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Smoke Signals
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Allen Nelson (left) and Robert Schmid From Nanitch Sahallie receive
awards for outstanding service to Native youth in Alcohol and Drug
prevention. Photo by Tracy Dugan
"V
I vfr a r
By Tracy Dugan
The Oregon Indian Council on Ad
diction presented Robert Schmid
and Allen Nelson an award of rec
ognition during the First Annual
Northwest Addiction Treatment Con
ference in Portland held in May.
Schmid has been a counselor at
Nanitch Sahallie for nearly eight
years. Nelson, a six year employee,
also works as the cultural specialist
for the youth.
Nanitch Sahallie is a residential
treatment facility for chemically de
pendent Native American youth, lo
cated in Keizer, Oregon and owned
by the Tribe.
The award was presented by John .
Mackey, director of the chemical de
pendency program at Chemawa In
dian School, and who holds a seat
on the Oregon Council on Addiction.
"From time to time the Council rec
ognizes individuals working for
youth in the treatment community,"
said Nelson. "We are proud to have
been honored in this way."
The conference in May was at
tended by more than 500 treatment
specialists in the Pacific Northwest,
many of whom work for local gov
ernment agencies, or private treat
ment centers. Schmid and Nelson
feel that it is important that people
in the field and tribal members un
derstand that Nanitch brings cul
tural components into the recovery
process for these youth, which helps
establish a sense of pride and self-
esteem in them.
"We have Grand Ronde Elders
come and speak to the youth, craft
classes, and drumming," said Nelson.
"Special visitors and speakers are
invited to share their spiritual ways
with the kids, too."
The youth also take a camping ex
cursion, called "Rites of Passage"
where they hold a ceremony in
honor of the four directions and the
four stages of life.
The cultural aspect Nanitch's re
covery program is in addition to
what is offered at other residential
facilities that are not geared toward
Native youth. Nanitch Sahallie is
the only center of its kind in Oregon,
and one of only a handful in the
nation.
Schmid, a Grand Ronde tribal
member, said that the youth are re
ferred to Nanitch from many states
by a caseworker or family member.
"Our youth don't have to be Grand
Ronde Indian to be admitted to the
program. We have gotten referrals
from Alaska, Arizona, and as far
away as Florida," said Schmid. But
he also says that a lot of the kids come
from Oregon and Washington tribes.
Both Nelson and Schmid are
graduates of Chemeketa's Counsel
ing program.
Nelson, a Klamath tribal member,
said that his job is rewarding for
many reasons.
"Nanitch has been a chance for me
to give something to Indian people.
To build a healing process. I am truly
blessed."
John Mackey has been a friend
and colleague of Nanitch for a long
time. And Robert Schmid said that
recognition from his peers means a
lot.
"Most counselors enter this field to
contribute and because they have a
desire to work with young people,"
he said. "It is a real privilege. We
don't expect to be rewarded for it.
We do it because we want to."
it
21 -GOT
SALUTE
The Grand Ronde Color
Guard was joined by
veterans groups from
surrounding areas for a
21-gun salute on Memorial
Day at the tribal cemetery.
They included the Sea
Cadets from McMinnville;
SheridanWillamina
McMinnville VFW;
WillaminaSheridan
AmVets; and the Sheridan
American Legion. The Tribe
thanks them for helping the
Grand Ronde Color Guard
pay tribute to our veterans.
Photo by Sharon Norwest "