16
JULY 15, 2016
S moke S ignals
'It is getting better in leaps and bounds'
SUMMIT continued
from front page
al times at the Veterans Summit,
which also was sponsored by the
Gresham-based Native Wellness
Institute and the Department of
Veterans Affairs’ Office of Tribal
Government Relations and has a
goal of connecting veterans, espe-
cially Native American veterans,
to the services they have earned
through their military service.
During a pre-summit workshop
held Thursday, July 7, Dr. Todd
Burnett, acting director at the
Portland Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, told about 20 veterans in
attendance that older veterans are
at higher risk of taking their own
lives.
However, Burnett said in reaction
to the just released statistics, only
five of the average 20 veterans who
take their lives daily are using Vet-
erans Affairs for their medical care
and mental health
needs.
“There is no
number that we
are OK with,”
Burnett said.
“However, users
of VA services are
level or declining
when it comes to
suicide rates.”
On Friday, July
8, Joe Bertagnolli,
Suicide Preven-
tion coordinator
at the Portland
VA Medical Cen-
ter, talked for about an hour with
summit attendees during the infor-
mal afternoon sessions.
He said that suicidality comes
from the primal part of the brain
that just wants out of a particularly
stressful situation. “It overrides our
survival instinct,” he said.
Unfortunately, Bertagnolli said,
suicide can run in families since
those contemplating taking their
own life might think back to how a
parent, uncle, grandparent or older
sibling handled a difficult situation.
Attendees linked that observation
to the historical trauma that affects
Native families and is handed down
from generation to generation.
“I’ve had many vets tell me that
they made their peace with dy-
ing while in combat,” Bertagnolli
said. “However, what they can’t
go through is something like a
divorce.”
In response to a question about
how rural mental health providers
are supposed to handle suicidal
veterans, Bertagnolli suggested
providers display compassion and
empathy and not try to problem
solve.
“Tell them that you are going to
have the courage and compassion
to listen,” he said. “Also tell them
that care does exist and everyone
deserves it. I can tell you that veter-
ans engaged in mental health care
at the VA are less likely to commit
suicide. And the Department of De-
fense and VA are leading the world
in research on suicide prevention.”
During the summit, Bertag-
nolli handed out Veterans Crisis
Line cards (800-273-8255). Among
of the country upon their
return from combat, they
have been leading the way
in getting all veterans bet-
ter benefits.
“Over the last four years,
I’ve seen the most Tribal
members file for benefits
they deserve,” he said. “It is
getting better in leaps and
bounds.”
The morning session end-
ed with Woods discussing
her experiences of being
a warrior woman in the
Air Force during the 1960s
and a commemoration of
the 50th anniversary of the
country’s escalation of in-
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
volvement in Vietnam.
Jan Brandon is wrapped in a “Heroic Chief” Pendleton blanket by Tribal Elder Raymond
After lunch, the summit
Petite, left, and Linda Woods (Ojibwe) during an honoring for her father, Marine Corps
became less structured as
Gunnery Sgt. Gunny Brandon, who walked on in January, during the fourth annual
veterans were able to par-
Veterans Summit: Gathering of Warriors held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Friday, July
ticipate in offerings that
8. The honoring was led by Tribe’s Veterans Special Event Board Chair and Tribal Elder
interested them. Grand
Ronde Health & Wellness
Steve Bobb Sr., right.
Center employees were
John Lamb gets his blood pressure
again on hand to offer free health
checked by Tribal Certified Medical
and dental care and John Spence
Assistant Lindsey Ness during the
(Gros Ventre/Sioux) returned with
fourth annual Veterans Summit:
horses to offer equine therapy for
Gathering of Warriors held at Uyxat
veterans and their family members.
Information booths surrounding
Powwow Grounds on Friday, July 8.
the
perimeter of the arbor included
Lamb is Navy veteran.
the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs, Military Helpline, federal
Bureau of Prisons, Oregon Employ-
ment Department, Social Security
Administration and Yamhill Coun-
ty Veterans Service Center.
Tribal Council members who at-
tended the summit included Leno,
Vice Chair Jack Giffen Jr., Army
Department of Veterans Affairs.
veteran Brenda Tuomi, George and
“What an honor it is to have all
vendors staffing tables under the
Denise Harvey.
of our veterans here and the people
Powwow Grounds arbor was Mil-
Other speakers included Dr.
who support them, and their fami-
itary Helpline, a free, confidential
Amy Light, co-clinical director of
lies,” Leno said. “Here we are again
resource for veterans contemplat-
the Rehabilitation and Long-Term
to try and work on coming together
ing suicide to call at 888-457-4838.
Care Division at the Portland VA
on
things
that
are
happening
for
our
By Friday afternoon, approxi-
Medical Center, and Army veter-
veterans. I have to say that I was re-
mately 130 veterans, family mem-
an Elizabeth Estabrooks, Women
ally inspired a couple of months ago
bers and others had registered
Veterans coordinator at the state
when we actually had the head of
for the summit, which followed
Department of Veterans’ Affairs,
the Department of Veterans Affairs
an agenda similar to the previous
who discussed the “white male
right here on these grounds. We
three events.
default” that so often rears its ugly
had
a
lot
of
conversations
about
the
After the pre-summit workshop
chauvinistic head in the military.
needs
of
veterans.
I
think
he
gets
it.
on Thursday, a dinner of salm-
The Friday session concluded
We’re not numbers, we’re people and
on and elk stew was served by
with male and female sharing
they tend, especially for Vietnam
the Tribe’s Nutrition Program
circles facilitated by TailFeathers
vets, to have a list and if you don’t
staff members under a meal tent
and Woods, respectively, before
make that list then they don’t think
and cultural sharing was held in
segueing into the opening night of
Agent Orange impacts you. He said
achaf-hammi, the Tribal plank-
the Marcellus Norwest Memorial
they
need
to
do
away
with
that
list
house.
Veterans Powwow.
and
start
treating
people
for
what
is
On Friday morning after a con-
The Veterans Summit concluded
actually wrong with them.”
tinental breakfast was served, the
Saturday morning with another
Burnett also spoke during the
first general session started at
general session that included a
welcoming remarks, promising that
about 9:30 a.m. with Navy veteran
“Let Your Voice Be Heard” presen-
Portland VA Medical Center staff
Nick Sixkiller reprising his role as
tation and then honorings led by
members
will
attend
every
Veter-
master of ceremonies.
TailFeathers before the second day
ans
Summit
that
is
held
just
have
The Grand Ronde Honor Guard
of the Veterans Powwow took over
they have done so far.
of Steve Bobb Sr., Raymond Petite,
the powwow grounds.
Veterans Summit regulars Linda
Al Miller, Dennis Kleffner and Rich
“It’s never about numbers for
Woods (Ojibwe) and Charlie Tail-
VanAtta brought in the colors after
me,” Leno said about the fourth
Feathers (Cree/Blackfeet) conduct-
Tribal teenager JC Rogers sang the
summit. “I don’t care if there is
ed the somber MIA/POW ceremony
national anthem. Tribal Council
one veteran here or 100 veterans
and
then
Bobb,
chair
of
the
Tribe’s
member Jon A. George gave the
just as long as we can help a vet-
Veterans
Special
Event
Board,
invocation. Outgoing Veterans Roy-
eran.”
honored Marine Corps Gunnery
alty in attendance included Iyana
“I am always humbled by the
Sgt. Gunny Brandon, who walked
Holmes and Amaryssa Mooney.
Grand Ronde,” Bentley added.
on in January, by gifting a “Heroic
Welcoming remarks were offered
“Grand Ronde is the Tribe that I
Chief” Pendleton blanket to Bran-
by Tribal Council Chairman Reyn
think really honors its warriors.
don’s daughter, Jan, who lives in
Leno, a Vietnam War-era Marine
They do so much for their people
McMinnville.
Corps veteran; fellow Marine Corps
through their infrastructure and
TailFeathers,
who
sits
on
the
veteran Cameron Smith, director
working to build their community.
board of directors of the Native
of the Oregon Department of Vet-
So my hat is off to the leadership
Wellness Institute, said that al-
erans’ Affairs; and Terry Bentley
of Grand Ronde for the work that
though Vietnam veterans were the
(Karuk), Tribal Government Re-
they do.”
most hated veterans in the history
lations specialist with the federal