Contact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.comPaying It Forward
~ Joelle Clark
When Billie first ask me if I was submitting
to this, the summer edition of Whisper n
Thunder I said yes, I didn't tell her that I had
not replied to her first email to those who
frequently contribute . Not because I was
unwilling to do so but because there are so
many different situations going on in the
United States and among our Indigenous Nations , that I had no idea which one to address.
Finally I decided that there's one issue that is running rampant across our reservations and contributes to, or sometimes is the direct cause of some other issues such as Lateral Violence, Domestic Violence, Missing and Murdered Indigenous People,Youth Suicide and the list just keeps going.
This issue is the reason that several tribes have declared a State of National Emergency.
It is the wide spread use and/or production of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl.
The fact that it's the primary cause of a level of destruction and violence that is heart breaking to see or hear about is not debatable. It takes lives, ruins lives and destroys our communities.
But our people are resilient and we continue to fight back. Many of our older people have dealt with their own addiction issues and now in gratitude for their recovery share with those still in active addiction, the traditions and ways of life that enabled them to find the road to recovery.
They are paying it forward. Many of them use the little bit of money they have to help feed and support those still in active addiction.
They help grandparents who are raising their grandchildren because the parents are still living in their addictions. They help the children by talking and listening to them. These kids are hurting but by teaching them our languages and ceremonies and traditional ways,By fostering a sense of community they are bringing healing to our communities one person at a time.
Among my people, a couple of examples of those who are paying it forward are Julie Richards, founder of the Mothers Against Meth Alliance.She actively works to close down Meth Houses and to provide for those who need help and support. Especially the children impacted by the addiction of their parents.
Delaney Apple who has survived his own problems in life, provides space and his time and knowledge with children and youth by hosting drum circles and activities that teach our language and songs as well as a little information about our traditions and ceremonies with the Drum and Songs that have always been a way for our people to find healing.
I know that there are many others across our lands who work every day to bring healing to our people with traditional knowledge and a caring heart.
Each of us need to reach inside ourselves and pay it forward in what ever ways we can.
Tradition and Community can heal.
I know because it's helped heal me many times.
Let us all with a spirit of gratitude and love, pay it forward.
For Connection:
Ms. Joelle Clark
Director: AIM Florida
Communications Director: Native Hoop
Co-owner: Serenity Farm