Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Sekon:

I would like to extend heartfelt sympathies and condolences to all of our family and friends of Uncle Jake Swamp. And to our sisters in AEW, Aunt Judy, Kanera, Kahontineh, and Angela. This is such a tremendous loss to everyone who knew him, to this entire community. I believe any man who knew Uncle Jake would be hard pressed to not want to emulate this man in some way. He had so many wonderful qualities, talents, passions as a father and community leader.

Over the summer I had the great opportunity to get closer to Uncle Jake and Aunt Judy. They both have so much wisdom to offer and are a huge part of AEW. I get so much out of their stories…there is always a good message in them. This update is personal to me and I hope you will read on as I recap briefly the meeting that we last held.

On Wednesday, October 13, 2010 we held a showing of “The Story of Alkali Lake”. If you haven’t seen the video, it is a documentary of a Native community in British Columbia that was 100% alcoholic back in the ‘70s. Over a period of about 14 years, they worked to bring their people to 95% sobriety. Even the children drank alcohol and it was nothing to sit down and swig a bottle of wine down. It started with one woman realizing that she didn’t want to drink anymore because her daughter did not want to come home anymore. What struck me the most was how complacent the people were before they found their path to sobriety. It is similar to how complacent we have been over the last 20 years here in Akwesasne. You see, after the movie, we had discussion about the similarities of that community and our own.

One of the main problems identified again was alcohol being sold in the stores here. Business owners should be responsible for the items they sell, if it is going to hurt our people in the long run. Between midnight and six a.m. the danger on the roads multiplies, the danger of the actions by our own drugged and liquored up people.

Some other things to look at:

When leaving group home, youth are just put back into same environment at school and at home.

The schools could have a relapse prevention team

Ala-tots, Ala-teen, host meetings for youth.

Youth Center for teens.

Recreation Committee to open up recreation centers for teens, volunteering one night per month

Volunteer as a Tota at Headstart

It was Aunt Judy who said it takes a lot to be strong, and stay strong. It all started with the women. There is work to be done. You have to speak out sometimes. We’re lacking compassion. When we see all of the “death” around us, because yes we are dying inside and as a compassionate people, we are complacent. We fail ourselves and we fail our children…the children of the future. We don’t have to keep this cycle going. Aunt Judy asked us each to reach out to a child, someone you don’t even know perhaps, and give them a hug, or a smile, or a how are you doing? Really talk with them. Show them you care about them. When someone dies, a lot of the time the children are forgotten. We need to put the focus on them. They have feelings too, they are smart and they see what is happening because the adults choose to go on their busy lives and not do anything about the problems.

It was Uncle Jake who tried to rally the elders together to reach out to the young people and guide them. He wanted to somehow reach all of the students and let them know that the elders do care about them. He wanted to let the youth know that they can be strong and learn how to survive this. He had a well-thought out plan. He said it was well-received but it seemed like when it came to the cultural part of it all, many backed away. I spoke to my husband afterwards and he said we have the answer; it has been here all along. It is our culture, our ways that we’ve been given and lost.

Jake has made countless trips to our schools to talk to the students, when they were in emotional trouble. He was a sought out speaker who gave his whole heart and all of his wisdom because it came through him from the creator and he really did care.

There needs to be a more proactive approach by and from the parents and adults in the schools because that is where our kids spend most of their time.

We have to approach the boards, the superintendents, and principals of the schools and see if they are open to let us help.

Jake and Judy’s daughter, Kanera, had an idea to have a project where the students would write an essay about their favorite elder. And then to invite the elders to come to a dinner that the students prepare. And to work on Jake’s plan starting with the youth that care so much about the elder they invited. Something to think about…

We will honor Jake Swamp by continuing our efforts to show the youth that we do care and not being complacent any longer. I hope you will join us.

Many blessings,

Deanna Swamp