Smoke Signals
January 1993
Page 7
CherokeeMuscogee Woman Sends
Message to Tribal Youth About AIDS
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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.
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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