I am a facilitator for a substance abuse prevention movement called
"Gathering of Native Americans (GONA)" which is funded by the Center for
Substance Abuse Prevention. GONA is a community development/empowerment
training process which was developed by a core group of Native Americans.
The purpose is to facilitate community healing and prevention in native
communities. It is a part of the many healing/sobriety movements that are
currently taking place. As you know, though, any time we sit down to talk
about substance abuse, we must deal with it in the context of our individual
communities since substance abuse affects the entire community and all its
members. The GONA curriculum is based on native values and cultures, the
developers are native, the trainers are native, the participants are
native. Some of you may have already attended one of the six regional
GONA's around Indian country.
The most recent GONA took place in Fairbanks, Alaska and about 100 natives
from all over Alaska participated. Let me first say that it was an honor
and a privelege to be a part of this particular GONA. I was doubly honored
by being "assigned" to the Yupik team from southwestern Alaska. We had many
good experiences together. In short, over the course of four days, we
talked about how to facilitate healing in their communities. As you know,
Alaska has a unique situation in that many of their villages are extremely
isolated, unconnected by roads and sometimes, even telephones. Because of
this, they asked themselves "How can we, the Yupik connect up with one
another to facilitate healing throughout our many communities?" To some, it
might seem like an impossibility but not to the Yupik.
On Saturday, May 14th at 9:00 p.m. (Alaska Daylight Savings Time; 10:00 p.m.
Pacific; 11:00 p.m. Mountain; etc.) the Yupik (or YK Delta Region) will
gather their community members together in their own communities to pray in
their own way for three things: 1) Unity of the Yupik and all native people;
2) Strength of our individual members, families, and communities; and 3) for
the REMOVAL of alcohol, drugs and other harmful substances from all of our
communities.
Please join the Yupik and gather your people together at this time to make
this "telepathic" connection--this meeting of the minds, hearts and spirits
of native peoples all across the land.
In addition, you might sit down after your gathering and drop a line to the
Yupik to tell them about your gathering and to reiterate your support for
them. Write to Flora Paukan and Gabe Evan; P.O. Box 68; St. Mary's, AK;
99658.
Thank you for being with my new friends.