Printer-Friendly Version (pdf) of Wellbriety! Special Edition: Issue#11

Phoenix Arizona—The Youth Wellbriety Movement is Born

With the view of San Diego Bay in our rear view mirrors, we headed East on the long stretch of Interstate that runs the border between the U.S. and Mexico. There were vast stretches of sand dunes, incredible rock formations, and plenty of heat from the sun.

Just before we reached the connecting Interstate that would take us North toward Phoenix, the view in our rear view mirrors changed to one of those incredibly colorful sunsets—a red and orange backlighting for the jagged tops of the mountains that stretch across this part of the country. Grandmother Moon was rising—she was full—and a deep shade of orange/yellow. She filled our senses and the windshield of the Hoop Van as we faced the dark Eastern sky. What an omen for Healing Native Women and Children. What a welcoming to Phoenix—from Mother Earth herself!

The presence of such a strong and loving symbol of Women—Grandmother Moon—was not lost on us that night or the days to come. There had been a phone call during our long drive toward Phoenix. The Salt River Pima Maricopa Community had just suffered another tragic loss of the life of a young man. One of their youth. There were many tears for the Mothers and Grandmothers, and much sadness for the entire Community. We left it up to the family and the community to decide what they would like to have happen during this visit of the Sacred Hoop to their Community.

John White Shirt (standing near hoop) gave the Opening Prayer at the Guadalupe Boys & Girls Club and shared about his experiences with the Sacred Hoop during the long walk from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. in 2000 !

"We want more than ever to have Wellbriety in our Community, and especially for our Youth at this time," we were told. So the agenda was quickly changed and the locations for events quickly moved by Jeri Brunoe-Sampson, the Phoenix Coordinator. With the blessings of the family and community, the Wellbriety for Youth Movement took on new purpose and meaning for everyone involved over the next couple of days. The Gifts of the Sacred Hoop were shared with over four hundred people in several communities.

Wednesday, June 26th
The day began in Chandler with the CSAT (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment) Meeting at San Marcos where an update on this Journey was presented by Don Coyhis of White Bison. Don would share throughout this day with other groups as we made our way to the locations and gatherings. He shared about this Journey and also the Teachings of the Elders and the programs of White Bison.

After the presentation in Chandler was complete, our next stop was at the Guadalupe Boys & Girls Club. This event began with a welcoming and opening prayer by John White Shirt. John shared with the youth and adults who gathered around the Sacred Hoop about the Wellbriety Movement and how his own personal loss—the death of his son in 1999—had been the motivation for him to join in the Wiping of the Tears Walk from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. The Youth brought in the Sacred Hoop and several shared their visions of wellness for themselves and for their families and communities. This gathering ended with a luncheon and many good wishes for this Journey and for the Vision of Wellbriety.

We then drove to the site of an old "Indian School" now known as Steele Park. This site has been newly renovated into a place of beauty with a small lake which is accessible by four sidewalks coming from each direction to meet under a covered gazebo in the center of the lake. We were joined there by about thirty Youth who, even in the 115 degree temperature were enthusiastic about Walking the Sacred Hoop from the Park to the Heard Museum.

John White Shirt (standing near hoop) gave the Opening Prayer at the Guadalupe Boys & Girls Club and shared about his experiences with the Sacred Hoop during the long walk from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. in 2000 !

The Elders say that to make something Sacred—in order to do that—one must make a sacrifice… a commitment. After hearing about the Sacred Hoop and the purpose of this Journey the Youth were asked if they wanted to make the sacrifice of this walk today. Without hesitation, they circled around the box that contains the Sacred Hoop. After being smudged by Don Coyhis, they began their Walk for Wellbriety for Youth. Armed with a bottle of water and the commitment for change in their communities, the young people were led by John White Shirt away from the protection of the shade of the gazebo and down the sidewalk leading away from Steele Park. They kept their commitment. They "made sacred" the two-mile walk from this Park to the Heard Museum.

The emcee at the Heard Museum was Tanya L. Furcap, one of the Youth who will lead the Wellbriety Movement into the future. Tanya did an excellent job of introducing the speakers during this portion of the day's events. The Drum Group Bear Hill sang an Honor Song as the Sacred Hoop was carried into the Heard Museum by our Youth with other Youths dressed in the traditional clothing of their Ancestors following closely behind. It was another beautiful sight—the Traditions of our Ancestors still being carried on today in this modern Museum. The Spirits of the Ancestors were helping our Youth in the promotion of their own Cultural and Spiritual awareness.

The closing ceremony at the Heard Museum was held at 5:00 PM. The next gathering scheduled in this full day of Wellbriety Events would be held at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community Building that evening.

Members of The Bear Hill Drum Group, Kevin Jose, Toby Jose, and Benny Hernandez, sing an Honor Song as the Hoop Carriers arrive at the Heard Museum. Tanya L. Furcap, pictured on the left at the podium, served as master of ceremonies for the event at the museum.

We arrived at the Community Building in time to join the community members for a meal. Then the chairs were gathered into a circle and Don Coyhis took some time to extend his own condolences and those of the White Bison Staff to the family and community. "We understand the pain you are feeling from the tragic loss of the life of the young man here in Salt River," Don said to the people to the circle. Then he continued. "My family was never the same after the unexpected and sudden death of my younger brother." The People nodded. We all knew the kind of pain Don was speaking about. Too much pain. Too many tears in our communities. Don then shared with this Circle about this Journey we were now on, the Wellbriety Movement for Youth, and the day's activities. Following a viewing of the video Healing of a Nation there was a Healing Talking Circle. It was late in the evening when the Circle finished. We were out in the parking lot loading the van for the trip back to the hotel and the People of this Community were stopping by to say, "We're glad you came and brought that Sacred Hoop—it gives us Hope."

Thursday, June 27th
The Entrance of the Sacred Hoop into the Scottsdale Community College was preceded by the Salt River Police Department Explorers carrying the Flags of the United States, the Salt River Community, and that of the Police Department. Explorers, we learned, are Youth in training to become the Future Police Officers in The Salt River Community. This seemed the perfect way to begin this Wellbriety For Youth Conference. Our Youth, leading the procession of the entrance of the Sacred Hoop. Our Youth, carrying the Sacred Hoop. Our Youth, seated in the front rows of this Gathering and Circled around the Hoop as their Elders and the Community stood to honor them and support them. Adam Andrews, another of the community Youth, served as the emcee for today's Gathering. The "Voice of our Youth" gave us all Hope during the event at the College.

Jeri Brunoe-Sampson, Leader of the Wellbriety for Youth Movement, (please see companion story) sang an Honor Song for Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa, Flying Eagle Woman after Don shared with everyone about Ingrid's life, work, and untimely death. Don shared about the programs of White Bison and specifically about the excitement we have for the Wellbriety for Youth Movement. Since there were many people attending this event that had not been able to attend any of the events on the previous day, Don also shared the Story of the Hoop, the Vision of Wellbriety, and The Coming Together Time of all People to heal ourselves, our families, communities, and nation. We heard from many young people during this event as they told of their own personal struggles and commitment to healing. Among the youth who shared with us were Martina Rose Lee, Rochelle M. Yazzie, Karl Duncan, and Molly Sanchez.

Jeri Brunoe-Sampson ,pictured on the right at the podium, announcing the Wellbriety for Youth Movement at the Scottsdale Community College. The Youth gathered around the Sacred Hoop as their Elders stood to honor and support them in creating a Voice for Youth in this Movement!

Thanking and Honoring You!
White Bison would like to thank all of the coordinators, volunteers, and contributors for their time and energy that helped make this event a success… Thanks!!!

• Brunoe Training and Consulting
  
• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
  
• Young River People's Youth Council
  
• Heard Museum
  
• Scottsdale Community College
  
• Mesa S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H. Youth Council
  
• Anita Johnson, N.A.C.H.C.I.

Sacred Hoop Carriers June 26th and June 27th
Alex Paderez
Gracie Ann Paderez
Angie Paderez
Elena C. Osuna
Thomas Lerma
Aristina Sanchez
Shilo Smith
Cecil Villaipando

Salt River Police Dept. Explorers
Officer Michaela Sample (Explorer Advisor)
Robert Goodwin
Elizabeth Goodwin
Rafael Hinojosa
Steven Whitlock
Joe Goodwin

BEAR HILL Drum Group
Kevin Jose
Toby Jose
Benny Hernandez

The Movement Expands with the Announcement of the YOUTH WELLBRIETY MOVEMENT

Left to Right: Helema M. Andrews, Don Coyhis,       Jeri Brunoe-Sampson White Bison founder Don Coyhis addressed the audiences which had gathered at the Heard Museum and the Scottsdale Community College in Phoenix, Arizona on June 26th about the new Wellbriety Movement for Youth. He said: "As the Wellbriety Movement continues to grow, we realized that more than half of the Native American population is under 18 years of age. Thus, we are launching a Wellbriety for Youth effort, lead by Jeri Brunoe-Sampson. This program will reach out to youth across America to help them create a Voice for Wellbriety and lead the Wellbriety Movement into the future". According to the pamphlet designed by Helema M. Andrews, the Mission will be to establish the Youth Wellbriety Movement in 100 Native American communities by the year 2010. The Vision is to ensure that Native American young people are actively engaged in developing and promoting healthy lifestyles for themselves, their families, and their communities and Nation. The Youth Wellbriety Movement will achieve its Vision with the following strategies: • Promotion of leadership, physical wellness, and cultural and spiritual awareness • Stewardship of the earth and community. • Youth opportunity and the Promotion of alcohol free, tobacco free, substance-abuse free lifestyles. Some of the Goals of the Wellbriety for Youth Movement include the development of: • Essential character building qualities in Youth: Trust, Autonomy, Initiative, Accomplishment, Identity, Intimacy, Generativity, and Integrity. • A sense of belonging and commitment on the part of Youth to the cultural values, traditions, and life ways of the community. • Social and emotional support systems that provide youth with the sense of belonging, guidance, and wisdom to help them confront life challenges and opportunities in a healthy way. Some of the Programs that will be used as the strategies to achieve the Mission of the Youth Wellbriety Movement are: • Leadership Development program for Youth • Sons of Tradition • Daughters of Tradition • Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) for Youth • Wellbriety for Youth • Wellness: (A Whole Person approach to fitness and health) • HIV/AIDS (Prevention Program) • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects (Prevention Program) • Children of Alcoholics • Alateen • Talking Circles • Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps for Youth (recovery and treatment) • Drumming Groups —Dance Groups — Running Groups • Community Events and Ceremonies • Earth Ambassadors — Helping Hands — Community Beautification • Grassroots Wellbriety Kit Please contact White Bison Inc., toll-free, at 1-877-871-1495 for more information about the Wellbriety for Youth Movement!!! Look for Wellbriety For Youth on the web at www.whitebison.org beginning about August 1, 2002.