Smoke signals., November 01, 2007, Page 5, Image 5

Smoke Signals 5
NOVEMBER 1,2007
ROacLaEretm programs CueDipffwl to LemidD
LENO continued
from front page
Castellon. Leno, 17 at the time, had
been drinking heavily before the
accident.
Today, with a scheduled release
date of Feb. 8, Leno is amazed by
the number of youth he's seen com
ing and going from MacLaren, tak
ing nothing from their experience.
"It's hard to do your time," he
said, leaning back against a 4-by-4
on the sidelines, "because all these
guys come and go. I could see them
back and forth two or three times.
It makes it hard because you don't
see them trying, or improving.
You've changed inside, how you
live your life, and you're still sitting
there while others are constantly in
trouble (with contraband or fights).
That's the hardest part."
Working with dogs beneficial
Leno has benefited from a num
ber of programs at MacLaren. He
worked with dogs for 18 months in
the Project Pooch program.
"It was great," he said. "It helps
you to step outside of yourself, and
not just for yourself." He cited the
sense of responsibility and patience
as benefits.
"They can't understand you,"
Leno said, "so you have to find a
way to communicate."
In addition, Leno found that the
program gave him a sense of himself
beyond the walls of MacLaren. "Be
ing able to be around the animals
was more of a sense of being out in
the world, and, for me, also at home
because we always had animals."
Since August 2006, Leno has been
at the youth facility in Florence
where outside construction-type
work has afforded him a little more
freedom. And new skills. He's built
walls there and laid foundations for
a home. And earned a little money
in the process.
Leno also earned an associate de
gree from Chemeketa Community
College while at MacLaren and in
Florence.
He decided on sociology as a re
sult of a tip from Sam Cole, one of
a few friends who dropped by the
pow-wow to visit that day.
"At first, I didn't feel like I under
stood it," Leno said, "but I got good
grades. Over time, it got better and
I realized I could tie it in with pre
vention, and that it suited me."
His current goal is to enroll in one
of Oregon's universities - maybe
Oregon State University - to earn
bachelor's and ultimately master's
degrees in sociology.
His goal also includes working at
the Tribe. "I want to give back to the
community," he said. "I do feel that
I have a leg up coming through this
facility, being around all the youth,
listening to their stories. I know
what has worked for them and what
hasn't. And I know what has worked
for me and what hasn't."
What worked for Leno is this:
surprisingly, he said, "It's by sit
ting there and hearing somebody
else's story."
The family's help
The Leno family has been a driv
ing force in both Brad's attitude
and in the MacLaren Pow-wow.
Brad's father, Tribal member Lon
nie, has been bringing salmon for
the pow-wows and cooking them
in the traditional way since Brad's
incarceration began.
He started with 20 fish in 2002,
Lonnie said, and this year brought
and barbecued 40.
Also this year, MacLaren pre
sented Lonnie with an award for
his efforts that also have included
joining the facility's Natives in
sweats over the years.
"For me," Brad said, "my parents
have been the biggest support for
me. All my accomplishments are
due to their support."
They have come to see Brad as
much as four times a week, he
said.
"It became their routine and I'm
very thankful for that," he said.
"I see a young
man that has
grown up in the
last six years as
far as maturity,
patience, some
one who has pret
ty much put his
life in order as to
what he wants
to do and how he
wants to go about
it," Lonnie said. "I
see someone that
has definitely set
some goals for
himself."
And Lonnie said
that those goals
include financial.
"He has a better
idea as to how to
invest his mon
ey," Lonnie said.
"His mom took on
a part-time job
with a financial
institution some
years ago when
Brad was begin
ning his sentence.
As time went on
and he started accumulating mon
eys in his account with the Tribe
and as he did odd jobs at MacLaren
and Florence, he realized it was a
good idea to invest some moneys.
"I see a lot of kids his age still
carrying their money around in
their pocket until they don't have
it anymore."
In truth, not all Tribal members
at MacLaren have the support of
family and friends. "For a lot of
kids," Brad said, "they go years
without a visit."
"I think he has made very good
use of that six-and-a-quarter years,"
Lonnie said. "As a parent, going
through these situations, Brad be
ing 1 7 years old and going to prison
for six-and-a-quarter years, none of
us knew how it was going to turn
out, but because of the way Brad
chose to handle the whole situation,
1?
f f . I ! J
Photos by Ron Karten
At Grand Entry, the Leno family is honored with the first position. Tribal member Lonnie Leno, Brad's father, looks at
the award presented to him moments before for his contributions to the pow-wow. From left is Lonnie, Brett behind,
Brad's mother, Tammy, Brad and his aunt, Tribal Elder Darlene Aaron.
Brad's brother, Tribal member Brett Leno, plants
another stake full of salmon at the 11 th annual
MacLaren Pow-wow in early September. Since Brad's
first pow-wow at the correctional institution in 2002, the
Leno family has provided salmon for all, cooking it in
the traditional way.
he made it as easy as possible."
And Lonnie doesn't just mean that
Brad made it easier for Brad. "You
never heard him say, 'I don't deserve
to be here.' He always said, 'I did
something wrong. I'm here because
of it and I'll make the best of it.' That
made it a lot easier for us, too."
"The thing that I am pleased
about," said Brad's mom, Tammy,
"is the growth that Brad has done. I
didn't expect him to grow up as fast
as he did and come out with a very
positive outlook on things. It has
made him a better person. I never
expected it to turn out this well."
Getting ready for freedom
For Brad, the return to regular
living is still daunting. "I'm hoping
it won't be as big of a deal as I'm
expecting it to be," he said. "I have
been completely structured." His
friends tell him that the first couple
of days will be a little strange. "I
heard that from others who have
gotten out," he said.
"This past month has already been
stressful as everything's coming to
gether. Where are you gonna live?
Work? Who's picking you up?"
He mentioned to a friend that he
might take some time off when he
first gets out, put off university until
the fall, but all that's still up in the
air. Too much free time may have
been part of his downfall to begin
with, he observed, but he's going into
this next phase with open eyes.
"A lot of guys put this (experi
ence) behind them and never talk
about it," Leno said. "They don't
want to be reminded of those days.
But, for me, I want to be able to use
the experiences I've gotten here for
what I want to do in life, for work
ing with youth."
One of his friends, Mark leban,
having fun, introduced himself as
"the professor." When it was time
to go, the professor offered, "Give
me a call man, if you need anybody
to talk to."
And so his future begins. B