May 1994
Page 7
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Smoke Signals
4-
Bob Ryan is new program
director at Nanitch
By Tracy Olson
Bob Ryan has been hired as the
new Program Director at Nanitch
Sahallie Youth Treatment Facility
in Keizer, Oregon.
He is a member of the Cheyenne
River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota
and is a graduate of the University
of South Dakota. Bob holds degrees
in counseling and psychology.
Although Bob has worked for
many treatment facilities, he said
Nanitch is the first one that has a
program designed specifically for
Native American youth.
He said, "I enjoy helping people
solve lifeproblemsand seeingyoung
people change their lives. This is
where the Creator has put me."
As program director, Bob will
be responsible for not only working
with the clients, but on personnel
issues, budgets and overall
supervision of the program.
"Young people are our future,"
he said. "That's why they are
important to me."
One of the things at Nanitch that
appealed to Bob was its cultural
component. He feels that it is a
vital part of everyone's lives, not
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just Indians' or people in recovery.
He feels that culture is part of how
we see the world as individuals.
Bob said," It's important to have
a base, roots. If we don't have
culture, then we can't have values,
a belief system, or direction in our
lives. That's why culture is
especially important to our clients,
and that's part of what makes
Nanitch special."
Bob and his wife live in
Vancouver, Wash., and have six
grown children.
Of all the places Bob has worked,
which include treatment centers in
both Vancouver and Salem, he said
that the basic programs are the
same, but every client is different,
and has different needs. He is
looking forward to teaching clients
of the rewards of a clean and sober
life.
"I want young people to realize
all there is to celebrate about life.
There are new ways to celebrate
without the use of drugs and
alcohol," he said. "When a client
achieves a new outlook on life, it is
very rewarding."
JL
Let's talk teeth...
By Linda Mann, RDM
An open house at the Grand Ronde Tribal Dental Clinic kicked off the Year of Oral Health last month. It
was the first of many events planned this year to commemorate the Year of Oral Health. Tribal Chairman Mark
Mercier, on behalf of Tribal Council signed a proclimation designating April 7 as World Oral Health Day. Our
new dentist Dr. Scott van Dyken was introduced and welcomed to the clinic.
International tooth-healthy snacks were served and the guests enjoyed socializing with the dental staff and
joining us in celebrating World Oral Health Day.
Happy Mother's Day to our new
Moms and Moms-To-Be. The
dental department, in conjunction
with the Human Services Division
will be presenting a Mother's Day
Luncheon for mothers of babies
less than one year old and all
expectant mothers. The purpose of
this luncheon is to form contacts
within this age group and to provide
prevention education to assist us
developing healthy, happy children.
There will be presentations on:
The right time to call a doctor.
Shaking Baby Syndrome and
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Preventing baby bottle tooth
decay.
Enrolling your baby into the
Tribe.
Information on tribal services.
This luncheon will be held May
9 at the Grand Ronde Community
Center. Child care will be provided,
and please RSVP. Please call 1-800-775-0095
for more
information.
"Bite Into Dental Health," and
oral health program for older adults,
is the theme for this month's Senior
Smile Week. Senior Smile Week
will be celebrated May 17-19 before, during, and after the senior meal time at the Community Center.
Activities will include a video called "Keeping Your Smile a Lifetime", educational sessions on caring for
dentures, and symptoms of oral cancer. We will be having door prizes, activity sheets, and product give-aways.
Please join us.
First Annual Coastal Youth Conference focused on
prevention, other issues
The First Annual Coastal Youth
Conference was held March 19 at
the Shilo Inn in Newport, Oregon.
There were about 50 students
from Coos Bay, Siletz, and Grand
Ronde.
Many of the presenters talked
about the family cycleof alcoholism
and its devastating effects.
The conference committee shared
their experiences about growing
up in alcoholic households.
Some of the youth from Grand
Ronde who attended the conference
included Jenny Bailey, Adam Leno,
and Joaquin Grant.
The program included
information, from a Native
American persepctive, on how to
lighten emotional loads faced by
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John Fraser helps himself
students in their daily struggles
with alcohol and drugs.
The importance of a Sundance
ceremony, participating in the
feather dance, wearing regalia, the
hazards of driving under the
influence of drugs or alcohol, the
myths about AIDS and HIV
infection, and how traditional arts
and crafts can curb the use of drugs
and alcohol were described in the
conference.
The one-day meeting ended with
a prayer. Many youth stated they
would like to attend other awareness
conferences like this, and maybe
have another one that lasts more
than one day and includes a pow
wow. The Prevention Component of
to tooth-healthy snacks.
Alcohol and Drug would like to
thank the following people for
participating in the conference:
Pauline Hicks, Bonnie Martin-Tom,
Vernon Kennedy, Sacheen Little
Feather, Dennis Parra, Faith Jacob,
Bill Wilson, Dr. John Spence,
Heather Crow-Martinez, Caroline
Cruz, Selene Rialto-Lynch, Bud
Lane, Pat Darcy, Margaret Provost,
Duane Many Hides, Fred Rider,
Tim Lakota, and Hanas Pilgrim.
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