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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1988)
FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME WEEK MAY 8-15, 1988 In celebration of Mother's Day, and continuing through out the week, the Alcohol Prevention Education Pro gram will job with many other national, state and local organizations to intensify efforts to warn pregnant women about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. This special push is planned as part of National Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Week, May 8-15, 1988. People simply don't know that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the leading cause of mental retardation. Most importantly, it is completely avoidable if women "ab stain" from all alcohol during pregnancy. It is estimated that at least 5,000 babies each year suffer from the effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. These children suffer from growth deficiencies, facial abnor malities,' malformed organs and mental retardation. As many as ten times that number suffer from a milder form of alcohol-related birth defects known as Fetal Alcohol Effects. Modern medicine can do a lot to help you have a healthy baby, but not without your help. Please say no to alcohol and other drugs. Say yes to your life and say yes for your baby's healthy life. For more information, call Monte or Margaret at 879-5211. WOMEN'S SUPPORT CROUP MTG. Vietta Helmy from the Women's Crisis Center b Salem will be the guest speaker at the May 4, 1988 women's support group meetbg at 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Ronde Tribal Office. The main topic will be self-esteem. For more information, call Margaret or Bonnie at 879 5211. ALCOHOL PROGRAM EXTENDS SERVICES TO PORTLAND AREA Thursday, April 21 will mark the begbmng of our new Alcohol and Drug Counseling Program b the Portland Metro Area. I will be spending one day a week (Thurs day) at the Siletz Portland Area office at 1710 NE 82nd Ave. The phone number there is 255-3510. I will be there all day for your convenience. Office hours will be 9:00 am to 4:30, THURSDAYS only. If you think you might have need of counseling I urge you to call and make an appobtment or just come in and talk. If you need more information, please call me at the Grand Ronde tribal office 879-5211 or, on Thursdays, at the Siletz Portland office. See you there! Monte Ring Chemical Dependency Specialist NO NO KNOW PUPPETS TO TEACH YOUTH ALCOHOL PREVENTION The Alcohol Prevention Program has recently purchased a puppet presentation kit for use b schools and Title IV programs. The No No Know puppets provide a cultur ally sensitive approach towards the prevention of chemical substance abuse among Indian youth. The program encourages student participants to develop a positive self-image while clarifying their values and attitudes, particularly towards alcohol and drugs. The curriculum has been designed for students of elementary school age. Each class is divided bto five distinct phases. (1) the sharing of elements; (2) the btroduction of puppets; (3) the telling of legends; (4) the conduct of the Round dance and; (5) the conduct of the talkbg circle. The chosen legends are enacted by the animal puppets. The primary goals and objectives of the presentation revolve around the principal of building good social survival skills, the sessions bclude copbg skills, self esteem building, decision making, refusal skills, and , alcohol and drug information. Margaret Provost Alcohol Prevention Education Counselor. THANK YOUU! I would like to thank all those who helped make the Easter activity a successful event. There was an abun dance of candy, food and prizes donated by tribal members, Council and staff and local merchants. The activities were enjoyed by many tribal youth, and adults ' as well. Thanks everyone, the help was appreciated!!! INDIAN VALUES AND ALCOHOLISM Alcoholism, once unknown, has been all too familiar b the recent history of the Native American people. While stereotypes of "the drunken Indian" are overworked, a problem bterwoven with cultural conflict remains. From the days of colonization, abandoned federal policies and forced assimilation, alcohol has lingered b the heritage of Native Americans. Inferior liquor became a bargainbg chip b treaty negotiations. Indians first experienced alcohol, origbally an alien substance for most tribes, as part of this effort to obtab land, and later through the drunken-comportment of non-Indian role models on the frontier. As alcohol abuse has become entrenched withb Indian communities, academic explanations surface ranging from metabolic differences to bternalized rage. What ever the reasons, alcoholism is the number one health problem b Indian communities today. Co-dependency must be considered b terms of unique cultural dilemmas surrounding alcoholism. The central dilemma is that of preserving one's heritage b the face of historical genocide. Certab traditional values appear to conflict with recognized need to stay abreast of modern times. Chief among these are: The primacy of the extended family. -;. . .v Sharing the wealth. Unlike the dominant non-Indian culture that values accumulation, status for Indian people is determined by how much one can give away. Non-bterference. This is an outgrowth of respect for the sacredness of all creation. Under this cultural norm, no one has the right to btrude upon the course of nature. Indian communities struggle to maintain the values of sharing and no bterference, particularly withb the extended family. But when one or more family mem bers are alcoholic, what is known as a "cultural disso nance: results. As an extended family member, the alcoholic cannot be denied. Unable to btrude upon an bdividual's right to his or her own destiny, the family cannot btervene without a sense of conflict. Successful community prevention, education and treatment programs will respect these cultural values. They will educate families on new ways of bteractbg with the alcoholic so that cultural norms do not express themselves b enablbg behavior. This will require a modification of traditional behavior. Families must be given permission to use new methods b dealbg with a non-traditional problem. With appropriate btervention, the reality of positive change is not as far away as it may seem. , If you have any questions or need any information, please feel free to call me at 879-5211, - Monte Ring Chemical Dependency Specialist ONE OUT OF 10 OREGONIANS IS AN ALCOHOUC OR DRUG ABUSER Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a destructive, often fatal disease characterized by loss of control, physical dependency and contbued, compulsive use b spite of extremely adverse consequences. Every addicted bdividual affects five to seven family members or friends - their financial prosperity, emo tional health and childhood memories. Drunk drivers were responsible for 53 of traffic deaths b Oregon last year. In half of these accidents, children werebvolved. Alcohol and drugs are implicated b 80 to 90 of Oregon's of Oregon's burglaries and 67 of all family violence. Addicted employee work at only 23 capacity and have 3 12 times more accidents.
