Who you are: two immutable truths

I recently returned from Peru with 14 other Native Americans. We had completed a three-week tour around the country demonstrating different types of North American Native dances.

On the flight home, I was able to catch just a small part of a movie called, “Anger Management.” The movie starred Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson. The one part of the movie I did see, I found very intriguing.

The scene had Adam Sandler’s character joining an anger management group. Group leader/psychologist Jack Nicholson’s character asking him, “Who are you?”

Adam Sandler’s befuddled character answers, “Well, I do this for a living.”

The psychologist interrupts, “I didn’t ask you what you do for a living. Who are you?” he asks again.

Even more confused, he answers, “I like sports.”

The psychologist interrupts again, “I didn’t ask you what you like, who are you?”

Like Adam Sandler’s character in the movie I have noticed that most native people don’t know who they are. As natives, we know where we came from and most of us are very proud of our ancestors. But who are we?

At Powwows or gatherings, we identify our tribe, maybe our clan, we mention our family name, or maybe a notable aunt or uncle. But who are we as individuals? In Western society, a man’s identity comes from his job, where he lives, his clothing, even the car he drives. But native people have never bought in to this materialistic spirit. The government, according to the last census, identifies us as the poorest, most uneducated, highest in alcoholism-basically the most pitiful of all people.

So who are we? I would like to answer this with two unchangeable truths.

First, we are the people of this land, put here by Creator God as caretaker of North America. Nothing can change this no matter what people groups migrate here or leave here; we will always be the host people.

Second, and just as important we are people created by God for purpose and destiny. Our identity, or for that matter, no mans identity can come from any other than from his Creator.

For hundreds of years, many men good and bad have claimed to speak on behalf of the Great Spirit—many great, brave, greedy and selfish men. Our identity is not built upon the path of other men but upon the path Creator God has given us. Let us return as native people to seek God for our personal identity and purpose.

Briyan Brightcloud

Native Hope International

Northridge, Calif.

Youth can help fight drug abuse

Alcoholism and drug use are major issues that plague the U.S.

There is an increasing number of youth that have turned to the use of alcohol and drugs, yet the one question that no one dares to ask is why.

Most people agree that something must be done to thwart the increasing number of users, yet I think prevention should be of greater importance. The elder generation is always saying it aims to leave a bright future for those who follow, but it does nothing to prevent the most pressing problem burdening teens today and there is a reason why.

To prevent something, we must look for the source of the problem, and the one question about the cause of drugs should be “why?”

Ask any teen who is a user and it is likely that his or her number one reason is boredom. Teens who lack recreational activities are more likely to become drug and alcohol users than those who are active and constructive.

Youth generally enjoy excitement and adventure and will sometimes go to great lengths to find that adventure.

Areas lacking in recreational programs have high drug and alcohol usage (i.e., the Native American reservations where recreational programs are in short supply and alcoholism/drug use is undoubtedly high). This indicates that boredom clearly plays a factor in a teen’s choice to use drugs and/or alcohol.

Looking further ahead, although a youth may turn to drugs and alcohol because of boredom, his or her children will become users for an entirely different reason. A child born to an alcoholic or drug-using parent is more likely to become a user because he or she could be raised in an atmosphere where drugs and alcohol are constantly used.

Many children who are born to such parents become alcoholics or drug users because it is all they know and it is what they were raised with.

As Robert Fulghum, author of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” stated, “The young stages of a person’s life are the most influential to who the person will become. The early stages determine the character and personality of the individual.”

If what Fulghum stated is true, then should children be exposed to an alcoholic and drug-using environment? If so, they can become just like their parents. A child is what he or she sees.

In turn, these youth spread their influence to peers who would otherwise be unaffected by the burden of alcoholism/drug use. They have unknowingly created a cycle that now has no end through means of peer pressure.

Peer pressure is a sure way that kids who do not have an alcohol/drug using lineage become users themselves.

Against such odds what can be done?

There will never be a way to escape the plague of alcohol and drug use unless we aim to restructure the whole society. Alcoholism and drug use are diseases for which there are but two ways to escape.

If we can find the answer to why, then we will have the first and most important tool of combat and prevention. Armed with the power of knowledge we can work to correct causes of alcoholism/drug use.

Choice is the other ultimate weapon. Even under the pressure of peers, family and boredom youth always have choice of the actions that they take.

Yet, the walk on the road to recovery requires not the will of the youth, not the wisdom of the elders, but both in unison.

Youth have the power to make a choice, but they need to be given the wisdom and support to make the right choice.

Daryn Melvin

Bruin Times Columnist

Hopi High Schoo

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