Dena’ Nena’ Henash • Our Land Speaks Vol. 40, No. 10 A REPORT TO THE MEMBER TRIBES OF TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE OCTOBER 2016 March for Hope On September 24th, Tanana Chiefs Division of Wellness ____________________ suicide. It is something that Conference along with Fairbanks and Prevention hosted has touched many in our Native Association hosted the “March the event in honor Call us. We can Help. communities and Frese for Hope” Suicide Awareness March of September being TCC Behavioral Health and Beetus shared their and bar-b-que. ‘Suicide Awareness 1-00-478-7822 own personal struggles The event was intended to raise Month.’ and how they overcame awareness and prevent the spread of Guest Speakers Tillila Alaska’s Careline them through both their suicide in our communities; something Beetus and George 1-877-266-4357 culture and their loved that has been plaguing interior Frese spoke to the ones. ____________________ villages and cities alike. Alaska has crowd gathered at the The event ended with some of the highest rates of suicide Chief David Salmon traditional song and dance per capita in the nation and TCC’s Tribal Hall about their experience with as well as food and celebration. See more photos from the event on page 6 YourGeneral Voice Election Matters Day is November 8th, 2016 In This Domestic Violence TCC Subregional My Culture Natural Medicine: Awareness Meetings Saved Me Fireweed Issue: Page 3 Page 5 Page 8 Page 10 CHIEF’S REPORT Dear Tribes and Tribal Members, MISSION STATEMENT Tanana Chiefs Conference provides a I hope that everyone had a bountiful hunting unified voice in advancing sovereign tribal season. Last month I spent my vacation enjoying the governments through the promotion of outdoors and spending time with my family, friends and physical and mental wellness, education, especially my grandchildren who are eager to learn about socioeconomic development, and culture of the Interior Alaska Native people. our traditional way of life. After returning from my time off, I attended the White House Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C. with tribal leaders from the 567 federally VISION recognized tribes throughout the country. This was the 8th and final Healthy, Strong, Unified Tribes conference hosted by President Obama, a tradition that was started in 2009 to create a platform where the voice our tribal leadership could be heard. During his presidency, he has stood by his promise to Indian country to be a partner in a true nation-to-nation relationship. In his eight years, President Obama has created the White House Council of Native American Affairs, pushed for increased budgets for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Services, came to Alaska where he became the first U.S. President to travel to the Arctic Circle and generated discussion around the important TCC EXECUTIVE issue of climate change, and he gave back the official Athabascan name to BOARD MEMBERS our great mountain; Denali. Donald Honea Sr./Ruby Also while in D.C., I attended several other meetings including the White 1st Traditional Chief House Arctic Science Ministerial which was chaired by Ambassador Mark Brzezinski, Executive Director of the Arctic Executive Steering Committee Trimble Gilbert/Arctic Village and where I had the opportunity to speak with Chief Bill Erasmus, Dene 2nd Traditional Chief National Chief of Alberta, Canada who I plan to meet with again. Chief Victor Joseph/ Tanana Erasmus currently sits as the International Chair of the Arctic Athabascan Chief/Chairman Council of which several of TCC’s villages are a part. Chief Erasmus invited me and the Alaska delegation of the AAC to a meeting in Whitehorse to Julie Roberts-Hyslop/Tanana discuss the advancement of the Council and our voice in climate change Vice President issues. Pollock ‘PJ’ Simon, Jr. /Allakaket I also had the opportunity to provide testimony at the Veteran’s Affairs Secretary/Treasurer Formal Consultation Meeting, where I spoke of how important it is for Veterans to have reliable, timely access to health care and how our MOU William “Chaaiy” Albert/Northway with the VA supports that goal. Upper Tanana I would like to remind everyone that a very important event is right around the corner; General Elections. If we do not vote, we could end up with Nick Alexia Sr./Nikolai Upper Kuskokwim representatives who do not show an interest in tribal issues. It’s time for our voices to be heard. The Alaska Native vote has the potential to make a huge Nancy James/Fort Yukon impact and it’s important the voice is heard. I hope to see you at the polls Yukon Flats on November 8th, VOTE. This fall, TCC staff and I plan on finishing the fall subregional meetings Eugene Paul/Holy Cross with the Upper Tanana and the Yukon Koyukuk. As always, I enjoy meeting Lower Yukon with our tribal leadership and members, as these meetings help our 2015- Frank Thompson/ Evansville 2020 strategic plan remain in alignment with our tribes and keep us working Yukon Tanana towards achieving our visions of healthy, strong, unified tribes. Leo Lolnitz/Koyukuk Ana Bassee’, Yukon Koyukuk Victor Joseph Peter Demoski/Nulato Chief/Chairman Elder Advisor Isaac Ticknor/Anvik Youth Advisor 2 TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE • THE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER OctoberLet Us is NationalStart ByDomestic Believing Violence Awareness Month Author: Tonya Esmailka, Rural DV/SA Coordinator, TCC Can you imagine a village without Conference are aware of the issues and especially a village community. violence? Every 11.5 hours, someone and crisis that affect our families and Imagine if you went to someone you in Alaska is the victim of sexual communities. We all have a story trusted for help and they didn’t believe assault or rape. That could be your about someone we know…what if that you, or worse; blamed you for what child, grandchild, niece/nephew person didn’t have that awful thing(s) happened. or cousin. 48% of all adults have happen to them? What if they weren’t “Start by believing” is a national experienced violence within a marital victimized? How would campaign aimed ____________________ or dating relationship. Just as many their life be now? at communities to men as women have been brutalized What can we do about Every 11.5 hours, intervene with care and by domestic violence and/or sexual these issues? We know someone in Alaska is compassion. It is our assault over the course of a lifetime. it is intergenerational in job to protect our loved Alaska Native women have the highest nature, but we cannot go the victim of sexual ones, friends and other rates of intimate partner violence and on blaming “the system” assault or rape. community members, to crime perpetrated against them than for past traumas. Those _____________________ act where is necessary to any other group of people in the entire past traumas greatly prevent further harm and United States. These statistics are and directly affected our parents victimization. Our job is to support tough to read, but they are the truth. and grandparents; and deserves them, ensuring that they obtain the Our communities are technically acknowledgement. However, now is needed and necessary medical and unsafe. the time for action! Too long we have mental health services. How can we Alaska Native adults are twice all sat on the sidelines and talked make our villages healthy? Start by as likely to have been exposed to about what has happened, or what listening to the elders and children. their parents or guardians fighting; should happen. So what can you do? While the elders know too well as children, than non-Native adults. Here is how we start: Each one of us the history of your community; the Violence begets violence; it greatly can help by believing any victim that children are often the least and last impacts prenatal growth/development, comes forward to us in crisis. Whether heard. Believe them when they have infant mental health and is a learned it is domestic violence; sexual assault, something to tell. This may be your behavior. Our children and young or child abuse-we need to “start by opportunity and time to help in the adults are always watching, so believing.” Do not turn a blind eye pursuit of a village without violence. “role-modeling” positive behavior to those who have sought out our Today is your day to make a difference: is crucial to future generations. We help. This is the first step to healing Start by believing, intervene, act, and as beneficiaries of Tanana Chiefs for a survivor of violence, a family role-model positive behavior. This Domestic Violence Awarness Month, we’re inviting everyone to speak up. To spark changes, we have to talk openly and acknowledge how domestic abuse effects our communities, our families and our lives. We have to be brave. We have to see DV. For additional resources or information of Domestic Violence Month or Rural DV/SA services, please feel free to contact TCC Rural DV/SA by email at [email protected] or call 1(800)478-6822, ext. 3132. TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE • THE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER 3 Dancing withCelebrating the 10Spirit Years of Village Music Camps Over the past 10 years, Dancing of Athabascan people and the with the Sprit that has traveled to importance of healthy choices—and 34 Alaskan Native villages (28 in how we are counting on these young the TCC region) with school music people to become village, state, and camps. This past year and a half, national leaders. TCC supported this this effort with Over the past year and a half, funding for transportation costs—so Dancing with the Spirit has spent 34 needed in this era of budget cuts.