Stories From Our Youth The Effects of Addictions in our Community from “For the Sake of Our Children” The Dogrib Addictions Strategy Compiled and edited by: Cecilia Zoe-Martin Tł¸ıch¸o Community Services Agency Behchok`¸o 00 Stories From Our Youth The Addictions Strategy Steering Committee would like to praise the courage of the many elders, adults and young people who came forward and spoke to us, often painfully and with great difficulty, of their struggles with addictions. We prayerfully dedicate this work to our youth and a future when our people can live free of the sickness of addictions. For copies of this publication please write the Tł¸ıch¸o Community Services Agency, Bag 5, Behchok`¸o, NWT Canada X0E 0Y0 ISBN -896790-0- © Tł¸ıch¸o Community Services Agency Third Printing – March 00 Addictions Strategy Stories From Our Youth Introduction In August 998, because of growing concerns about addictions in Dogrib communities, the Treaty 11 Chiefs asked the Dogrib Community Services Board to develop an addictions strategy. This strategy was to be presented to the Dogrib leaders and people at our General Assembly in Gameti in August 999. Our Steering Committee was appointed a few weeks later. Over the next six months, we visited all the communities to consult with our people. We spent many hours in conversations, conducted healing workshops, carried out research and held numerous planning sessions. Finally, we summarized all the information we gathered in a report entitled, “For the Sake of Our Children... The Dogrib Addictions Strategy”. During our public community consultations, many young people were too nervous to come forward. The Addictions Committee decided to work through the schools in our Board to get their opinions. This publication is the outcome. Students from the Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School in Edzo, the Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School in Rae, the Mezi Community School in Wha Ti, the Alexis Arrowmaker School in Wekweti0 and the Jean Wetrade Gameti School in Gameti responded to these questions: Many people in our community say that alcohol and other addictions are causing serious problems. What do you think? What can we do about it? Their responses speak from the heart and it is their honesty which not only “tells it the way it is”, but also holds out hope for change. In a story told in Alkali Lake, it is the child who awakens the parent to their abuse of alcohol. We hope that these stories from our children will also serve to awaken all of us as parents to the terrible impact of addictions on their lives. The Editor Addictions Strategy 65i Stories From Our Youth Our people are I’m no angel very proud people Drugs and alcohol are bad for a person’s body. Everyone knows this. I know about this but In the Dogrib communities, we have many we continue using it, why? It’s a sad story to wonderful things but we also have lots of bad know. From my own experience with drugs things going on. In our community, we have and alcohol, all I can say about it, is that it many good strong leaders but we also have took my friends and family away, so far away. some very weak leaders. Our people are very I tried treatment, counselling, staying home, proud people who have dignity and honour. finding new friends, earlier curfew. I tried At times, our good elders don’t tell us about everything I could think of but nothing helps. things but they tell us what is good and bad. I’m surprised to think that smoking drugs and We have many good people who are trying to drinking alcohol was cool, but it isn’t. All it help us and teach us, but some of the bad stuff did was bring me down. At one point in my in the community takes over almost everything. life drugs and alcohol was fun, so I thought. When we talk about addictions, we end up The only reason why I keep on doing this is talking about all the pain, hurt and anger. because I’ve got problems, I know now. It We talk about all the bad stuff we have and has gotten harder for me to stop. Every time sometimes we forget the good stuff we have. that bottle is in front of me, I feel like I can’t We need to have more good stuff develop in resist it, I just have to have it for everyone our community. We need more activities in around me is doing it. I remember coming the community. Right now we have nothing home drunk and stoned out of my mind and in the evenings and the town is boring so denying that I didn’t drink or smoke up and what else could we do but drink, use drugs, yet it was obvious. My family and I used to gamble or get into trouble. Why couldn’t we fight, argue, swear, cry and hurt each other all have tons of stuff going on every night? The the time because of my addictions. Sorry is all young people would be so busy that they won’t I can say, but that will never be good enough. have time to think about drinking or doing My drinking got so bad that it was almost drugs. Right now they’re at the Sportsplex everyday of the week. where not much is going on. Maybe playing around with volleyballs and kids running I know I’m no angel, I hide my problems. I around. In the Sportsplex, they can have lots of wouldn’t cry in front of anyone but when I different kinds of games and activities such as was drinking, crying was so easy to do. Saying volleyball, basketball, hockey, aerobics, curling everything I wanted, just getting everything and much more. The Friendship Centre can out. Then the next day, after realizing what have activities every night like movies, crib I did and said, I would feel embarrassed, not board games, study night and much more. In knowing how to act or who to talk to. So I the elders home, they can have elders story would drink again and again, just to get the telling night. In the Culture Centre, they can feeling out but it would never leave me. I hate have hand games, drum dances and different hearing people say, “When are you going to kinds of meetings. Leaders, if you care about change?” I can’t say, because I don’t even your community and your people, put all your know, but I wish I did. I remember those money into your community development and tears in my eyes the first time I walked out not into travelling. of my parents’ door with all my clothes, it Addictions Strategy Stories From Our Youth hurt so much to leave them. On the outside • drinking makes people commit crimes I hated them, I wanted to party and go out, • some people go to jail but on the inside I loved them so much. I • some people bootleg left my parents’ home when I was sober. The • some drink and drive moment I closed the doors, my tears fell and • some people commit suicide kept falling, and I couldn’t help it. I wanted • kids suffer when parents drink a lot so badly to change and I still do. My advice • drinking causes death to the community is that if you are gonna • parents do not listen to their children drink or do drugs, be careful. Letting go of • drinking can cause an accident addictions is very hard, I know. I’m still trying • some mothers drink during pregnancy to help myself. I want to get help because I • kids are taken away from home know I need it. I will try anything to change • drinking makes people become alcoholics and be a better person. What I really want • some young girls become pregnant is my mother’s trust and respect back. I will • some children are not being looked after never get it until I change. properly • drinking creates more problems at home Misuse of drugs and in our community • more young people are using drugs Gambling • drugs can kill you • drugs can be harmful • often some parents are not home • drugs are expensive • children are left home alone • it can lead one to commit suicides and/or • some people always gamble crimes • some kids are unhappy • some people become addicted to drugs, it • some kids get into trouble becomes a bad habit • some kids feel unimportant • drugs will make it tough for you to think, • some kids don’t feel loved learn, walk, talk and see • some kids are so sad, they cry alone • children miss school and come to school The problems related late • some children don’t have good sleep and to addiction good meals What we think of the problems that come • some parents spend too much money on from drinking, misuse of drugs, gambling and gambling other addictions: • some parents don’t pay attention to their • some people misuse alcohol children’s needs • people get into fights • more money is spent on bingos and card • some go crazy or out of control games • people get into arguments • some parents stay out late at night • family split up gambling away • some are not nice, may have ugly • some kids are hungry, when all the money attitudes is spent on gambling • more young people are drinking today Addictions Strategy Stories From Our Youth What can we do about it? Community addictions strategy • talk to our parents and elders about our for drugs, alcohol and gambling problems First of all, I think there has been far too • parents should listen and talk to their many surveys on this particular topic and not children more enough action taking place where it should • parents should be more concerned about be placed.