You're Not Alone

Snow in the holler--warm wood fire burning--sipping on my french roast coffee.

Thinking about the You're Not Alone song of Michael Bucher's.  We want to use it as a "theme", to let others, especially young ones, know that in their pain, in their darkness, there is the light, and hope--they are "not alone".  A young man from Rosebud once told me, "They think we don't care!"  We DO care!  So, what are we going to do about it?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1jooAxDgWI  (You're Not Alone)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pka4ktTy1I   (video interview w/Michael)

We want to reach out, to let them know, they are "not alone", to invite them into the "circle", of those who care, family, and community--it is basic to the teaching of our indigenous cultures, our spiritual teachings/traditions.

How do we do this?  "In the beginning..."  While this is said with a smile, it is not a joke.  We used to speak of "every generation", however, in today's everything right now world, every year or every two years, there are SO many changes in the way young people communicate--social networking!  And, if we want to reach out, embrace them, invite them into the circle, we cannot wait for them to come to us--that was the traditional way--we have to learn how they communicate, and use those same networks to intervene, and bring them into the circle.  And, to let them know WE care!

some steps now being taken:

1.  choosing to use Michael Bucher's, "You're Not Alone" as a theme.

2.  we have a website presently being set up:  www.weareallrelated.org

3.  the young people are very much tuned in to the social media networking--cellphones, computers, iPods/iPads. they then connect to some of the following -->

4.  we are exploring the creation of, Facebook pages, youth groups, Twitter, blogging, etc., and looking at other existing websites, i.e.,

http://www.honouringlife.ca/

http://www.snagmagazine.com/

5.  if WE want to reach out, WE have to understand how they are using these--connecting and communicating, and, to use the same "social networks"


6.  the "arts", in the larger context, is a most powerful way for young people to "give voice" to what is going on in their world--music, the visual arts, dance, theater, poetry and prose (our spiritual ceremonies are theater in its highest form--it invokes the uses of all our senses), and storytelling.

it is critical that we maintain the true integrity of these very powerful traditions and the teachings.

some examples of existing programming that points to Native American peoples:

http://www.nativeradio.com/

www.nativeamericacalling.com

the various local radio stations, i.e., KILI, KUNM (The Singing Wire), etc.

Other venues we should explore are:  Youth forums, video interviews by youth (some are already being posted--some on You-Tube (where they were being bullied and shamed, resulting in some suicides:  http://www.facebook.com/selfworthproject?ref=ts, visual arts, theater--where they write their own play and also act in it,  music and the writing of songs, cartooning, poetry and prose (storytelling).  Here is an excellent example from "The Self Help project:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ7Nw7sK0yk 

Please add in others in the "comments" at bottom of page.

An example of music/prose/poetry are the lyrics for "You're Not Alone"

If you're tired of being laughed at,
tired of being tossed into the fire.
If you pray for sweet forgiveness,
protection from your fear,
you're not alone.

If you struggle with addiction,
the hunger that it knows and so it grows,
till it controls your every minute, hour, days and nights,
you're not alone.

If your darkness is depression,
a darkness that no one knows.
And it consumes you so completely,
pulls you down into the depths of the blackest hole.
if you think you can't hold on,
fall into the silence, end it all....mmmm

no… you are the hope against all hope,
the light in someone's eyes and you may not see it now
but there's a reason for this time,
you're not alone.

You're not alone with the darkness, alone with the silence,
alone with the hunger, alone with your fear,
alone with your bruises, alone with your tears,
you're not alone.

If you're one of the abused,
beaten up, beaten down, or just can't say.
If you're looking for the reason why it just won't stop,
you're not to blame.
There are many who believe, offer you their hand,
take you to a safe place, help you understand,
you're not alone.

We're not alone with this,
we're not alone my friend,
we're not alone.

10,000 singing angels could be singing for your soul,
but still the madness rages on, confusion takes control.
In the middle of the madness
when it seems all hope is gone,
just take another breath my friend,
now's the time to say we're not alone.

Just stand by me and I'll stand by you.
Together we can do this, together we will stand.
We can survive this lonely battle,
we can survive these lonely nights,
just take another breath my friend,
Now's the time to say,
we're not alone.

7.  It is important that we NOT get preachy, but, must also speak the truth.  I think we can do this best by simply using our communal and spiritual teachings to talk about how "each" of us needs to be "civil" and treat each other with respect.  When people post, whether if on blogs, youth forums, FB, etc., it will be like a "talking circle" and as long as each observes the rules, the comments are not to be debated or refuted.  They must be able to express themselves about what's going on with them.

8.  We need some younger "young people" (certainly younger than Black Bear, Patrick or Mike!).  At present, I have been talking with several college students, but, already they are "old school" (sorry Sky!).  It would be helpful if we could get 4-5 Natural Helpers (high school peer counselors) to work with us.  It is extremely important to get young people involved--at all levels!

9.  What about liability?  and, we need to deal with "parental consent" forms.

10.  We have an opportunity to interview Emily Boudreau of Honouring Life Network, in Canada.  Please review that website (link is above in #4).  What questions do we need to ask?  What can we learn from their website?  What should we avoid?

11.  While we are setting up the "network", Native Radio to website to FB, and, "whatever"!!, i think we should not publicize until we have it organized, and enough substantive content, that it can draw people in--IF they come to it, and it is not working, and/or, doesn't draw them in, the young people may not come back to it!!


WE ALL NEED TO GIVE THOUGHT TO THE ABOVE--YOUR COMMENTS ARE VALUED--CLICK ON COMMENTS AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.  IT WILL SHOW EXISTING COMMENTS, BUT WILL GIVE YOU A WINDOW TO ADD A COMMENT.

got this off of RezHeadz website (www.RezHeadz.com)--it was a "post" by Tammy Edinger, Behavioral Health Coord, Alamo Navajo Indian Reservation:

    "Jason "Smoke" Nichols along with his wife and female recording artist MiMi, Hip-Hop artist Cizkio, and graphic artist Big Stu, spoke about their tragedies and triumphs.
    Both Jason and Melissa who recently suffered the loss of their twelve year old daughter, make sense out of their grief by daring us to pursue our dreams, express our feeling through poetry and to be true to ourselves.
    Students, staff, and teachers used medicine wheels to write Hip-Hop lyrics: experienced the fusion of tradition with contemporary beats; and demonstrated the power of the pen in communication.
    The RezHeadz staff encouraged us to believe in the strength in the individual spirit and the possibility of forging a new course in life with courage and grace."

this is the kinds of things we can also do--with song and dance and music, poetry, theater, and the visual arts (painting, murals, graphic design, videos, etc.).

and, we can share this through the "social networking" that we are trying to set up!

1/12  Well!!  where is everybody?!  i've been talking with different folk, and one is Rose Simpson, artist/musician/performer, a good person, and daughter of Roxanne Swentzell.  i had asked her to look at this blog and give some thoughts:

hey, rosie! did you ever get a chance to check that blog out? and, what we're trying to do? value you thoughts. www.wisdomofcoyote.blogspot.com

Rosie:  Hi! the semester starting back up again I have a little bit of time to do some reflecting.  I have spent a lot of time thinking about that song.  As it is good for me to hear now, I am thinking back on when I was in highschool. I don't think that I would have listened to it.  Because maybe it is an older person singing, a different musical style...

BB  thank you! i just want us to find a way to "reach out", and the arts media seems to be so powerful--you know that!

Rosie  I am appreciating good music more now than I was then.  I think that when we are stuck in a place of victimization it is hard to see past it.  I know that music is a great tool to reach out to people, but I have been trying to figure out why I don't think a lot of "youth" would be receptive to it.

BB  interesting that you would say that! :) Indian Country Today has an article about a music camp for the Lummi kids (8-13 yrs) where they write their own music. they say the same kind of thing. good thoughts and something to think about when doing this. if you don't get ICT (1/12), i will send you a PDF.

Rosie  maybe because the victimization came from the adults? the adults were the ones who set up the life that they have, why would they listen to them?  I will think some more. I am trying to do the same thing, figure out how we can help youth- because it is an emergency.

the best thing i can think to do is to lead by example.  if i work on myself, then i will know intuitively how to help someone else, for everyone is different and has different needs.

BB  you got that right!! BE the example!! hugs and latrz

February 7^th

^{Go visit NativeRadio.com --Patrick Doyle has put notice of our proposed social You Are Not Alone Network up on his home page--this is just a beginning peek!!}

Well, I’m home again!!  Whew!  Went to a writing conference in Washington DC--thanks to "Miss Shine", Susan Deer Cloud--Driving back, I wuz in my head—thunkin’, thunkin’, thunkin’!!

Darkness and depression--Hope--Believe--the circle opens--one is welcomed by family, friends and community

Sonnie and Cassie, two "younger" people from White Earth, found me at the Smithsonian reading and Sonnie asked if he could read my poem, Indian Man, at a powwow at White Earth.  The poem seems to have connected with him—probably has had many of the same experiences.

Susan Deer Cloud had dinner with them that night.  Got me to thunkin’, and I thought about how we want to have these different media featured on the website, YouAreNotAlone Network, and, produced by the youth.  Writing/poetry/prose is one of them.  So, perhaps we would have Susan Deer Cloud mentor Sonnie, and some others, and we could get them to write some poems/prose, to put on our website.  Then, of course, I went to Michael doing the same with the music, and perhaps Laura, with the theater?!  Since then, I’ve visited with each and they have agreed to be “mentors”—Bear is all smiles!

**** (Suggestions invited!)  Now, video and filming, and perhaps photography, seem to naturally fall together. graphic arts would include computer arts and ?  what about comic books?  Visual arts would include painting (perhaps photography would fit here?), murals, (textiles?).

Joy had a good suggestion about Michael’s “You’re Not Alone” song/video.  Why not start right off of Patrick’s NativeRadio site and have a contest to produce a video for that song—young people (how do we control that?)—figure out a prize (flip camera, iPad—not $$).  AND, give them guidelines, coming from the subject matter, and theme of Michael’s song—using depression, hopelessness, the alcoholism, the abandonment, etc., transitioning from darkness to light—hope, “believe”, and the circle of family, friends, and caring community.  And, ask them in an interview, “What made that difference for you?”  This would immediately give us a “product” for our website, and, produced by “young people”.  Patrick asked, “how do we deal with “there are no losers?””

 Was also looking at SNAG magazine’s “Donate” link and how it invites donors to fund “free workshops” with the kids…” --  “Our free workshops are sustained by foundation support and community members such as yourself”

****Laura!  And, all who are wondering—we have NOT forgotten that we need to organize!!  And, 501 (c) 3’s, or non-profits seem to be the natural fit for what we are trying to do.

 ****Does ANYONE have an idea, or, can find out about liability and authorizations/permissions needed in order to involve young people (i.e., the production and use of materials such as videos, posters, music, etc.)?