‘On the Healing Road We Walk’

PIERRE –The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate is set to host an event that will highlight the tribe’s need for healing and working together to curve the crisis of addiction for their community.

The On The Healing Road We Walk Conference will be taking place on August 16 – 17, 2019 in Sisseton. This two-day event is designed to bring hope, healing, and inspiration for those who attend, while providing awareness, education and skills to help others.

Alana Little Bird, whose Indian name is Han Mni Wicozoni Yuha Win (Woman Who Gives Life of Water), is a descendent from the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. She is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in Human Services. “I have a degree in Addiction Counseling; my education has been my passion and most achieved accomplishments. I still have much more to learn and offer,” she said.

“I have eight beautiful children and a loving spouse Jerald Red Buffalo. I decided to become an addiction counselor after I went to treatment back in 2007. I had an amazing counselor name Bonnie Pipe,” said Little Bird. “Her love and compassion towards me were one of a kind. She was very knowledgeable and understanding of my addiction. She was straight forward with me and never allowed me to doubt myself.”

Little Bird said she really admired the way Red Buffalo had carried herself in a dignified manner. She says her former counselor had a special way with people and it inspired her to want to be like that some day. “She always told me to keep going, to get my education, and to help others the way it was given to me,” she said.

The Sisseton Wahpeton woman claims her drugs of choice were alcohol, meth and opiods. She was an active user for seven years straight and in 2007; she finally hit her rock bottom. She lost everything. She remembers sitting on the side of the rode with her boys, crying and telling herself she cannot live the life she had been living. “So, I checked myself into treatment. For 3 years I would stay sober and fall off, and finally, 2010, I have never picked up a drink or drugged again. I am so grateful that I made that conscious decision,” said Little Bird.

Since becoming sober in 2010, she worked on getting her GED and received it in July, 2010. Soon after, she began her journey towards getting her college education. She earned an associate’s degree in Addiction Counseling and in 2020, will be graduating with her bachelor’s in Human Services with a minor in Psychology.

Little Bird feels addiction for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate has reached epidemic proportions. She feels that the children of the tribe are being affected the most and elders have to raise grandchildren due to parents being incarcerated or actively using. She feels the crime and deaths related to drugs and alcohol are a signs of this epidemic hitting the SWO. She hopes that tribal members will continue to build relationships with higher spiritual powers in order to help in their own lives.

SWO has some great services and providers working diligently to help tribal members with addiction and behavioral health, according to Little Bird. Among these services is the Youth and Family Tree Program. This program serves adolescents and young adults (Ages 14-26 years old). “We have the Mayuteca Center who serves 18 + adults. Then, we have the Dakota Pride Center with inpatient treatment and out-patient services. I believe having all these programs working together will be a significant impact on our community. This gives the community members a variety of options to that fits their basic needs and level of care for treatment,” she said.

Little Bird said the On The Healing Road We Walk Conference was, in the beginning, designed to promote the Day Treatment and Youth and Family Tree programs on the reservation. “Instead, it veered in a different direction. Yes our programs will be 100 percent involved, but it’s about resources, and how our culture is connected with our sobriety and healing. A couple months ago, I went through a situation where it set me back, I was stuck and started to feel lost. I began to reach out to some people, and kept asking, ‘I’ve been sober this long, why do I still go through struggles, I thought I dealt with the issues?’’ she said.

During this time, Little Bird was told that healing is a lifelong process. She turned to ceremony and a trip to Montana to help in forgiving and gaining closure from her past experiences. It was through the ceremony and introspective searching that she realized there is more to healing than just AA meetings and sweat lodge ceremonies.

“It was my community, friends, and family members that really helped me get my breakthrough. I was so scared to ask for help, and maybe I was scared to hear the truth, but once I did, I felt so free,” said Little Bird. “The most important thing I was able to grasp, it doesn’t take the pain or hurt away, knowing who I have to reach out to, the ceremonies I can attend and do for myself, the resources that are given to me will help me to get through the next challenge a little easier.”

From these sacred awakenings, Little Bird said the event in August came from a vision. “I know there are other people out there that have gone through what I’ve gone through. It’s about stopping the silence about the hurt we all carry. We don’t realize it until a situation occurs and we wonder why we are hurt, wonder why me, and we begin to doubt ourselves. We are triggered by what happen to us in the past,” she said.

Little Bird feels that in order to grow and heal, a person must tend to their inner child. They must provide, nourish and feed this inner being. “That saying, ‘hurt people hurt people’ can be destructive, and ugly. We become defeated if we don’t acknowledge it. Then our past keeps repeating, and we keep going through that cycle. And this is where the conference name came about, ‘On The Healing Road We Walk,’” she stated.

The goal for this event is to promote the programs that are currently available for health and healing. There will be several topics discussed during the event, including drugs and alcohol, codependency issues, seven rights, parenting, online bullying, mental health, medicinal medicines, and items related to walking the Red Road. “The goal for this conference is to bring topics that will help the people understand about the addiction and trauma; self-reflection, and motivational, inspirational, and educated. Our mission is to walk our talk, giving a self-commitment for change for ourselves, and for the community and our children,” she said.

During this event, the VMYC-Youth Center will be having culture based activities for children and will be giving away gift baskets for youths and adults.

Little Bird would like to see tribal leaders, tribal executives and other persons of influence at the event. She feels everyone and every family is affected by addiction in one way or another. “Being a part of this event would mean they are bringing themselves to the level with the people. They are supporting the issues on our reservation; they will see how much this community will come together. I would like to see community members and our elders.”

Speakers for this event include Keynote Speakers: Crystal Owen, Gene Thin Elk, and Richie Richards. Presenters include: Maria Stands, Brenda Uses The Arrow (Co-Dependency) Jose Deutsch (TOR Program), Paula Bossert (IHS – Mental Health), Charlottle Keoke (Medicinal Medicines), Theresa White (7 Sacred Laws or Rights), Alana Little Bird (Parenting), Angela Kennecke (Keloland), Joan Swenson (Tallgrass Treatment Center), John Kampeska (Dakota Culture-Traditions), Sober Squad out of Mille Lacs, Colin Cash, Dakota Pride Center and several others who will be speaking and sharing stories of their own lives of working towards sobriety.

Sponsors for this event include Youth and Family Tree, Mayuteca Center, Dakota Magic and Connections Casinos, Gen I, SWO and TOR Program. The agenda is still being finalized but will include a Round Dance. Talking Circle and Inipi Ceremony.

Little Bird said, “I want everyone to leave with better knowledge than they came with. I want them to understand themselves more than they did. I want them to feel motivated and inspired for self-change. This will be the first of its kind in the SWO country, and I pray one day this does become an annual event.”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/2314269392158600/.

(Contact Native Sun News Today Correspondent Richie Richards at richie4175@gmail.com)

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