For Immediate Release
June 29, 2007

Contact Kateri Vergez, Program Coordinator:
Toll Free 1-877-871-1495
info@whitebison.org

White Bison, Inc., An American Indian non-profit organization, announces
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, September, 2007
Join the Voices for Recovery: Saving Lives, Saving Dollars

September marks the 18th annual celebration of Recovery Month nationwide, an event hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), through its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

Join the Voices for Recovery! In September, American Indians and Alaska Natives proudly recovering from chemical substance misuse will once again come forward to put a new face on recovery. Gatherings on Reservations, in urban areas and neighborhoods, as well as in other Native American communities across America will send the message that it’s good to be in recovery. It’s good to let the youth see how many adults and Elders are getting sober and working on wellness. It’s good for Native communities and Tribal leadership to stand up for sobriety and recovery amongst themselves and for their constituents. It’s good to have sober leadership come forward in support of well living.

September will be a time to host gatherings in support of wellness and Wellbriety––sobriety and wellness combined. In recent years, American Indian and Alaska Native communities have held powwows, feasts, learning gatherings, walks, runs, and other kinds of events to stand up for wellness in their communities. Elders and other speakers have talked to the community about what it means to live in a good way, free of alcohol and other drugs. Let our children see us sober! This year, White Bison, Inc. and SAMHSA are cosponsoring Native American events in five cities in close association with the recovery community of those cities. Here is where they will be held this year:

Bangor, Maine • Cincinnati, Ohio • Denver, Colorado • Ethete, Wyoming • and Oneida, Wisconsin

Special for this year––100 Communities!
In addition, this year we would like to encourage an additional 100 communities to hold recovery month events in September. We are asking you to come out for sobriety and wellness in your community this September so that others might see sobriety is possible for them, too. To start, you can do this by having a community organization sign a Recovery/Wellbriety month Proclamation, which you can download from the White Bison, Inc. website, www.whitebison.org. Then you can gather for a few hours at a community picnic or another kind of celebration of your own choosing to share your experience, strength and hope this September.

Visit the White Bison website www.whitebison.org for more information on Recovery Month, including a Proclamation form to take to Native leadership in support of Recovery Month. • Visit the White Bison website to get tips for your own community-sponsored events. • Visit the SAMHSA website www.recoverymonth.gov for the latest on the National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. • Call White Bison at 1-877-871-1495, or e mail us at info@whitebison.org for more information about how communities everywhere can participate in Recovery Month, September, 2007.

For Immediate Release
July 20, 2007

Contact Amanda Manbeck, Program Coordinator:
Toll Free 1-877-871-1495
Amanda@whitebison.org
info@whitebison.org

White Bison, Inc. and the Montana Re-Entry Coalition to Co-Sponsor
a Journey of the Sacred Hoop Through Montana

White Bison, Inc. and the Montana Re-Entry Coalition are proud to announce a Journey of the Sacred Hoop to take place in Montana from August 20-31, 2007. The purpose of the Journey is to share a vision of how Native American communities can join together to heal. The Wellbriety Movement’s Sacred Hoop of 100 Eagle Feathers will be carried to all of the tribal colleges within the state as well as to some of the correctional facilities in a ten-day effort comprising 13 stops in all.

Each Sacred Hoop Journey stop will offer a half-day program consisting of an opening ceremony, Wellbriety Movement presentations, a presentation by the re-entry coalition, a brief community visioning process event, talks on healing by local speakers, an open mic at which all may speak and the closing ceremony.

The Montana Re-Entry Coalition was convened in June of 2006. It is made up of concerned community members from the State of Montana dedicated to helping families and communities heal from the effects of substance abuse and incarceration through activities involving education, prevention, treatment and intervention. Its main focus is to assist those returning from a stay at a treatment center, or a prison stay, with re-entry into their families and communities.

At each Hoop Journey stop the Montana re-entry coalition will share how it is adapting the White Bison Warrior Down re-entry process to fit the unique needs of the Montana community. The Four Nations Warrior Down Program is the Warrior Down pilot program for the Montana Re-entry Coalition. Warrior Down is designed to assist Native Americans and all brothers and sisters of the Four Directions already in recovery, those re-entering the community after treatment for alcohol or substance abuse and mental disorders, or after incarceration. The Warrior Down program reaches out to those community services, social and family services and law enforcement agencies that provide service to support those who are reconnecting with family and community after treatment or incarceration.

White Bison, Inc. is an American Indian non-profit organization based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Its goal is to bring 100 Native American communities into healing by 2010. To launch and inspire the Wellbriety Movement, White Bison undertook four previous multi-month cross-country Journeys of the Sacred Hoop in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003. These earlier Hoop Journeys carried the message that healing is possible for Native Americans to many communities across the country and to tens of thousands of individuals in over 20,000 miles of travel. The term “Wellbriety” means to be both sober and well. The Montana Hoop Journey will be the first of this size within a single state.

The following is a listing of the 13 stops on the upcoming Montana Sacred Hoop Journey, 2007. Events are open to the public, except that events held at the four prisons or correctional facilities listed (stops #2, 3, 10, and 13) are not open to the public.

Sacred Hoop Journey Itinerary

For more information about the details of each Hoop Journey stop, including possible last minute updates and actual agendas, visit www.sacredwebrecovery.com or contact Tommy Stiffarm at 406-761-4282. E-mail tommy@sacredwebrecovery.com.

Or contact Avis M. Werk at 406-245-0179. E-mail avis@mountainpeaksinc.com.

Or contact Malissa Archambault at 406-672-2172. E-mail maligirl3@hotmail.com.

For Immediate Release
July 10, 2007

Contact Amanda Manbeck, Program Coordinator:
Toll Free 1-877-871-1495
Amanda@whitebison.org
info@whitebison.org

White Bison, Inc. Offers a Native American Fatherhood Training
Program as a Giveaway to Promote Intergenerational Healing

Recent findings about children growing up in fatherless homes are mind-shattering:

63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. 85% of all children who exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes. 80% of all rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes. 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes. 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes. 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in fatherless homes.

White Bison, Inc. is offering its new Fathers of Tradition––A Native American Curriculum for Developing Effective Fathering Skills––Facilitator’s Training Manual program as a giveaway to any organization working with Native fatherhood issues. The giveaway is available from Father’s Day, 2007 until Father’s Day 2008.

The Fathers of Tradition kit consists of a 356 page workbook and a set of 9 DVD’s. The actual lessons are presented by seven of the DVD’s, while the eighth and ninth offer supportive material. One is a bonus presentation by the late Bill Iron Moccasin, a Lakota Elder who worked with Native youth and men, as well as with the Wellbriety Movement. The other is a DVD entitled, “How to Conduct a Talking Circle.” The kit also includes the booklet entitled, 7 Philosophies for Native American Men, which is taught as one of the modules.

The purpose of the program kit is to train Native men, who will then go on to facilitate Native American men’s circles in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It is a facilitator’s training program. The program is designed so that many men will be able to facilitate circles simply by watching the DVD’s and utilizing the workbook without further training. Some communities, however, will choose to bring White Bison, Inc. onsite to their locations to teach the facilitator’s program in a 3-day training event at White Bison’s usual training fee.

“Probably half the communities can do it on their own, from the kit,” said Don Coyhis, White Bison’s President, who teaches the entire program on the DVD’s. “The goal is to establish intergenerational healing. The whole purpose is to re-establish the learning system that we had a long time ago: the elders teach the fathers, the fathers teach the sons,” he said. The workbook tracks the DVDs with a series of 15 modules on subjects presented especially for Native American men.

A facilitated Fathers of Tradition program is designed to take place in the following way. The men first go through the program for a period of 16 weeks. For the second 16 weeks, these men bring a son, a nephew or a younger man through the training. During the third 16-week period, elder men become part of the circle to guide the men. The goal is for this to continue until there is a circle of 100 men. If the circle gets larger than 100 men, a second circle of 100 men is started. In this manner, community men will be able to enter an ongoing Fathers of Tradition circle at different times to find learning, support and fellowship in their journey as Native men.

The Fathers of Tradition facilitator’s training manual program kit is offered as a giveaway to representatives of organizations or groups working with Native men involving fatherhood or parenting issues, until Father’s day, 2008. It can be obtained for a nominal charge by mail from White Bison, Inc. To receive a kit by mail for your organization, please send $8.00 to cover shipping and handling expenses. To order, visit the White Bison, Inc. website, www.whitebison.org and place your order online with PayPal. Or call White Bison, Inc. at 1-877-871-1495. Please give the name and contact information of the organization with which you are affiliated when requesting the kit.

For Immediate Release
July 6, 2007

Contact Amanda Manbeck, Program Coordinator:
Toll Free 1-877-871-1495
Amanda@whitebison.org
info@whitebison.org

White Bison, Inc. Offers Underage Drinking Prevention Video Giveaway

Prevention messages about alcohol and drug misuse go a long way to safeguard young people in Native American communities. They help build an "immune system" to give our kids the knowledge they need to stay clear of alcohol and other drugs on their own. Now, White Bison is offering a powerful underage drinking prevention DVD as a giveaway to support our children in these difficult times.

Our Culture is Prevention—Preventing underage drinking on the White Earth Reservation, is a video created by the youth, adults and elders of the White Earth Ojibwe Reservation of northern Minnesota. In it, people of the White Earth Nation, and others, come forward with passion and conviction to speak out against underage drinking. They come out to encourage the youth to discover Mino Mikana—a good path. Popular Ojibwe elder Joe Bush sums up one of the filmís messages when he declares, Kids, I ask you—leave it alone, for your own good and for the best of your life. You'll live a good life by leaving it alone." Many young people appear onscreen with messages for parents, adults and each other.

The 25-minute feature presentation presents the main message for prevention of alcohol abuse, and one unique to American Indian and Alaska Native communities: Our Culture is Prevention. The video explains how beginning to learn the language and re-discover the other cultural ways of oneís own people is the greatest hope for remaining alcohol and drug free. Dr. Robert "Sonny" Peacock, President of White Earth Tribal and Community College affirms this message onscreen. He says, "The strongest people Iíve met in Indian country have been the people who have gone back into the language and culture, into the values and the traditions, and are living that way." Wellbriety Movement founder Don Coyhis also asserts this message.

The DVD offers a bonus story extra told by White Earth resident Andy Favorite: Why Animals Don't Drink. Questions for group discussion come up at the end of the story. Also included on the DVD are four radio Public Service Announcements (PSA's) that will help any community learn how to write a PSA for prevention of underage drinking for airing on their own local radio stations.

Our Culture is Prevention is an inspiring story and an appeal presented with beauty and heart. It offers an educational message of strength and hope, useful for any Native community or neighborhood in North America. Our Culture is Prevention is a film by Marlin Farley, a citizen of the White Earth Nation and an inspiration behind the Wellbriety Movement of the Ojibwe, in collaboration with Painted Sky Productions and Novamation Studios.

Our Culture is Prevention is offered as a giveaway to participants at many Wellbriety healing events taking place nation-wide. It is also offered by mail from White Bison, Inc, for a nominal charge. To receive your copy by mail please send $5.00 to cover shipping and handling expenses. To order, visit the White Bison, Inc. website, www.whitebison.org and place your order online with PayPal. Or call White Bison Inc. at 1-877-871-1495.

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2007

Contact Amanda Manbeck, Program Manager:
Toll Free 1-877-871-1495
Amanda@whitebison.org
info@whitebison.org

DRUM DANCE AND DREAM FOR PEACE

All people, especially children, are invited to join us for "Drum Dance and Dream for Peace," a global drumming circle to be held on Monday, June 25th, 2007, on the National Mall at 4th Street in Washington, D.C. Simultaneous events are planned locally in DallasTexas on Sunday June 24th from 4-6pm at the Bath House Cultural Arts Center at White Rock Lake, along with other planned drum circles taking place around the world for "Drum Dance and Dream for Peace". This event in Washington will be the opening ceremony for Peace and Leadership Day at the World Children's Festival, a three day festival hosted by the International Child Art Foundation (ICAF).

Sponsored by The World Dreams Peace Bridge and the Rainbow Medicine Blanket Council, "Drum, Dance, and Dream for Peace" will begin at noon with a Native American ceremony. The Native Blessing Ceremony is expected to bring the World Drum in attendance along with United Nations World Pipe held by Jim Tree. Native American Elders from across North America will attend this sacred ceremony to sound the heartbeat of peace across the globe. Drummers from all cultures are invited to attend in native costume, and to bring their drums. This global event will kick off here locally in Dallas, at sunset on Sunday June 24th, on the shores of White Rock Lake, near the Bath House Cultural Center hosted by Drums Not Guns and the Dallas Peace Center. Bring your family with drums and noise makers and join in the circle and be a part of this global event for peace celebrating children.

If you cannot attend any of these events but would like to participate by sponsoring a drummer register for 1000 drums for peace.

1,000 DRUMS JOIN THE AID FOR TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN
PROJECT IN DRUMMING FOR THE CHILDREN OF IRAQ

One part of the World Dreams Peace Bridge work that grows from dreams, is our work with the children of Iraq.
One hundred percent of funds raised by this group are transferred to projects working with the children
traumatized by war, chaos and violence. During the Drum, Dance and Dream for World Peace Event, drummers
from the Peace Bridge Aid for Traumatized Children Project will ask their friends and families to contribute a few cents
(or more) for every drum beat the drummer pledges to sound during the Drum, Dance and Dream Ceremony.

For complete information on "Drum Dance and Dream for Peace" or 1000 drums campaign go to
www.worlddreamspeacebridge.org/drumming

Contacts;
Carol Petersen
Rainbow Medicine Blanket
tlamco@hotmail.com

World Peace Dreams Bridge
www.worlddreamspeacebridge.org
Jean Campbell
jccampb@aol.com
(757)465-0960

World Children's Festival hosted by
The International Child Art Foundation
http://www.icaf.org/

Dallas Peace Center
www.dallaspeacecenter.org
Valley Reed
valley.reed@earthlink.net
214-288-8935

Drums Not Guns
www.drums.org
Happy Shel
happyshel@gmail.com