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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1983)
CHEMAWA AMERICAN Home of the Braves VOL. 78, NUMBER 1 * FALL HOLIDAY ISSUE 1983 CHEMAWA INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL, SALEM, OREGON 97305 Community Intervention Program Addresses Student Drug Abuse Among Indian youth today marijuana use has become so widespread that it rivals alcohol as Indian teenagers’ number one high. One out of every five Indian high school seniors uses marijuana daily which para* llels the daily increasing use of alcohol. What does the future hold for young potential leaders who are stoned or drunk? Mr. Gerald Gray, Chemawa principal, and members of the school board have declared 1983- 84 as the year for alcohol and drug abuse awareness. Alcohol and drug abuse are the number one problem facking all communities today—both Indian and non-Indian. Indian youth, however, have a greater predisposition to chemical use and abuse. The rising increase bears this out. In addressing the critical problem, Mr. Gray is stressing the need for awareness of the problem by all members of the jChemawa community. "All of us—academic, admin istration , residential, counselors, coaches, kitchen staff, plant management, and STUDENTS must share in the responsibility of challenging students and each other to choose a drug-free life. "Drug dependency affects everyone. Not onlÿ does the user create behavior problems, but these problems pour over and interfere with student learning, o v e ra llp o te n tia la n d proaiic- tivtty? self-esteem, spiritual growth, and social growth. Be coming aware of alcohol and drug problems as a community is the first step in this united community effort," explained Gray. > Alcohol and drug education centers upon increasing com munity awareness of the prob lems and their consequences for young people today, and the con sequences that will be brought in the future. Students and staff members are .being asked to read the same set of pamphlets and materials three times a week during homeroom so that every one is exposed to the same set of current information. Seven teen hours, or 85 homeroom periods, will be used for this massive educational awareness. One hour a week will be devo ted to alcohol/drug issues in the dorms. Residential and students are viewing films, listening to guest speakers, and sharing con cerns in group meetings. Out of this process each person will come to a better understand ing of the issues. Assessing indi vidual abilities in making contri butions toward prevention and intervention can come only after every member of the community is better informed of the serious ness of the situation. GOALS Mr. Gray has outlined the following as the major goals for the school year: 1. Highten the entire school’s awareness about alcohol/ drug abuse and dependen c y as a problem in and for tne school. 2. Stimulate discussion and action concerning preven tion between staff and students. » 3. Developing a receptive Cli mate for staff and students to examine , and make cnoices tor now and the future, concerning their own chemical use. . 4. Create a receptive climate for early and effective in tervention in disease pro cess, and build support groups of both staff and students for those indivi duals who desire to remain drug-free. Staff members received in- depth exposure to the program’s components of AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING during orientation at the begin ning of the school year. TRIBAL SUPPORT These components extend to parents and the communities where Chemawa students come from, Community support is re quested and needed by the school as a shared investment of our future leaders. For such a program to succeed, cooperation and assistance from parents, guardians, tribal leaders, and tribal support personnel are needed. Students must not only be come aware and be better educa ted about the damage and long term effects of such chemical abuse, but they must be able to share the information with each other by supporting each other. Student support groups are most effective in helping individuals when they are-directly concerned about the chemical use of a very close friend; when they want to make changes and don’t have the peer group support that is need ed to stay with it; and when indi viduals reach a point where they are tired of the negative conse quences of chemical use are will ing to work for personal changes. "Our kids want structure and guidance. When we want to con front students with problems we must bring in significant others to serve as their support group. Only the people that they care about can make the difference in helping them to make such posi tive and dramatic changes," said Gray. Schools do not cause alcohol ism and drug abuse problems, nor should they be solely respon sible for the solution. In a boarding school situation more opportunities are available to better inform, counsel, and implement community interven tion programs by making the long term commitment needed for such i drastic and crucial changes. Mr. Gray summarized the pro gram by saying, "We must have the courage, the commitment, and the energy to say to our oung people whose care has een entrusted to us, 'I love you enough to say ‘NO’ when I know you will hate me for it.' "We have a gigantic responsi bility.; I hope that all of us are willing to accept the challenges and responsibilities as loving, caring parents." In each issue of the paper we will explore one of the six stages of the Chemawa Community Intervention Program. We welcome any comments, questions, and concerns that you may have. Career Day Attracts NASA Astronaut and Indian Leaders By Corrine ChiefStick "It is your decision to make something out of yourself I", said Major Onizuka, A U.S. Air Force Major as he addressed 700 Indian students from throughout the Northwest during the third annual Chemawa Career Day Dec. 7 at Chemawa. Astronaut Onizuka, who is scheduled to orbit the earth on the space shuttle Challenger mission next summer, said he achieved his lifelong goal through education and hard work. He urged student to do the same. Jacob Bighorn, a Chemawa social studies teacher and Cul tural Life Committee chairman, presented Onizuka with a cere monial eagle feather to take along on his mission. "For your bravery and for you as a good person, we offer you this eagle feather from the people. We have 25,000 years of traditions . . Perhaps someday 25,000 years from now, we will all be round dancing on Mars." "So many of our traditions have been taken away, but we give you this eagle feather to take care of for all of us," said Bighorn. £ Onizuka sent special greetings from the six astronauts orbiting the earth. White sharing his past, Onizuka said that while he was trying to choose his career, the same common denominator for success kept coming up: educa tion. The same message re mained the same. "Take time now and set your objectives. Use the advice and input from the speakers today, from all your teachers and coun selors. The actual decision is yours. You will make decisions to make something of yourself, or you will hope for someone to come along and straighten your decisions out", concluded Onizuka. Chorus and Band Make Debut Major Ellison S. Onizuka, NASA astronaut, addressed students and staff during the Career Day held at Chemawa. Making its first public debut members of the band will joint ly present a special Christmas Program Wednesday, Decem ber 14, in the cafeteria. The performance will begin at 6:45 after the student/staff potluck. The band will perform “A Christmas Medley,” “Christmas Bells March,” and accbmpany the chorus with “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Little Chris topher,” and several music en sembles featuring trios perform ing traditional holiday selec tions. After the holiday perfor mance students will return to their dorms for dorm parties, late hour munching out, and last minute packing before leav ing for a two week vacation at home; May Great Spirit Warm your Tepee this Holiday Season EDITORS NOTE: In the next issue we will feature Major Oni zuka and Career Day in its entirty. UPCOMING EVENTS December 16 - January 1: - Christmas Vacation, Dorms closed Jan. 1:- Dorms open Jan. 2:- Classes resume Jan* 26-27: - 1st Semester finals Jan. 30: - 3rd Quarter begins Jan. 5: - Girls’s Basketball Away at Jefferson Jan 6: - Boy’s Basketball Away at Woodburn Jarl 7: - Wrestling Tourney Here Girl’s Basketball Away at Stayton Jan. 9: - Boy’s Basketball Away at Cascade Girl’s Basketball Away at Alsea Jan. 10: - Girl’s Basketball Here against Valsetz (Frosh) Girl’s Varisty and J.V. Here against Sweet Home Jan. 12: - Girl’s Basketball Away against Salem Academy Wrestling away at Stayton Jan. 13: - Boy’8 Basketball Here against Salem Academy Girl’s Basketball Away at Gervais jan 14: - Girl’s Basketball Away at North Marion Boy’s Basketball Here against Santiam Wrestling Tourney Away at Colton Jan 16: - Girl’S C team Basketball Here against Santiam Girl’s Varsity and J.V. Here Against Salem Academy Wrestling Match Away At jan 17: - Boy’s Basketball Here Against Stayton Jan 19: - Boy’s Basketball Here Against Sweet Home Girl’s Basketball Away at Colton jan 20: - Girl’s Basketball Away at Cascade Girl’s C team Here against Woodburn Jan 23- - Wrestling 3-way Match Against Dayton-Banks Jan 24: - Girl’s Basketball Here Against North Marion jan 26: - Girl’s Basketball Away Against Sweet Home Wrestling Duel Here Against Sweet Home Jan. 27: - Boy’s Basketball Away Against North Marlon Girl’s C Team Away Against Cascade Jan. 30: - Girl’s C Team Away Against Alsea Jan'31: Girl’s C Team Away Against Valsetz J Jake Bighorn explains the Community Alcohol Intervention Program. «
