NEWS & NOTES AREA 69 VOLUME1, ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 Carrying the Message to Native Americans - Rod B., Pacific Regional Trustee of the General Service Board My name is Rod, I am a ten leading causes of death, four love and know the Great Spirit, en.. who help other men and women grateful alcoholic. It is my honor are directly connected to and then we will be and act to recover from alcoholism.” Many and privilege to serve as the Pa- alcoholism: accidents, cirrhosis, and live as He intends. tribal leaders are asked to consider cific Regional Trustee on the Gen- homicides and suicides. Black Elk, Manderson, S. D. this question when making a deci- eral Service Board. I have been “The Sacred Pipe” sion for their people‟s future, “how sober 27 years and been involved I believe that in fulfilling this re- Second: All Things will this affect the tribe for the next in General Service work for about sponsibility of “carrying the mes- are interrelated and an equal seven generations?” This is similar 23 of those years. I am Dineh, a sage to Native Americans” it is part of the whole, that we are to the question asked at the GSC, full blooded Navajo, born on the helpful to understand as much like drops of rain which will one “how will this affect the newcomer? Navajo Reservation, Tuba City, as possible about the culture, day return to the ocean, that How will this affect the future of which is in Arizona and is the tradition, and history of Native we are like candles lit by the AA?” largest reservation in size and people. This can be a very chal- fire of the sun, forever part of it. I want to remind you about population in the nation, parts of it lenging undertaking, especially - Steve Wall & Harvey Arden what happened at the board week- are in Utah, New Mexico and when you consider that there are 1990 (Wisdom Keepers) end last year during the introduc- Arizona. I was raised in northern over 500 tribes on the North And Third: tions . I introduced myself in this Utah. I have been asked to share American continent. This could ...everything on the earth has a way “I would like to introduce myself on “Carrying the Message to Na- mean over 500 different lan- purpose, every disease an the same way when attending a tive Americans.” guages, 500 different philoso- herb to cure it, and every per- sweat lodge. My name is Rod, I am I think that it would be phies and 500 different belief son a mission. This is the Indi- of the Dineh tribe, I am a full blood- fair to say that this is a topic we systems, trying to understand all an theory of existence. ed Navajo, My mother is of the Tow- know that 10 minutes is simply of that can be overwhelming. ~Mourning Dove, Salish, 1888- ering Rock clan and my father is of not enough time for, so I hope Perhaps it would be easier to 1936 the Edgewater clan. Then I said, that this sharing can begin some start with beliefs that are com- Another important “this is probably the first time words thoughtful reflection that could mon to all Tribes such as their commonality is the literal trans- like this have been spoken in this lead to more understanding and belief in the connection with lation of the names for many setting. “ I chose this way to intro- hopefully leading to sobriety for Mother Earth and that each tribe tribes. That is, the name of the duce myself as a way of bringing Native People and for all people. manifests those beliefs in cere- tribe usually translates to the these two circles together, because I First some demographics from mony and tradition. I have 3 Human Beings, Us or the Peo- believe both circles are about heal- “Working with American Indian/ writings that exemplify some of ple. For instance Dineh means ing and joy. I want to share with you Alaskan Native Clients: Perspec- these beliefs in the Mother the People and the original a reading by Black Elk, a medicine tives for Practitioners to start Earth connection: name for the Cherokee (tsis man for the Teton Dakota. He was with”: There are 555 Federal and First: We should under- tsis tsas) means the Human born in the moon of the Popping State recognized tribes, 208 not stand well that all things are the Beings. This leads to another Trees (December) 1863. recognized; Alcoholism rates works of the Great Spirit. We factor of understanding that He was related to the great chief, 579% greater, Suicide 212% should know that He is within all may help in carrying the mes- Crazy Horse, he knew Sitting Bull greater, homicide 41% greater things: the trees, the grasses, sage to Natives: how some and was at the Battle of the Little than national rates; About 2/3 of the rivers, the mountains and all cultural beliefs are similar to Big Horn. This writing comes from native people live off the reserva- the four legged animals, and the the principles of AA, such as his dictated autobiography in 1931, tion; The life expectancy is 59 winged peoples; and even more the way tribes believe in taking it is about the importance of the years old; Poverty rate is 3 times important, we should understand care of the safety and welfare circle and how fundamental it is in the national average; 1/3 of all that He is also above all these of the People, of each tribal Native philosophy. I hope it may outpatient visits to Indian Public things and peoples. When we do member; this is similar to the help in understanding how profound Health Services were related to understand all this deeply in our AA principle and I paraphrase“ I believe it is to join these two substance abuse; and in the top hearts, then we will fear, and a fellowship of men and wom- circles: You have noticed that everything an that history can affect a Native person now, whole time I drank, I didn‟t care about any of Indian does is in a circle, and that is be- today; how it can affect their ability to stay that. It wasn‟t until I started getting sober that cause, the Power of the World always works sober, let alone sober in AA. The Trail of I began to think about those things and saw in a circle, and everything tries to be round… Tears of the Cherokee, the Long Walk of the how important they are for me. Many natives Everything the Power of the World does is in Navajos were both forced relocations of the- have their culture first then AA. I had AA first a circle. The sky is round and I have heard se tribes and are symbolic of what all tribes then my culture and I am still learning. I be- that the Earth is round like a ball and so are went through as they lost their lands and gan to see how devastating alcoholism has the stars. The Wind, in its greatest power, their way of living. The confiscation of lands been to Indian people and to me personally, whirls. Birds make their nest in circles, for sometimes through treaties that some tribal this understanding of my culture and tradition theirs is the same religion as ours. The Sun leaders signed under the influence of alcohol has enhanced my sobriety and Alcoholics comes forth and goes down in a circle. The resulted in much distrust of this dominant Anonymous has enhanced my culture and moon does the same, and both are round. society and contributed to a basic distrust of tradition. Even the seasons form a great circle in their white people that may have led to the native I want to end with two readings that changing and always come back to where belief that this is a white man‟s program and show the similar miracle of sobriety for two they were. The life of a man is a circle from not for Indian people. Imagine your bottoms, different people, one a man and one a wom- childhood to childhood and so it is in every- remember the fear, frustration, anger, maybe an, one Caucasian and one native, one re- thing where power moves. Our tipis were you were suicidal. Now imagine that for a cently and one over 70 years ago. round like the nests of birds and these were whole race of people, believing that for 3 or 4 First: “My life is filled with honesty always set in a circle, the nation‟s hoop, a centuries. I believe that an today. ..I am In love and proud to be a Native nest of many nests where the Great Spirit understanding and awareness of these is- American. At an AA meeting on an Indian meant for us to hatch our children. sues can be helpful in carrying the message Reservation, I heard the words „Sobriety is Another factor to be mindful about to the Native Americans. I believe it is very traditional.‟ I stand at the top of the Sacred are the barriers in Carrying the Message to important to keep in mind that as we do our Mountain and I listen to the wind. I have a Native Americans. One of the biggest is the 12th step work that respect and honor trans- conscious daily contact with my Creator to- way many Indian people have suffered from late and transcends any language or culture.