Smoke Signals March 1990 Page 12
i 4
AMERICAN INDIANS
TARGETED FOR .
LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
American Indians are one of four groups targeted for
leadership development by the Northwest Communities
Project. A non-partisan organization, the NWCP is
"committed to increasing the participation of Hispanic,
Asian, Black and American Indians in the American
democratic process through voter education, leadership
development and networking, and technical assistance
for community based projects. Target groups in Ore
gon, Idaho, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska
incude multi-ethnic communities, isolated rural areas of
the Northwest, and Hispanics and American Indians in
the Northwest.
The Northwest is the only region without a "struc
tured" minority leadership network, reports NWCP.
The Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement
(OCHA) focuses on youth leadership development, but
there is no program for Hispanic or American Indian
populations in this region have "yet to fully participate
inh the political and economic process." In 1988, voter
registration campaigns helped to mobilize minority
communities and demonstrated the need to identify and
train local leadership development. NWCP asserts that
while the Northwest has been growing in "wealth, popu
lation, and influence" Hispanic and American Indian
populations in this region ahve "yet to fully participate in
the political and economic process."
In 1988, voter registration campaigns helped to mobilize
minority communities and demonstrated the need to
identify and train local leadership.
Headed by Clara Padilla Andrews, a veteran of New
Mexico politics, the NWCP plans a two-fold strategy to
address these issues. A minority leadership conference
scheduled for Feb. 16 and 17 in Portland will preceed a
six-month leadership institute from April through
September. The NWCP Minority Leadership Confer
ence workshops will feature coalition building, minority
health issues, career opportunities, affirmative action, a
census update, and a children's agenda. The Northwest
Leadership Institution will begin a process of network
ing for targeted groups. Thirty candidates will be
selected to attend three-day seminars each month from
April through Septmeber, 1990. Applications for this
project are due on March 24.
Willamina Wants a Better
Water System
Council Votes to apply for Grant
WILLAMINA - Tribal members who live in the
Willamina area should know that the City Council
recently voted to apply for an Oregon Community De
velopment Block Grant to move and upgrade the city's
water intake system.
The grants for up to $500,000 are available for cities
with a population of 50,000 or less. The application is
due March 3rd. Next week a consultant will advise the
council how much to apply for. The council should
know in May if they are to receive the grant.
A study conducted a year ago indicated the need to
move the intake system upstream from its present
location near Willamina Lumber Co. in order to prevent
problems with spillage. The present system is about 45
years old, said Mayor Francis Eddy.
- Courtesy of The Sheridan Sun
i1nxof
t I V 3
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Diane Harrison works at Nanitch Sahallie as the treatment program's receptionist.
Nanitch Sahallie
Feature Series
This is the first in a 3 part scries of articles about
the Tribes' intensive substance abuse treatment
center for Native American youth 12-18 years
old. Part one will focus on the brief history of the
center and its functions.
Nanitch Sahallie. In the Chinook jargon - the native
language of a majority of the bands that comprise the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde - "Nanitch
Sahallie" means "to seek up high." It is also the name
chosen by the Tribe to represent the intensive substance
abuse treatment center they opened in April of 1989.
The center is located in Keizer, Oregon and specializes
in the treatment of Native American youth with drug
and alcohol problems. Troubled youth come from
Tribes all over the country to participate in the program.
In 1983, Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier, Cheryle
Kennedy and General Manager Jim Willis were ap
proached by representatives of Indian Health Services
about the possibility of the Tribe developing a Youth
Primary Residential Treatment Center in Oregon.
Mare, Cheryle, and Jim began discussion of the pro
posed project with other Tribal Council members, Phil
Rilatos of the Siletz Tribe and Bonnie Peterson the
Tribal Council representative. The consensus of those
involved in the discussions was that the project was
important and the possibilities should be explored.
Revenues for the Project were secured through
Portland Area Indian Health Services. The Tribe then
began the search for a facility capable of housing the
program. Such a facility was eventually located in
Keizer, Oregon. The Tribe worked closely with Che
mawa School in developing the program. The school
had recently polled students to find a surprisingly high
level of abuse by students.
After running into problems trying to secure funds
from the federal government, General Manager Jim
Willis asked Senator Mark Hatfield to assist the effort.
Even with Hatfield's support and the support of the
Northwest Regional Solicitors for the Department of the
Interior funds could not be obtained from the Federal
Government.
According to Willis the Tribe began exploring financ
ing options. This process consisted of developing a loan
package including cash flow projections and statements
of purpose and objectives for the use of the center. The
Tribe negotiated with three banks before accepting a
loan guarantee package from First Interstate Bank of
Salem for $1.2 million for 25 years. The deal took about
six months to put together and the Tribe received
assistance from Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Area
Director, Stan Speaks, Assistant Area Director, Wilford
Bowker and Superintendent, Nelson Witt.
The Tribe put forth a tremendous effort just to get the
project off the ground despite the setbacks that hap
pened along the way. "No Tribal government, even
now, has made such an unprecedented commitment to
the treatment of substance abuse among Native Ameri
can Youth. It took alot of time and energy to develop
such a significant program. No Tribe had done that, and
the Tribal Council felt very strongly about the establish
ment of this program," Said Willis.
Native youth spend from 30 to 90 days in treatment at
the center. The intensive residential treatment phase
consists of support groups, family counseling, one-on-one
counseling, recreational activities, cultural aware
ness, education and aftercare services including the
Transitional Living Component.
According to a brochure designed by Program Opera
tions Manager, Greg Archuleta, "The purpose of the
intensive residential treatment program is to provide
clients with an awareness and understanding of the
effects of alcohol and substance abuse on themselves,
their families and communities. The clients are also
provided skills to use in group settings, awareness of
feelings, anger management and coping skill."
The program places an emphasis on the client main
taining his scholastic status upon arrival at the treatment
center. The school that the client came from is kept
updated on the progress of the individual through the
Tribal Education Coordinator. The Tribe has provided
clients with the possibility of attaining their G.E.D.
credits while undergoing treatment. Some of the
recreational activities include swimming, jogging,
weight-lifting and other outdoor activities. The staff
stresses Cultural enhancement to the clients as well.
The clients have the option of participating in Native
arts and crafts, drumming, dancing and sweats are also
available. General Manager Jim Willis teaches a weekly
Tribal government class and from time to time guest
speakers are invited as part of the cultural enhancement
component.
When a client reaches a level of treatment that would
allow them to be graduated from the program, then the
Aftercare stage of the treatment process begins. The
staff at Nanitch Sahallie believes that aftercare is a very
important step in the recovery process. Clients partici
pating in Aftercare activities attend Alcoholics Anony
mous meetings, Narcotics Anonymous meetings and a
number of other support group functions. After a client
graduates they are monitored and encouraged to stay
sober and drug free.
Part two of this series will focus on the Transitional
Living component of the treatment program as will as an
insight into who the staff at the facility is and what they
do.