Tradition is Prevention, Culture is Treatment

I wrote this a few weeks ago as a press release. I posted this on a different blog, which was one of the things that prompted me to start this one. From my perspective, the trouble with telling a story in press releases is two-fold. First, most newspapers will either do their own reporting, or they will edit the heck out of what you write, and the piece will not be printed in it's entirety. Second, if you get a photo in a newspaper, wonderful, but if you get two, well that's incredible . Red Lake Net News is really good about posting all my photos, but the editor posts the story followed by photos.

I'm going to try it differently, I'm going to place my photographs within the story. I'm hoping photos will help tell the tale, and perhaps break it up a bit, making it easier to read, and therefore be a better more enjoyable story. We'll see if it works. I hope it's a bit educational too, but I'll let you be the judge of that.

FOURTH ANNUAL DRUG/GANG SUMMIT

HELD AT RED LAKE

“Tradition is Prevention; Culture is Treatment”

is Overriding Theme

The fourth annual Red Lake Drug and Gang Summit was held at the Red Lake Seven Clans Casino Event Center on February 23 and 24, 2010. The theme was entitled “In Memory of Bill Blake: Continuing His Mission”. Bill, who passed in August 2009 at age 45, was a Red Lake member and highly decorated Minneapolis Police officer who never forgot his people. This years summit had over 300 registrants shattering the 2009 record of 250.

Tom Barrett is interviewed by Lakeland News

The summit began with opening remarks by Tom Barrett, Executive Director of Red Lake Chemical Health Programs. This was followed by an opening prayer by Spiritual Elder Larry Stillday. At 9 AM, a welcoming were presented by Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr.

Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain visits with the Blake family. Left to right Melissa Blake, Jourdain, Alexis Blake, and Blake’s ex-wife Dawn

Following the welcome by Jourdain a special presentation was given for the Bill Blake family in honor of the Summit’s theme. Bill’s daughters, mother, and ex-wife were all present for the giving of a memorial plaque. The plaque was made of transparent glass, had a photo of Bill, the Red Lake logo, and the words “In Memory of Bill Blake: Continuing His Mission”, with the word Ogichidaa (Warrior) at the bottom.

Activities during the summit included presentations, workshops, and break out sessions. As is customary in Indian Country, lunch was served each day, along with door prizes and more.

Presentation Highlights

Dr. Cecil White Hat (Lakota Sioux) who presented a session entitled “Traditional Family Roles”, interviews with Lakeland News reporter

White Hat, in a PowerPoint presentation, described the objectives of traditional family roles. It began by providing information that then enabled participants to define and clarify cultural practices that show a healthy traditional family lifestyle. He starts off with describing the kinship system circa 1830 to 1870, when family culture was governed by familiarity and respect. Family members based their behavior according to age, gender, and proximity of relationship. These principles enabled the group to be cohesive, workable, foster harmony, and avoid conflict. For example, toward one’s sister-in-law, a boisterously friendly and intimate joking relationship was expected. However, to one’s mother-in-law, complete avoidance was the rule. Avoidance being an expression of highest reserve and respect.

Avoidance was part of culture then. Partial avoidance made it improper to look directly at the other person or to speak except under the most urgent conditions. This was required for all persons who a man called “sister”, “female cousin”, or “father-in-law”. Similarly a woman should avoid her “brothers”, “male cousins”, and “mother-in-law”. Complete avoidance was demanded between “sons” and “mothers-in-law”, and between “daughters” and “fathers-in-law”.

Bragging was considered a social sin. A man’s family was his first thought, ties to family was the strongest, then to his clan, then to his tribe. A good husband was a good provider and protector. Wives, on the other hand, decided where the family would live. Neglect of children was unknown. A child without parents was taken into someone’s home. Elders were objects of care and devotion to the last, treated with respect and revered for their knowledge. They were the storytellers and teachers.

White Hat’s presentation closed with a series of questions asking those in attendance how many of these traditional values are present in your family today, and to what degree.

White Hat gives hope by suggesting looking to cultural remedies, and that this awareness can lead to liberation. The first step is love and acceptance of oneself and of being Indian. A restoration of family is needed. He points out where there is historical grief and loss, you can also find historical strength and healing. “One cannot treat addiction without addressing the spiritual and cultural issues”, said White Hat. “This is critical to long-term sobriety”.

Dr. Rosemary White Shield (Anishinabe/Choctaw) presented a session on Nokomis Endaad (Grandmother’s House)

“The purpose of Nokomis Endaad”, says White Shield, “is to provide culturally intrinsic healing for American Indian women who are challenged by addiction, mental health, sexual trauma, and cultural disorders”.

And she provides some stark statistics. Indian women face the highest rate of sexual violence of any group in the U.S. One of three Native women will be raped in her lifetime, and three of four will be assaulted. She goes on to say that American Indian men and women suffer disproportionate rates of trauma, and the experience of sexual trauma can have devastating mental health consequences. Research then, shows that these victims are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs to cope with this trauma.

But there is more. American Indians display the highest lifetime occurrence of major depressive disorders, and that alcohol and drug use are frequently observed in those suffering. Natives make up 1.2% of the population of Minnesota, yet make up 7.7% of all chemical dependency treatment admissions.

Coincidently but not surprisingly, Dr. White Shield cites historical trauma as being significant and alcohol as the common denominator. “Some native scholars say that the effects of historical trauma are now being passed down generation to generation”, said White Shield. “There is an effort among many Indian Nations to heal the effects of historical trauma, and learning about these factors is key to that healing”, she said.

Historical trauma refers to a cumulative wounding across generations as well as during one’s lifetime. Victims of genocide during Indian-European wars is estimated to be up to 13 million indigenous people. Using conservative estimates, 2/3 of indigenous people in North America were exterminated between 1500-1900. 90% of American Indian children were forcibly placed in boarding schools by 1930. The theory goes on to say that there is an “intergenerational transmission”, meaning there is a psychological transfer of trauma response across generations.

Her PowerPoint presentation goes on to describe that colonization and forms of assimilation result in “altered states of self”, that is, a loss of traditional values and culture. Colonization has historically used sexual violence as a primary tool of genocide – for Native women – to stop them from being mothers. The presentation states that colonization encompasses a wide range of strategies, “not only to destroy peoples, but to destroy their sense of being a people.”

The answer according to White Shield is the decolonizing of Indigenous minds by re-centering Indigenous values and cultural practices within research practice, and an essential piece is an Indigenous peoples’ struggle for self-determination.

Over 300 registrants from Red Lake, neighboring tribes, and non-Indians participated in the Summit

Rick Moldenhauer conducted a session on opiates. Moldenhauer is a Treatment Services Consultant at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, DHS. From a PowerPoint presentation, Moldenhauer pointed out the definition of opiates which are any of the psychoactive drugs that originate from the opium poppy, or have a chemical structure like the drugs derived from opium. They include; heroine, morphine, oxycontin, vicoden, percodan, etc. Moldenhauer concluded his presentation with two slides, one that said “Walk the Red Road”, and the other perhaps more good advice...“Tradition is prevention, culture is treatment”.

One of the good and bad things about the Red Lake Indians is they always feed you well and for free. I've been working for three years to remove 40 pounds I gained the previous five.

Charles Cichon, presented a program entitled “Methamphetamines to Prescription Drug Abuse-Scope fo the Problem 2010”. Cichon is the Executive Director of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) and has a background in law enforcement, and in health regulatory and the pharmaceutical industry. He is an international speaker on the topic of pharmaceutical abuse and diversion and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

Patty Kaunkel explains to registrants the Red Lake Nation tribal court CRAFT (Creating Restitution and Following Traditions) program.

William Brunelle, Director of Public Safety, Red Lake Nation and Colin “Kelly” Brunelle, Criminal Investigator, Red Lake Nation made a co-presentation on Statistics form Public Safety and Working the Drug Task Force. William Brunelle was the previous Public Safety Director and Chief of Police for the White Earth Reservation. Colin Brunelle as criminal investigator, works specifically with narcotics, gangs, and major crimes.

Michael Stillday gives a presentation on the Redby Community Patrol

Mike is an Emergency Medical Technician employed by Red Lake Comprehensive Health Service since 1990. Stillday is a Basic Life and CPR and EMT instructor as well as being captain of the Redby community patrol.

Hard workers at the registration table, more than 300 registered

David Parnell is a methamphetamine and suicide survivor. His presentation was entitled “Facing the Dragon”. Parnell began using drugs at age 13 and progressed to harder drugs, eventually to methamphetamines. He was addicted for seven years before attempting suicide by shooting himself under the chin with an SKS assault rifle. His injuries were so severe he was written off as deceased on his way to the hospital. He’s had 15 surgeries and has more to go. David is sober after 23 years on drugs.

Gary Russell of Evergreen Shelter in Bemidji explains “Gang Identification”

Gary Russell has been the Program Director of Evergreen Shelter Program in Bemidji for the past fourteen years. He spoke on “Gang Identification”. Russell initiated and facilitated the Bemidji based, Multi-County Gang Task Force for four years. He continues to be involved in gang resistance education, intervention and rehabilitation.

Alice Benaise and Marilyn Mountain share a lighter moment

BREAK-OUT SESSIONS

These presentations were followed by break-out sessions in the afternoon of Day 2, to tackle various aspects discussed during the presentations. Participants were assigned by District.

Part of the handouts at the Summit showed the results from last year’s break-out sessions where these questions were asked: How Does Your Community View Alcohol and Drug Use? Has Red Lake Moved Forward From the First Summit? What Can We Do to Continue the Positive Momentum? What Were the Stumbling Blocks?

Tribal Council members attended the Summit

MISSION AND GOAL OF THE DRUG/GANG SUMMIT

The mission of the Red Lake Drug and Gang Summit is to educate and mobilize tribal agencies, professionals, schools and community members in a variety of efforts opposed to illegal drugs on the Red Lake Reservation. The goal of the summit is to produce committees that will advise communities on how to effectively address issues of crime, drugs and violence while working closely with district representatives and the Red Lake Tribal Council.

Famous Red Lake walleye and wild rice were on the menu on Day 1

The impetus for the event began at a special Tribal Council meeting in September 2006. At that time it was announced that the Tribal Chairman was calling for a summit on Methamphetamine/crack cocaine to be held. The Indian & Free Drug Program, Project Safe Neighborhoods, and the Red Lake Nation Coalition (White Bison) now the Seven Clans Wellbriety Coalition, was instructed to head the summit.

Giga-waabamin miinawaa

(I'll see you again)