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Show Page 2 llwraday, Nevseter 21, 1974 The Ute Bulletin RED CROSS GRADUATES-- in Home Nursing receive certificates from Albert Manning of the Tribal Business Committee. Eleven Women including community health representatives and community workers completed the three day course taught by Beulah Mitchell top row, right of the Salt Lake office of the National American Red Cross. Cleo McCoy, Hazel Wardle, Michelle McCoy, Ingrid Wopsock, Frances Ankerpont, Louise Cuch, Elizabeth Duncan, Virginia Duncan, Maxine Manning, Edith Sireech and Ruby Black not pictured are now certified to teach home nursing care. Guest Editorial Alcoholism Cunning, Powerful, Baffling! By Richard Curry ' Director, Alcohol and Drug Program Girl Scouts Honor Bulletin Editor Tuesday October 15, 1974, while on a plane to Reno, Nevada, to attend a National Indian Board on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Executive Board meeting. The meeting was to try and work out hew and different ways to help the Indian drinker with problems. This was just after attending a funeral for a person whose death was in some way related to alcohol. I was feeling very sad as I knew that there had already been recent deaths of people which were either alcohol or drug reified. Upon calling my office the next day I was further shocked to find that still another person had died, and it was also alcohol related. ' I started to write this on At this point I knew that I had to put my feelings down on paper and let others know what my feelings were inside of me and how my heart was aching. I felt helpless. I knew that people were saying What are they doing up at the Alcoholism Program? I was reminded of the old Indian saying Walk five miles in his moccasins before you judge him." I would like to let you wear my moccasins. How would you feel when someone you knew and was working with died regardless of all the help you gave him? What would your reactions be when people said Why didn't they help him?" knowing that you had spent many hours talking to them, driving them around, feeding them and many other things? Or when vou had been ud half of the night heloing a Derson come out of D. T.s and perhaps saving their lives, or getting out of bed at two in the morning to take someone home, or perhaps let them stay with you for a couple of days because they have no place to go. We never hear anyone say Hey! you done a real nice job saving that persons life the other night." Or I really commend you for staying up half of the night with that person the other night when he was going to commit suicide or That was really nice of the Program to give that guy a job when no one else would." We are never complimented on lives of the people that we have saved, or hear a good comment about the guy working with you or at your side because the fellow received some help from the Program and did not reach bottom. We are only reminded of the ones that we could not reach. I only know that we are not God and that there are many people that we are not going to save. I feel bad when I see a person die and know that we have sent him to two or three recovery centers, spent thousands of dollars in time and money trying to help him and then have someone who doesnt know or really care say why didn't the Alcohol Program help him? I know that sometimes we make mistakes, but they are honest mistakes and after all we are only human. The only way to not make any mistakes is to do noth'ng. I woulc ke to know who is really responsible for a person who dies from taking drugs or drinking too much alcohol? Is it the person that drinks? Is it his family that lets him drink? Is it his wife or husbdfcd that makes excuses for him? Is it the Community who looks upon the drunk and says that he is a no good bum who could stop drinking if he had any will power? Is it the grocery store that sells all the beer? Is it the taverns and bars that are always so close at hand? Is it the liquior store in town and around? Is it our friends that twist our arms and forces us to drink? Just who is responsible? it is ALL OF US who are responsible, everyone, everywhere, all the time. If of we the family could say Look! you are drinking too much, how can we help? If only the Communty would take the time and say We know that you have a drinking problem, but if we of the Community could get some worthwhile activities going in the maybe you could come and join us and have some fun evenings and on the week-endwithout booze or the other stuff." If the wife or husband could say Your drinking is hurting me and the children and I'm tired of making excuses to your boss when you dont go to work, why dont WE get some help?" Or maybe if the people in the grocery stores, bars, taverns, lounges and other places would only say I think you are drinking too much, I am not going to see you anymore." Or maybe if some of our leaders would say I know there is too much heartache and trouble on our Reservation, let's go see where we can help. But most important of all, I feel, is that we can be examples for our young people to set standards by. I believe s, We cannot lick this terrible disease unless every boy and girl, every man and woman, every member of the Tribe, every member of the human race can all get together and help in their own small way. We need to know more about the disease of Alcoholism and about the drug problems, how to recognize the signs and symptoms. We need to become substances. There are no people aware of the problems caused by these on our reservation who are not affected by these things, no one is excepted, there is someone near or dear to each of us with this affliction, we are all affected. mind-alterin- g All I ask is that you put yourselves in our moccasins. WHAT WOULD YOU DO???? Ms. Natchees is a past president and an active member of the Roosevelt Business and Professional Womens Club. Her participation in that organization led to her election as Young Career Woman of 1969 bv the State Federation of Business and Professional Women. She is listed in Outstanding Young Women in American and in Indians Of Today. Active in many Indian activities, Ms. Natchees was chosen an alternate to Miss Indian America in 1969. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey ' Natchees of Randlett, Ms. Natchees most recent accomplishment was her election to the board of directors of the National Indian Press Association at its annual convention earlier this month in Tribal Public Relations Officer Maxine Natchees has been chosen as a' Hidden Heroine by the Utah Girl Scout Council, according to a Council spokeswomen, Mary McBroom. Ms. Natchees is editor of the Ute Bulletin. The nationwide program, sponsored by the Girl Scouts, U.S.A., honors women, past and present, who have made significant contributions to the nation, state or community. The project is recognized by the national and state commis: sions as part of the scouts observance of the nations 200th birthday. Scout officials feel that young women t learn about many American heroes few heroines are visible in American history. The Hidden Heroine program is an attempt to give young women feminine models to pattern their lives after, Ms. McBroom explained. . but-tha- . , O Engineer Resigns (Continued from page Santa Fe, N.M. She is one of two women in the Uintah Basin and three women in the State Utah to, receive the Hidden HeroineVJ honor to date. .Norma Denver of Roosevelt was also so recognized. The award winners will be recognized locally later this year An Salt Lake City during 1975. 1) His accomplishments in behalf of the Ute people include assistance in planning for the Central Utah Project and in gaining recognition of tribal water rights. Largely because of Mr. Decker's foresight the Ute Tribe can look forward to reaping benefits for many years to come from the Central Utah Project. Mr. obituaries Blake Navanick . Deckers contributions to the Tribe cannot be overstated, Business Committee Chairman Lester Chapoose said. Through his extensive field work, Mr. Decker has made the Ute Tribe one of the few, if not the only Tribe, in the United States to enjoy clearly defined and added Rerecognized water rights, source Director Dennis Mower. In his letter of resignation, Mr. Decker explained, this decision has been a kjng time in the making and does not come easily as I have taken great pride in trying to help the Tribe protect and develop the water rights and vast natural resources of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. I shall always be vitally interested in your progress in the broad area of irrigation, water rights, industrial development and, above all, the general1 welfare of the Indian people of the Uintah and Ouray Tribe. The retiring engineer is one of only three persons ever to be awarded the Tribes Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions and unselfish service to the Ute Tribe. i Funeral services were conducted Oct. at the Church of the Holy, Spirit, Randlett, for Blake Navanick, 26, off Randlett. Mr. Navanick died as a result of gunshot wounds Oct. 27 in Salt Lake 31 City. He was born Sept. 24, 1948 to George and Edith Wyasket Navanick in Fort Duchesne. He is survived by a brother, Leon of Randlett, sisters, Donna and Lorraine of Salt Lake City, a half brother Chester Navanick and a half sister Mrs. Elliot ' (Georgina Serawop, both of Randlett. Burial was in the Randlett Cemetery, We Regret. . A student of the Adult Basic Education Program was mistakenly identified in a picture published in the October issue of the Ute Bulletin. The student pictured in the Bulletin was actually Bonnie Cuch and not Hope Serawop as stated. We extend our apologies to both ladies for the error. |