Native addiction

One of the biggest issues on reservations today is alcohol and drugs---our youth are dying young--the average age for men to die is 45 and women is about 47---as a nation of people I feel it was never intented for us to use alcohol--the Great Spirit created us to be pure but it didn't stay that way after the whites visited---alcohol was used to depress the people and finally into addiction--we sold our souls to the bottle---I know I did and I also know my body did not react like most of the drunks I hung out with---I was a violent drunk who heard voice and saw things--I scared people away even the dunks I was with were afaird of me------------hum ya think we are different?? what do you think??? Doc

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Coyote (Karen B.) on June 22, 2009 at 7:00pm

Hey Doc,

Thank you so much for starting this group. I go to a native healing circle every week and I've been feeling so different since I went! I have more energy and am starting to have les pain. Creator is wonderful and so are the good people like you who have crossed my path.

Many Blessings,
Coyote

Permalink Reply by MaJa on June 25, 2009 at 8:21am

I am impressed of the Native Americans and the Innuits as well since my youth. It continues like a "red line" through my whole life. I never forget to have contact to the nature and the wonderful world of Wakan Tanka.
I had contact to Innuits from Green Land in Copenhagen-Denmark visiting the "Christiania Community" in the end of the 60ties. ALL OF THEM WAS DRUNKEN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT ANY BREAK! It was tremendously. I will never forget this poor people.
Impressive as well was my visit to the Smithsonian Museum of Natives in NY. For me it is fact: The Natives are really the savers of the world and have the best philosophy ever.
Top of Native addicts: As Asians and women are drugs and alcohol more effective. As far as I know it is conditional upon genetic specifications.
My friend Andreas has many Native American friends, he lives in Idaho. All of them are AA's and I am looking forward to meet they next year with the help of my HP. They invited my wife and me to a sweat lodge.
My daily meditation is "White Bison" and I really appreciate it. In my understanding is the most important thing of the Natives: RESPECT.
And, last but not least, we all are Natives. We have to renew the contact to the Elders.

Ky' Hoo' Ya'

With love
MaJa

Permalink Reply by Aussie Glenda Truss on June 26, 2009 at 2:20pm

we have the same problem with the native people of our country, the aboriginals.
it is against their teachings and "dreamtime" traditions but unfortunately this disease doesnt discriminate!
I was at a f2f on thursday night (my time) and met a native american who shared about doing sweat lodges etc and i found him very interesting. I dont know much about your people but i know you have a beautiful soul and coyote is a dear friend who always writes beautiful words for me to read
hugsz

Permalink Reply by Sue C. on July 6, 2009 at 9:23am

Hi Doc,
I have also observed what you say to be true. I originate from Washington state, where I lived for a time on a reservation to help care for the water pourer's home while he was away at the sundance. I watched the people around me dying, literally, from the violence and disease caused by alcohol and drugs. In fact, the water pourer ended up in relapse, and that was the end of my doing sweats with him and his circle. He did not want help. He carried a very strange spirit with him, then. I can only guess why. I know that most of the spirits that surround these people are watchful and caring. They hurt when the people turn to the alcohol and drugs. Sometimes the people just can't hear or feel the spirit of the Creator. They cease to see the animals and the standing ones. They can no longer hear the wind, but many times they can be brought back when a brother comes in to share his experience, strength and hope. Then the Earth can bring that person back to her bosom and he/she can be reborn into the beauty of our one day at a time life.

We need to be there and share the love we've been given with the suffering one.
In service, Ho Mitakuye Oyasin!

Sue (they called me "Grandma" around the circle, then)

Permalink Reply by Coyote (Karen B.) on July 19, 2009 at 3:06pm

I think that calling acohol "spirits" is very accurate. For me each one bought out different parts of my personality. Most weren't good. When you drink and are also an angry person it comes out at everybody and everything. So I think just for today I will not call on those spirits. I'm having much more fun with the good spirits, like the friends I've made here.

Thanks for sharing Doc.

Permalink Reply by Dan S. on August 18, 2009 at 8:47am

Doc
I resemble that.
In remote areas there are many issues with paint and gas sniffing as well as so many other problems in our communities it breaks my heart. We need good examples, maybe this forum will help connect with remote communities.
Dan

Permalink Reply by Dan S. on August 18, 2009 at 8:49am

Glenda, I remember in the 80's there were people from australia, new zealand, and other areas who came to here to learn some of our ceremonies, sweats being one of them to take back to their homes, from what I remember, it was said that they once had these ceremonies, but lost or forgot them. It was a wonderful experience to spend some time with them.
Dan

Aussie Glenda said:

we have the same problem with the native people of our country, the aboriginals.
it is against their teachings and "dreamtime" traditions but unfortunately this disease doesnt discriminate!
I was at a f2f on thursday night (my time) and met a native american who shared about doing sweat lodges etc and i found him very interesting. I dont know much about your people but i know you have a beautiful soul and coyote is a dear friend who always writes beautiful words for me to read
hugsz

Permalink Reply by Dan S. on August 18, 2009 at 8:50am

I used to have a pin which said, "Let only good spirits guide you"
Dan

Karen B. (Coyote) said:

I think that calling acohol "spirits" is very accurate. For me each one bought out different parts of my personality. Most weren't good. When you drink and are also an angry person it comes out at everybody and everything. So I think just for today I will not call on those spirits. I'm having much more fun with the good spirits, like the friends I've made here.

Thanks for sharing Doc.

Permalink Reply by Doc on August 30, 2009 at 1:50pm

Maja you are heart of my heart---so now you have some Shoshone in you-----love Seeker

MaJa said:

I am impressed of the Native Americans and the Innuits as well since my youth. It continues like a "red line" through my whole life. I never forget to have contact to the nature and the wonderful world of Wakan Tanka.
I had contact to Innuits from Green Land in Copenhagen-Denmark visiting the "Christiania Community" in the end of the 60ties. ALL OF THEM WAS DRUNKEN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT ANY BREAK! It was tremendously. I will never forget this poor people.
Impressive as well was my visit to the Smithsonian Museum of Natives in NY. For me it is fact: The Natives are really the savers of the world and have the best philosophy ever.
Top of Native addicts: As Asians and women are drugs and alcohol more effective. As far as I know it is conditional upon genetic specifications.
My friend Andreas has many Native American friends, he lives in Idaho. All of them are AA's and I am looking forward to meet they next year with the help of my HP. They invited my wife and me to a sweat lodge.
My daily meditation is "White Bison" and I really appreciate it. In my understanding is the most important thing of the Natives: RESPECT.
And, last but not least, we all are Natives. We have to renew the contact to the Elders.

Ky' Hoo' Ya'

With love
MaJa

Permalink Reply by Doc on August 30, 2009 at 1:51pm

I would love to have a pin like that------would wear it all the time---Seeker

Dan S. said:

I used to have a pin which said, "Let only good spirits guide you"
Dan

Karen B. (Coyote) said:
I think that calling acohol "spirits" is very accurate. For me each one bought out different parts of my personality. Most weren't good. When you drink and are also an angry person it comes out at everybody and everything. So I think just for today I will not call on those spirits. I'm having much more fun with the good spirits, like the friends I've made here.

Thanks for sharing Doc.

Permalink Reply by MaJa on August 31, 2009 at 10:06pm

Doc said:

Maja you are heart of my heart---so now you have some Shoshone in you-----love Seeker

Hey Doc,

that's exactly what I feel. We really are brothers and sisters and part of each other including the animals, plants and standing tall ones.

Ho Mitakuye Oyasin!
MaJa

Permalink Reply by Old george on September 10, 2009 at 5:52am

Just a thought:

One of the many "theories" concerning alcoholism is the idea that us alcoholics "feel more intensely"...so intensely that it becomes "painful"... and we drink to mitigate the pain. It seems to me that it would follow that those of us with native/aboriginal blood are even more genetically predisposed to this condition simply because we are "more in touch" with our environment than our white brothers. So it should come as no surprise that native / aboriginal cultures are plagued by alcoholism and addiction...especially since we live in a culture that is not natural to our genetic makeup.

great topic Doc