|
|
The Programs |
|
|
Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (October 2006 Vol. I No. 10) |
||
|
Page 6 |
||
|
Domestic Violence is
NOT the Cheyenne Way |
||
|
Deborah Russell, LCSW [Coordinator for Indian Health
Service Domestic Violence Task Force, Indian Health Service Behavioral Health
Department, Crow/Northern Greetings! October is Domestic Violence Awareness
month. This month all over Indian
Country and When
DV happens in our homes and community, we are normalizing that violence is
okay to our children. It is not
okay! It is not normal nor is it
natural! Domestic Violence is
preventable. It is a hateful,
monstrous, unimpressive, and unacceptable social ill. Perpetrators feel entitled to hurt. They demand respect but do not respect
others. They attack people, not
problems. When we have a conflict with
our significant other, can we resolve our differences in a peaceful way? Can we calm down and control our feelings
and emotions? Can we love with respect
to our significant others? Respect
is honoring our selves and our loved ones.
It is reflected and enacted in our behaviors towards our self and
others. It is about dignity,
integrity, and honor which are life ways of the Northern Cheyenne
People. Let us rise above the
colonization of white mans values of ownership and entitlement of one another
and realize that we can be happy by having intimate relationships based on
respect, integrity and honor. We can
de-colonize ourselves of perpetuating violence and condition ourselves to
journey towards peaceful families. I
challenge you to respect the rights of others, be honest about your feelings,
and to work on the problem. Accept
your partner for who they are and not what you can do to change them. I challenge each and everyone of you who
are living with Domestic Violence to realize that you have the right to be
safe, to be loved free of violence, that you have the right to live in a home
without violence, that you can raise your children without teaching them that
violence in our homes is normal. You
also have the right to expect assistance from the police, courts, and the
local domestic violence agency. If you
know a relative or a friend that is being victimized through Domestic
Violence, don’t be passive and do nothing!
Tell them that help is available, help them develop a safety plan,
show your support, listen to them and don’t judge them, help them recognize
that they are worthy of respect, and remember, violence is a criminal
act. Give them the National DV
Hotline# 1-800-799-7233. Is
Meth natural to our peoples? No, it is a man made drug. Is DV natural to the Northern Cheyenne
People? No, it is a Whiteman
value. We honor our women in all of
our ceremonies. Let us honor our women
everyday in our relationships with dignity and integrity. Let us have compassion for our
children. Let us gift them with a
community free of violence. Peace be with you all…….. “A nation is not defeated until
the hearts of its women are on the ground.”—-Cheyenne Proverb Tribal
Report of the |
||
|
AIDS/HIV
and the Tribal
Report Staff You’ve probably heard about AIDS
and that it is a serious disease with no cure. You may think that only
certain people get AIDS like whites, gays and drug dealers, and that you, as
a But the truth is: anyone can get
AIDS. AIDS is everyone’s problem,
including American Indians. Many of our people have become infected and died,
both in the cities and on the reservations. We must all learn how to protect
ourselves and our tribe against this deadly disease. What is AIDS? AIDS
stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a serious illness
caused by a virus. This virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus, lives in
body fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and can be passed from one
person to another during sex or when needles are shared to shoot drugs. A woman who is infected can give the virus
to her child before or during birth, or when breastfeeding. HIV
destroys the body’s immune system. The immune system is what fights off
diseases. When your immune system doesn’t work, you can develop many kinds of
illnesses that can kill you. The
virus can hide in a person’s body for many years; so many infected people
don’t even know they have the virus. An infected person may not look, act, or
feel sick, but they can still spread the disease to other people, like you,
through “high-risk behaviors.” The
only way to know for sure is to take an HIV test at a local clinic or Indian
Health Service. What are High Risk Behaviors? These
behaviors include: Having many sexual partners; Having sex without a condom
(rubber); Having anal sex (man to man, man
to woman); Sharing needles or other
injection equipment to shoot drugs, for tattooing, or piercing. While
drinking and using drugs does not cause AIDS, getting high can affect your
ability to make decisions and can lead to high risk behaviors. You Cannot Get AIDS From: Being in the same room or
touching someone with AIDS; Sharing dinner plates, drinking
fountains, toilets, or swimming pools; Coughing or sneezing; Donating blood; Caring for someone with AIDS; Other body fluids like tears,
spit, sweat, or urine; Getting a mosquito bite. If You Think You’ve Been Infected Some symptoms of AIDS are similar
to other illnesses, like the flu (diarrhea, fever, severe weight loss). If you have any signs of illness that won’t
go away, or think you may have been infected with the virus, see a counselor,
health worker, or doctor. They may
suggest that you have your blood tested for HIV infection. Don’t be afraid to
get tested. This is the only way you will know for sure. How Can You Protect Yourself You can’t be sure if the person
you are with is infected with HIV, so you must protect yourself. The most complete
protection against this disease is to not have sex and to not take any drugs. If you do have sex or are
addicted to drugs, there are ways to be safer: Love carefully,
use a condom every time you have sex. They are free of charge at Lame Deer
and Crow Indian Health Services. Don’t be shy, be responsible. Stay with only one sexual
partner who you know is not infected (there is a test that can tell if a
person is infected). Do not have
multiple partners. If you do, at least be responsible enough to tell all of
your partners. Avoid having sex with people at
“high-risk” for HIV. These people include those who have multiple sexual
partners. Because they are at risk,
you are at risk. These people also include
those who take drugs by injecting themselves. Never share any needles or other
injection equipment to shoot drugs, tattoo, or pierce any body part. If this is not possible, then clean needles
with bleach and rinse with water after every time equipment is used. It will be better for you to stop using drugs
altogether anyway. Stay in control of your life!
Stay sober and stay alert and responsible.
Always know what you are doing. A Final Word… Respect, support, sharing and caring are the values of
our ancestors. Now, more than ever, we need to remember these values to
protect ourselves and to show compassion to those who are infected. We must
also use these values for ourselves. Respect our bodies by protecting
them. Our lives are gifts from Ma’heo’e, what we do with our lives is our gift back to
him. Share this information with our
family and friends. Please contact
your Indian Health Service provide for any questions
or more information. Tribal
Report of the |
||
|
Né-vé'keemâhpévomóhtahehe? Né-momoaneve ? (Do you have Diabetes? Are You at Risk?) Tribal Report Staff Diabetes is a growing problem
for American Indians. Many Indians have Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes is a
serious disease that can cause problems with the heart, eyes, kidneys, feet,
and gums. What is Diabetes? Diabetes means having
too much sugar in the blood. Your body changes the food you eat into blood
sugar. Body cells and muscles use blood sugar for energy. Some people cannot get the blood sugar into
cells and muscles. The blood sugar builds up in the blood. They get high
sugar. People with high blood sugar
have diabetes. Who gets diabetes? You are more likely to get diabetes if you: Are over 30 years of age; Have dry itchy skin; Are overweight; Are inactive; Have family members with diabetes; Had high blood sugar during pregnancy or; Had a baby that weighted over 9 pounds at birth. What are the warning signs for
diabetes? Some people feel body changes
with diabetes. These body changes are warning signs! If you notice any of
these body changes, talk with your doctor: Feel tired; Have blurry vision; Have increased thirst; Urinate more often; Have sores that don’t heal; Have sore gums; Have unusual weight loss. Other people with diabetes feel no
body changes. You can prevent and control
diabetes. The best ways are: Be active, walk more and longer
(take hikes, go to springs, ride horses, or dance at powwows); Choose low fat foods (like dried
deer meat or buffalo meat); Eat more fruits and vegetables
(pick and eat choke-cherries, buffalo berries, and plums); Eat whole grain breads and
cereals (stay away from white bread, cut down on the fry-bread). Are you at risk for getting
diabetes? This test will help you find out
your risk for getting diabetes. Read each statement. If the statement is true
for you, write in the points on the line provided next to each question. If the statement is not true for
you put a letters “z.” When you are done, add your points. This is your
total. My weight is the same-as or
above the weight listed in the chart……………………………….……Yes (5)_____ I am under 65 years of age and I
get little or no exercise during my day……………………………..Yes (5)_____ I am between 30 and 64 years of
age……………………………………………………………….….Yes (5)_____ I am 65 years old or
older…………….…………………………………………………………….....Yes (9)_____ I am a woman who had a baby that
weighed more than 9 pounds at birth…………………...………Yes (1)_____ I have a sister or brother with
diabetes….………………………………………………………….....Yes (1)_____ I have a mother or father with
diabetes…………………………………………………………..…....Yes (1)_____
Total______ If your total is 3-9 points, then you may be at low
risk for having Type 2 diabetes. But
don’t just forget about it. Learn about what you can do to prevent diabetes.
Consult your doctor at the Indian Health Services in Lame Deer or Crow. If your total is 10 or more
points, then you are at high risk of having Type 2 diabetes. Talk with your
doctor immediately to take a simply blood test to accurately check your risk. Extra weight on your body can
increase your risk of getting diabetes. Check your weight. Find your height, then
look at the listed weight for a woman or a man. If you weigh the same or more
than on the chart, you may be at risk for diabetes. Height (feet/inches, without
shoes) Weight (pounds) Women
Men 4’9” 134 4’10” 137 4’11” 140 5’0” 143 5’1” 146 157 5’2” 150 160 5’3” 154 162 5’4” 157 165 5’5” 161 168 5’6” 164 172 5’7” 168 175 5’8” 172 179 5’9” 175 182 5’10” 178 186 5’11” 182 190 6’0” 194 6’1” 199 6’2” 203 The weights shown are 20% heavier than what is recommended for men and
women with a medium frame. If you have questions about weight talk with the
Indian Health Service staff. Tribal Report of the |
||
|
Greetings, Update, and
Welcome from the Food Distribution Program Bernadette
Littlesun [Food Distribution Program Administrative File Clerk] We are in the process of reorganizing our program. Our employees are the
following: Director-Linda Freeman Administrative Assistant-Marie Brady Administrative File Clerk-Bernadette Littlesun Issuance Clerk-Johanna Redneck Warehouse Clerk-Laymond Brien Produce Clerk-Sheldon Sandcrane Food Handler-Justin Three Fingers Food Handler (Temp)-Lonnie Taylor We have also redecorated and restocked our offices with brand new
equipment such as desks, tables, chairs, and computers. You, the public, are
more than welcome to come in and see the changes we have made, and maybe even
visit with our friendly staff for a “spell.” Have a safe and Happy Halloween!!! From the Staff at the Food Distribution Program Tribal Report of the |
||
|
|
|
|
