TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Juvenile Delinquency:
An Ounce of Prevention ...”
Ribbon
Shirt Class
Produces
Colorful
Results
by Leah Suitter-Eversole, Delinquency Prevention Coordinator
Juvenile delinquency means any crim-
inal acts performed by juveniles (children
under age 18). Delinquency is defined as a
failure to do what the law or duty requires;
an offense or misdemeanor; a misdeed;
adolescents who act in ways that violate
the rights of others or society's rules.
This does not mean an isolated inci
dent or an act of inappropriateness, but a
repetitive, persistent pattern of behaviors.
Up to 16 percent of male and 8 percent
of female teens fall under the category of
delinquent and persistently participate in
destructive, deceitful, manipulative and
illegal activities.
Many of our youth end up in the
legal system, either on probation with
legal restrictions or in detention centers
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Delinquency prevention begins at
home by teaching children informed deci
sion-making processes and teaching youth
age-appropriate consequences.
Rewards tor good decisions, privi
leges and discipline also need to coincide
with the youth’s interests and desires.
Schools, churches, community groups/
members, businesses, Tribal programs
and law enforcement officials can make
joint efforts to get involved and help be
come the solution.
Children also need to learn empathy.
Empathy can be one of the deepest hu
from their parents and family members.
If a child's family participates in
criminal activities, then the child learns
criminal behavior. Early prevention by
family members, schools, communities
and law enforcement is the key to reduc
ing juvenile delinquency and should begin
means youth have excess time on their
hands, often unsupervised while parents
are working.
Here in the Siletz community many
options are available to youth and fami
lies. For information about youth activi
ties, prevention services, parenting classes
and volunteer services, please contact
me by e-mail at adyouth@ctsi.nsn.us or
DeAnna Pearl via e-mail at adprev@ctsi.
nsn.us. Or call us at 541 -444-8267or toll-
free at 800-600-5599.
youth can be charged as an adult as early
as age 16. Prevention works better and is
more affordable than treatment in every
aspect and being apprehended/detained
only reduces recidivism by 10 percent.
Some things that increase the probability
of youth committing delinquent acts are:
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Struggles with mental illness
Negative peer influences
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I General Council I
Meeting
I
May 2, 2009 • 1 p.m.
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| Siletz Tribal Community |
I Center • Siletz, Oregon I
Delinquency can begin with such acts as:
Skipping school
Truancy
Curfew violations
Falling grades
Fighting
Being disrespectful or refusing to
obey rules of parents, schools or
community
It can escalate to things requiring
juvenile court involvement, such as:
Deceitfulness
own), from Adult Education funding
through the Siletz Tribal Education
Department.
Top; Denise Riding In works on
her ribbon shirt.
to understand and experience the feel
ings of another person, the ability to put
yourself in someone else’s shoes, to know
and understand how they might feel - and
feel for them.
Summer is almost here. Studies show
that summer heat increases the risk of
youth committing delinquent acts. It also
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I
Call to Order
Invocation
Flag Salute
Roll Call
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Approval of Agenda
Approval of Minutes
Programs:
Healthy Family Healthy Child Project 1
Special Presentation
Tribal Members’ Concerns
Chairman’s Report
Announcements
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Adjourn
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Some lucky husbands, sons,
nephews and friends are out there
sporting new ribbon shirts. A group
of ladies recently completed a
ribbon shirt class, taught by Tina
Retasket, as they get ready for pow
wow season.
The ladies were joined by guests
— small ones and older ones - who
sometimes helped with the process.
Class participants included Lila Pe
terson, Liz John, Chasta Marceau,
Denise Riding In, Nancy McCrary
and guest Tiffany Haynes.
This was funded, with the excep
tion of our guest (who paid for her
man emotions and to know empathy can
deflect potential delinquency when it’s
fully developed. Empathy is the ability
at a very young age as serious deviant
behavior can be identified in children as
young as 7 years old.
Deviant behavior is harder to change
after youth have become criminals than
before or once they first show signs of
deviant or anti-social behavior. Many
Lack of parental/adult supervision
(the No. 1 risk factor)
Poor academic performance/attendance
Family history of criminal activity
Growing incidence of abuse/neglect
Family changes
Increased availability of drugs/alcohol
Labeling of youth by family members,
school faculty, community members
or peers
Courtesty photos by Tina Retasket and Lila Peterson
personal accountability for their actions
and decisions by using swift, consistent,
or correctional facilities.
Millions of dollars are spent on preven
tion programs when in fact, the best preven
tion strategies begin at home. Children learn
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Running away from home
Using and/or selling drugs/alcohol
Vandal ism/destruction of property,
theft or gang involvement/activities
Assault/battery charges, physical ag-
gression/intimidation
Sex crimes
Left: CordDee Larue intends to
paint a cougar on the back of the
ribon shirt made by his mother,
Lila Peterson.
Walt’s Words of Wit and Wisdom
by Walt Klamath
It is getting more difficult to think of something that may interest some. I have been
doing this since heck was a pup and have written about many different subjects.
As time progresses I think we need to remember our elders who have moved on
to a better place. Makes me think of some of the places where I have been listening
to people talk. Many of them have the same theme - we must remember those who
walked before us. If we don t, we will lose a lot of family history if not all of it.
I am very limited with those who came to my home when I was young and they
did share stories, though I didn’t pay attention and I should have.
I have been told that when we think of someone in a good way, their spirit will be
with us and some of the stories will return then. If we do not think good thoughts, we
may remember the person but not remember anything the spirit has to offer.
It is very true that today there are so many barriers to hearing the stories. We
might be talking to someone and it might be time for their favorite TV show or time
to do some computer things. This does take a different way than when we didn’t have
computers or TVs. We had radios but we had grandparents to fill any gaps.
Many times we do not think ourselves important, but everyone has two little eyes
watching so we cannot do any wrong, anything we say they will fight for.
Everyone has a story of their life. Personally, I think it is an obligation to pass
that story on, where you came from, how you became the person you are today, the
pitfalls you had to overcome and how you did it. One day that story may have to be
relived by a young one learning how to walk, wondering where they are going, why
they are even here.
There are many stories, some are humorous, some have no beginning and no end.
Some stories are of creation; these are myths in a way. The stories answer questions
about why some things are.
This satisfies young minds, as they grow older they will understand what it is. They
in turn, however, will tell their children the same story so the tradition will go on.
Personally, I think this is important. This is in fact how our history is passed on
to the next generation and on to the next.
Traditionally, winter time was story time. Many times, grandpas would literally
be dragged to a home to tell stories.
So the point, grandpa and grandma, is tell the little ones the history, where you
come from. I find most of the time the people whom I have the good luck to work
with do not know their family history. Then we find out we are not different than our
neighbor. Different regions, different customs, different traditions - they come together
through the stories.
May 2009
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Siletz News
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