental Health for Indigenous Women and Birthing People. Her work focuses on strength-based, Indigenous-led maternal health programming and research. Amy is grateful for the opportunity to promote healing and wellbeing for Native moms, babies, and families.
Email: amy@berrymedicine.org
Diona is Nakoda from the Fort Belknap Tribe of Montana and a descendant of the Aaniiih Tribe (White Clay). Diona graduated from MSU-Northern in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Health through the University of Montana’s online program. Diona is passionate about improving health outcomes in Indigenous communities, particularly in the area of perinatal health. Diona is passionate about improving health outcomes in Indigenous communities, particularly in the area of perinatal health.
Diona Buck
Program Manager
Email: diona@berrymedicine.org
Valene TalksDifferent
Program Coordinator
Valene Talks Different is Aaniiih (Whiteclay) and Nakoda (Assiniboine) from the Fort Belknap Reservation and has been living in Missoula, MT going on 9 years. She has obtained a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Native American Studies from the University of Montana. Her passion is to assist in reducing disparities for Indigenous communities to improve the quality of life for the future generations to come. She is excited to work for Berry Medicine to support mothers and babies across Montana.
Email: valene@berrymedicine.org