Mark Harris 

Bijago / Choctaw maroon

Mark Harris M.A.  CADC I, MAC is a Bijago / Choctaw maroon, born in The Haight, raised in South Central, to a Black Medical family traditionally active in working on health disparities. He has a great-grandfather on the Choctaw Freedmen rolls. He and his wife Cheri are parents of 7 adult children, and 11 grandchildren.
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Mark has a 50 year career as a therapist, educator, activist and trainer in Substance Abuse Disorders and Cultural Recovery. In the recovery tradition of Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X, “We cannot stagger our way to freedom”. Addiction is Slavery, recovery is an active restoration of non-addictive elements of cultural identity. He teaches Ethnic Studies, Addiction Studies, Cultural Competency, and has participated in the original GONA (Gathering Of Native Americans) and IAAM (Institute for African American Mobilization), and Native Wellness Institute’s Power Hour.