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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 1990)
UNIVERSITY Native American shares cultural views, alcoholic battle By Birgit Schreiber-Sivesind Emerald Contributor Al Smith. « 70-year-old Na live American, spoke about tiis battle with alcoholism and his experiences with American cul ture and soc iety Friday night as part of a weekend workshop called "Soar Like an Ragle." The workshop, sponsored by the Native American Student Union and the University's Continuation Center and sub stance abuse prevention pro gram. was held at the Valley Kiver Inn. The recovering alcoholic of 33 years is popularly known for his six-year legal battle with the Oregon and U.S. Supreme Courts. The High Court re cessed April 27 with the ruling that Native American Churches do not have the right to use pe yote for spiritual or psychologi cal healing "I'm not an expert on peyote. I don't speak for the Native American Church or the Native American people," he said "The reason I'm here is l>e cause of an incident I believe I have the right to worship like my ancestors did in this day and tins time " Smith was introduced by |ohn Spence, a long-time friend and fellow Native American Spence described Smith as a warrior because of what he had done to establish treatment (.en ters throughout Oregon for sub stance abusers. At the age of seven, Smith was taken from his family and home on the Klamath Reserva tion and sent to various Catho lic schools, to which Smith said he built a lot of resent ment. "They did a good job. They took away my language, my songs." Smith said to the si lent. tentative audience It was for this reason that Smith start ed drinking, saying he found a friend in alcohol He said he learned "you can lie an Indian, but not too much of an Indian" at a young age Smith triad group therapy to help him stop drinking, hut it didn't work In Jan.. l‘)T>7. when Smith was in his inid 10s. he realized that he was an alcoholic, and went track to At coholics Anonymous This time he stayed, and he hasn't had a drink since "I would rant, rave and curse, hoping they'd ki( k me out." he said with a laugh "I didn't want to lie there All these white men around." With Smith's help, the treat ment centers now known us the Harmony House in Portland, the Red Willow Treatment Cen ter in Washington, and the Na tive American Rehab Associa tion all got off the ground ap proximately 20 years ago At one point in his career. Spence said. Smith took over Alcatraz Island in hopes to pro vide alcohol counseling later. Smith became an alcohol and drug counselor in Roseburg In 1984 he was fired because he used peyote al Native American Church ceremonies Smith said he was sober for 1H years before going to his first sweat lodge ceremony, where several people gather and sweat to cleanse their spir its. "1 was introduced to my spir it and the path of my ancestors. My spirit was really grateful to me I finally got doctored. Fi nally got doctored.” In 1‘I7H. Smith started going to sun dance rituals, which he said he didn't understand at first, but found sacred and beautiful. He then attended a tepee meeting, where he was spoon-fed medicine. "My spirit was doctored. It was the beginning of another episode. Fart of my journey down my spiritual path. A new awakening. Questions being answered. A new awareness. Clarity." he said. Smith's story was not a lec ture or speech. It was told in fragments, and Smith some All-Season /£$. 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As an Air Force ROTC cadet, you c an land yoursell in a career excitement: as a pilot, navigator. Ulcer - as an Air Fon t' officer I gain an education in leadership as you work toward your degree You'll learn to command with confidence You may also qualify for scholarship programs that help pay for college When you graduate, you can exchange your tassle and gown for an Air Force uniform - and watch your career take off Call AIR FORCE OPPORTUNITIES 737-3291 l/MMlrrslup Eacdence Starts Here Al Smith times expressed his feelings or thoughts with only one word. The audience of about 140 re spond ed with occasional chuckles, but for the most part, the crowd was deathly silent. The forum was still whenever Smith paused. “I'll continue to go to Native American ceremonies and lis ten to the beautiful songs, pray ers and pray. I'll continue to use the sacred pipe and tin* songs. They are one of the same to pray and worship. Taws won't keep us from praying. "One of these days I'd like to thank Dave Frohnmayer for what he had done for us. He ac knowledged our religion.’’ Smith said in response to the ruling making peyote use il legal. “Six years ago all you people here tonight would be my family, my relatives, and dark-skinned. One of these days I'm going to thank him tor opetltng the door so von can all see." “1 love this state. 1 love Ore gon." he continued. "My roots are here. To be treated this way hurts my feelings. "1 don't now if peyote is good for you I can only tell you how it has helped me. I know what it's like to be on skid row to be in the gutter. I finally separated some of that stuft. Alcohol isn't the prob lem. it's secondary. The prob lem is how 1 am. 1 look like this, but they took away my culture, my land Alcohol saved my life It led me to so briety It saved my life Recycle , This ’ paper I uip out | Oregon Daily Emerald i coupons for ! big savings!