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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1993)
Smoke Signals January 1993 Page 7 CherokeeMuscogee Woman Sends Message to Tribal Youth About AIDS i 1 f 4V f The following article is Lisa Tiger's statement read at a press conference announcing she had tested positive for HIV. Lisa is a 27-year old CherokeeMuskogee living in Muskogee, Oklahoma. I found out I was HIV positive on July 5 of this year. I knew I would need support from my family and close friends. I reached out to them and have not been disappointed. Two years ago on my 25th birthday, I took time to look back on my life. My father, Jerome Tiger, died when I was only two years old but he had remained a part of our daily lives through the magnificent art that was his legacy to our family and the world. Except for the tragedy of losing my father I knew I was a very lucky person and that there was no one in the world I'd rather be than Lisa Tiger. Everything always seemed to go right for me. High school, a time of uncertainty for many young people, was fun and exciting for me. I had been head cheerleader, football queen, and a special counselor forlndian students. I was voted "most talented" by my Senior Class. . I competed all over the country as a Class I Gymnast. I have always been interested in boxing because my father and my uncle were both Golden Gloves Champions. So after high school I became a licensed boxing judge and head coach of Muskogee Boxing Club. At my first job I sold cars at BennetLister in Muskogee and was Top OldsmobileCadillac Salesperson of the Year. Then I went to work at Tiger Art where I worked with my family. Each day was spent with the people I most loved. My uncle, Tiger Jr., believed in me and helped me believe in myself. He encouraged me to start a matting and framing business. My question to myself on my 25th birthday was, "How can my luck hold out for the next 25 years?" Then on May 9, 1990 just two months after my birthday, my beloved brother Chris was shot and killed. Before Chris1 death I had always been able to find a lesson and a purpose in any hard luck that came my way. But for two years I have not been able to find comfort or come to terms with Chris' death. My sister Dana found great strength in her memory of Chris. He is her inspiration as she speaks our for women and Native Americans. My mother formed Union of Victims and Survivors, an organization dedicated to helping victims of violent crime in dealing with the criminal justice system. My mother's mission is to stand up for victim's rights in Chris' name. I have helped my sister and my mother, but all the time I knew that I too, had an important purpose for my life, not yet revealed to me. 9 . , .. i 11 W t.Vv i. K c Now I know what my role is to be. Since learning I am HI V positive, for the first time in two years I have been able to look at photographs of my brother and smile. I feel Chris' strength and love all around me. I don't want to die, but so far I have not been afraid. I'm healthy. I eat right, exercise, and rest when I am tired. I am one of an ever growing number of women who are HIV positive. Being HIV positive means being infected with the virus that causes AIDS. I would have been considered low-risk on anyone's list. I stand here as living proof that what happened to me can happen to you, or your sister, your daughter, your friend, your co-worker. I have never so much as smoked a cigarette much less used a needle to inject drugs. I am not promiscuous. In seven years I have had only two relationships, both entered into slowly and both long term and monogamous. I thought I was careful. I thought I asked all the right questions. But as careful as I was, I was not careful enough. I intend to continue to work. I love my work. I now own my own matting and framing business. I will take good care of my health and I will speak out at every opportunity.. .for myself and for all the many victims of this dreadful virus. I want to join others who are already leading the way to community awareness. I still think of myself as a very lucky person. I have a wonderful family, the best friends a person could have and the support of a great Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller. I still would not trade places with anyone in the world. I have a lot to live for. But when it is my time to go, I'll have a lot to go to. Taken from: UNITY NEWS: United National Indian Tribal Youth My Message to Youth! The only safesex is NO SEX! If you do choose to have sex, then you must have safer sex. You must properly use a condom and a spermicide every time you have sex! You have to protect yourself. You cannot take the word of your partner. That message that should be heard is that if you have ever had unprotected sex you have put yourself at risk of getting the AIDS virus, and need to be tested I have heard that people are afraid to be tested in fear of being positive. It is very important to know for the health and safety of yourself and others. Don 't be afraid to be tested, if you are positive, there are a lot of things you can do to prolong your life. Remember that the best scientists in the world are working on a cure, and there a every reason to believe that in the near future this will be a controllable disease tike diabetes is, -Lisa Tiger Victims Support Group For Oregon Women A support group for women who are victims of domestic or sexual violence is being offered by COBRA (Central Oregon Battering and Rape Alliance). This group offers support for the healing process of changing from victim to survivor and provides an opportunity to learn more about yourself, share experiences, examine emotions, explore options and make choices. All women are welcome and childcare is provided. The groups, are led by a trained facilitator, and al 1 sessions are strictly confidential. The group is offered weekly and you may come as often or as little as you like. They group sessions are free and you can call 1 -800-356-2369 for the times and location. Parental Influence Makes A Difference Dear Mom and Dad: I am confused. It seems like all my friends go to parties and drink beer. I know I am not supposed to, but all my friends say it's great. They want me to drink, and I want to keep my friends. I know that you both drink. Sometimes at home. Sometimes at parties. If you do, why shouldn't I? Love, your teenager Chances are your kids won't write you a letter like this. But chances are, it's what they're thinking. BE THE ONE THEY TALK TO. You were a kid. You know what peer pressure is like. Even if your kids don't drink, they're around kids who do. So talk to them before they get ideas about parties and drinking from someone else. LAY IT ON THE LINE. Drinking and driving is the number one teenage killer. And when it doesn't kill, it cripples. Your kids probably know of at least one classmate w ho was killed or injured in an alcohol-related crash. Ask them about it. It will mean more to them than any statistic. Drinking alcohol is illegal for minors. So is illicit drug use. And driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal regardless of age. Discuss alcohol and drugs with them. Try not to preach. Let them know you understand the pressure they can get from friends. Let them know that your primary concern is their safety. And finally, set some rules that your kids can use to help them "just say no". ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. Talk to your kids a lot. Take the Safe Driving Pledge with them. It is a written agreement w here they agree to call home if they have been using alcohol, or if someone else has and cannot drive them home. You agree to pick them up at any time with no questions asked until a later ti me when you and your child can have a responsible discussion. Remember, kids learn from what they see you do and say. Think about how you act when you have had a drink or two. Do you let your friends drive home after they have been drinking? Most importantly, do you drink and drive? These are tough questions for you as well as your kids. But kids learn by example. It isn't very effective to tell them "no" when they see you saying "yes", and their friends are also urging them to say "yes". Your influence can be greater than the influence of their peers. If you say "no" to drinking and driving, chances are your children will, too. from a brochure produced by the Oregon Traffic Safety Commission