Transcript The Anishnaabek Cultural Assessment

Treatment and Recovery:
Native American Populations
Eva Petoskey, M.S.
Director, Anishnaabek Healing Circle Access to Recovery
Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan
Greetings
Anishnaabek Introduction
(Name-Clan-Place)
Aanii (Hello)
Anishnaabek (Indigenous people of
Michigan the Odawa, Ojibwa, and
Potawatomi
Miigwech (Thank you)
Spelling taken from: Eastern Ojibwa-Chippewa-Ottawa Dictionary, Richard A. Rhodes
My Background
Odawa/ Anishnaabekwe : Member of
the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and
Chippewa Indians.
I have lived in Peshawbestown with my
husband and 2 children, for 26 years.
Thirty five years of work experience
with issues related to wellness,
education, evaluation, and culture.
Served in tribal government for 6 years
and was the Vice-Chairperson of our
Tribal Council for 4 years.
Purpose
Provide background on the Anishnaabek
of Michigan
Discuss inter-generational trauma and
its impact on tribal people today.
Discuss key health disparities.
Discuss the spiritual and cultural
strengths inherent in Native American
culture.
Discuss approaches for interfacing with
tribal communities, families, and
individuals in efforts that support
prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Our Origins
Anishnaabek creation and migration
teachings tell us that we have always
resided on turtle island. (North America)
A long time ago, based on the visions of
the coming of the Europeans, our
ancestors began a journey from the
Atlantic coast to the great lakes region.
This was a spiritual journey guided by
the dreams and visions of our ancestors
leading us to this beautiful place of vast
fresh water.
There are 12
Federally
recognized
tribes in
Michigan.
Significant
urban Indian
populations in
Detroit and
Grand Rapids
American Indian Population
Approximately 55,607 enrolled members
living on or near reservations in 52 of
Michigan’s 83 counties.
The most recent US Census estimate of
the number of American Indians in
Michigan is 69,269. (U.S. Census,
Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates,
American Community Survey). This is
based on persons responding as
American Indian only on the census.
Sovereignty
American Indian and Alaska Native
tribes are governments with hundreds of
treaties, federal laws, and court cases
affirming that tribes retain the inherent
powers to govern themselves as nations.
The federal government works with
tribes in a government-to-government
relationship.
The foundation for successful
collaboration between states and tribes is
an understanding of and appreciation for
tribal sovereignty.
Change Across the Generations
Educational
Challenges
Children
Removed
Anxiety and
Depression
Poverty
Indian
Wars
Every Indian
Family Has
Experienced
These Risk
Factors
Loss of
Land
Repression of
Ceremonial Life
Forced
Assimilation
Historical Grief and Trauma
The Anishnaabek have endured a
remarkable journey over time carrying the
seeds of healing deep in our hearts
The grief and trauma resulting from
boarding schools, rapid cultural change,
lack of economic opportunity, and loss of
land have contributed to the high rates of
substance abuse and mental health
problems experienced by the Anishnaabek
families and communities today.
Michigan Youth Risk
Behavior Survey
Data taken from Michigan Department of Education Website
Detailed Results by Item Spreadsheet
Grades 9-12
Alcohol Use (Before Age 13**)
Alcohol Use (Past 30 Days)
Heavy Drinking(Past 30 Days)
Marijuana Use (Before age 13)
Marijuana Use (Past 30 Days)
Made a Plan to Attempt Suicide
(Past 12 Months)
Historical Resilience
The seeds of healing have grown into a
strong recovery movement with committed
people. Over the past thirty years a grass
roots substance abuse recovery movement
was born.
Many Anishnaabek left behind the selfperpetuating stereotype of a “hard drinking
Indian” and transformed their personal
identity into that of a sober culturally
strong Anishnaabek
Tribal Governments
. Tribal governments have created
behavioral health departments along with
policies and procedures to guide the
delivery of services including indigenous
healing services that are integrated with
western approaches.
Tribes have passed laws supporting
health, wellness and recovery.
Promising Practices
Indigenous Healing Models based
on community empowerment
Helping Healers/Peer Mentors
Cultural Teachings
Motivational Interviewing
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Workforce Development
Continuing need to recruit and train new
certified addiction counselors and
prevention staff.
Continuing need to educate non-native
staff on how to work effectively with
tribal people and communities.
Collaboration between certification
boards is important. (MCBAP and
UMICAD)
An Anishnaabek Perspective
The following slides are based on
ideas generated from focus groups
conducted with Anishnaabek people.
Opportunities to Deal with Historical Trauma and Grief
It is important for treatment and
recovery support initiatives to
recognize the multi-generation
nature of substance abuse
problems in many Native
families. This phenomenon
needs to be seen as a reality
that must be acknowledged.
To address the needs of
families with generational
trauma and grief requires
specialized training for
counselors so they understand
the unique history of Native
people and the experiences that
have led to the deep grief and
sadness that many clients
carry.
Opportunities to Deal with Historical Trauma and Grief
If the treatment system denies
the existence of historical
trauma then there is little hope
for treatment to help break the
cycle of addiction in tribal
communities.
It is important to seek out and
incorporate specialized
educational materials and
healing activities to address
these issues.
Challenges
One challenge is the daunting
nature of the problems. It is
difficult to not feel discouraged.
It is difficult to maintain hope.
The other challenges related to
the multi-generational nature of
the substance abuse problem
and the resulting community
and family communication and
trust problems. Jealousy was
mentioned as a barrier to
moving forward in constructive
community healing initiatives.
Challenges Faced by the
Service System
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Lack of money to support family
involvement such as transportation
to residential treatment located out
of state.
Families have much unfortunate
exposure to deficit models of
treatment.
Lack of finances available to allow
for family participation in treatment.
Lack of adequate specialized
programs that are culturally
designed for our people.
Convenient times to allow parents
to participate.
Strategy for change
There need to be
positive peer role
models and mentors
available to help support
recovery beyond
treatment. This is
especially critical for
people returning to the
community from
treatment and for youth
receiving outpatient
services.
Strategy for change
Recognize that small steps
are important.
Never give up on the client
or family.
Accept that recovery is a
process that takes time and
that relapse and resistance
to change are a normal part
of the process rather than a
deficit.
Opportunities Within Family Systems
Learning the spiritual teachings of
the Anishinaabek is important.
Cultivating the spiritual
connection to the sacred places,
the land, water, and all other
living beings is part of the
process of spiritual growth.
Cultivating spiritual growth from
an Anishinaabek orientation was
an important theme. However,
developing spiritually through
other spiritual and religious
affiliations was also mentioned
as very helpful to people.
Tribal Recovery Oriented System of Care
Shifting the model of intervention from
acute care of individuals to a sustained
recovery management approach relies on
partnerships with individuals, families
and communities. White & Sanders
(2004).
Winter Teaching Lodge
Behavioral Health Cultural Service
Expansion with ATR
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe
Behavioral Health Residential, Outpatient and
Recovery Support Services
Access to Recovery
Anishnaabek Healing Circle
2956 Ashmun, Suite A
Sault Ste. Marie MI 49783
(906) 632-6896
www.atrhealingcircle.com
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Staff
Eva Petoskey, Director Direct line (231-357-4886)
[email protected]
Terri Tavenner, Associate Director [email protected]
Connie DePlonty, Voucher Coordinator [email protected]
Cora Gravelle, Call In Center Client Access & Outreach [email protected]
Sheila Hammock, Call In Center Client Access & Follow-up
[email protected]
Produced by the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan with Access to Recovery (ATR) Anishnaabek Healing Circle Grant
(1H79TI025514) funds from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Content is solely the
responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the agency.