Good advise to teens from a teen by Manika Ward.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
This video from a Rapid City, South Dakota TV newscast is posted with permission from KOTA TV News Director John Petersen. KOTA TV did an excellent story on the tragic problem of teen suicide at the Lakota Rosebud Reservation. The teen suicide issue is just one of the projects of the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society (WBCWS) in Mission, SD that has served the Rosebud Sioux Reservation for nearly 30 years. On Sunday August 12 a benefit concert to aid the WBCWS will be held at the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church in Custer, SD (More information on the concert is at the end of this page) Rosebud Sioux Tribe declares state of emergency on reservation suicides By Lela French For nearly a decade teen suicide has been one of the biggest problems on the Rosebud Reservation. “The belief right now is that it is at a crisis state,” says Tillie Black Bear Executive Director of White Buffalo Calf Women. But in the past two years the problem has gotten even worse. Lino Spotted Elk is one of many fathers who had to deal with the loss of his son who committed suicide two years ago at the age of 19. “It’s really impacted myself and my family as far as of course the loss of a loved one. But also you know the way he went. You don’t expect to bury your child,” says Lino Spotted Elk. But many parents have had to do just that. Council members say in the past two years there were more than four hundred suicide attempts at least 10 of those were successful, and most were teenage boys. Which is …
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u no how 2 act!
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Dang, God be in your hearts. We have summer youth programs for our kids and teens, this really helped cease the use of drugs and alcohol. A dear friend of mine unfortunately took her own life. So me and a few friends put together a relief program. Yall need help hit us up to_hopigirrl90@yahoo.com
and no jobs in those areas…….build factories there and give them the jobs,i`m sure the Government would give Tax breaks to Companies relocating there instead of Overseas…….aww crap we are talking about the poor here,…..no benefits and no jobs in this area either…..Michiana ……..welcome to Wal-Mart or Can i take your order?……an AM general is waning.
What are the parents doing about it? Not involved in their lives? C’mon parents get involved and at the very least …try!!
It is best to read the paragraphs below, starting from the bottom.
I am mostly writing to the elders, the parents, the leaders and any young people interested. These words, and words like these cannot solve these young peoples problems alone. YOU must take it on as your responsibility to talk to them. Not to sit them down, but to sit ‘with them’ and ‘listen’ to what they have to say. A sign of a good counselor and one who puts all ego and pride to the side. This is what these young people will remember and respect you for. Peace.
That’s for you and you are a part of the people and the people are one whole. thinking together as one. Don’t let that get lost, because you need direction and perspective. Everything is not as black and white as I have pointed out. Each of you will approach it the way you approach everything else. But the results come out the same. I bring these words to you and expect nothing in return, except for you to live a better life and to pass it onto the little ones. Give them a chance.
Being Indigenous is your life. It is not to be altered, to be toyed with, or made into mascots, etc. at others convenience. It is a serious thing what we do and can be very, very destructive if altered in any way. So being Indigenous is like Medicine. It saves you, because that’s how it’s been for you for thousands, millions of years and that is the road back. The Creator put us here for a reason. You must find those reasons and live them out to the end. Even if they don’t agree with others.
So as it goes, we adults are the wisdom of our people, our next generations. But I warn that ‘our wisdom is only as good as we are sober’. It is a vicious, broken circle that abuses one’s self, each other that has all sorts of domino problems that can last for a lifetime. We must first recognize who we are (because we tend to forget in between generations & outside influences), then recognize our problems, and recognize the problems around us, and figure out a way to deal with them one at a time
We used to be a big world, but now we have been reduced to a little world, in a big world. A world that doesn’t seem to be capable of caring about such little things. There has not been any outside help and I doubt there will be. At least not in the near future, or maybe even century. So the only one’s who can help our peoples is ‘we the people’. So why have the parents, etc. been so unable to do so? There are answers to that, that are many different answers. There is no one answer to this Q.
@3909clancy Bingo! We have all been there and are the survivors. Dealing with the real issues head on is one thing. But what about the source? Why is it on or around the reservation? Why is it being passed on? There are outside sources taking advantage of a desperate situations in our economy. There is more to suicide then substance abuse. It is also, in many cases, considered a disease. One that has to be carefully talked to. You must approach it calmly & not forcefully. I can only offer words.
I mean to be insensitive but did anyone else find it ironic that the benefit for Native Americans at the end was at a place called “Custer”. Anyways while drugs and alchohol are definitely a problem you still don’t see these suicide rates in communities with similar poverty and drug rates. The Native Americans have been wronged worse than any other people by Americans, and that suffering has passed down. White men have to make it right for it to go away.
teenage boys killing themselves? thats frustration vs. helplessness, not drugs and booze! drugs and booze are common among every teenage community in most countries! if you are incapable of giving your youth ambition and satisfaction in life, don’t blame it on the same old reasons you were told as a kid. you know your wrong. if nothings changed in the last 40 years, i don’t blame these kids for wanting out.
@3909clancy
Thank you for your comments – as in civil rights we must keep our eye on the prize – and the same goes for the roots of evil and dispair – which far too often are as you stated.
@ocachisu
You are correct – and the Seventh generation and others will lead our society out of its current dispair and all the evil people and corporations who feed on young souls.
@ImOfNope
Thank you for your comments – that we hope ALL Of your hopeful comments are read by those who find this page – especially Native youth.
Thank you for taking the time to make all of your posts.
You are full of wisdom and compassion – traits we need more of these days.
My name is Greg Volunteer media ghuy for Turtle island Project – located here in Michigan.
I am passing all your comments on to Rev. Hubbard, founder of the TIP.
@ayjuggalo1
Yoo are so corrrect.
I am passing along your message to membhers of the Turtle Island Project.
I am the volunteer media guy for rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard aka whitehorse.
He is now the ex. dr. of the Navajo Lutheran Mission in AZ – where he’s running a “Mission in Reverse” & teaches Navajo youth to respect – and learn about – their own culture, heritage, the Navajo belief system, spiritual traditions etc.
Praying that you keep a positive heart and strong mind at St. Francis. Bless you.
I’m a teen from the St francis comunity. we need some thing 2 do here besides drugs and alcohol, I’m not say i do this stuff but its boring here on the ReZ
im a teen from the st francis comunity. WE NEED SOME 2 do on the rez besides drugs and alcohol , im not saying i do this stuff but its boring on the rez
People don’t get it.Native or not drugs and alcohol are killing these kids!!Any other issue is just not dealing with the real issues drugs and alcohol.
to my fellow young generation, don’t think this is the end. we really are the future and our voice will be the only voice. it’s up to us to change the world and if we don’t no one will. the change starts with us!
I am a firemen at one of the Sundances. I send each and everyone one of you strength and whatever strength I have to give. Don’t fight one another. Don’t bully one another. Forgive one another. Love one another and be strong together. That is what we are told to do at the Sundance. That is our strength as a people. I ask that you young people lead the way. All of you. Support each other and be the one’s that keep your communities strong for all time.
@waterbirdsong2000 Read my quotes above. My prayers and sorrow are with you.
To you young people, there ‘IS’ hope for a future. Your just not there yet. Now is the time to learn and develop. When you feel the need one day to leave the nest, then you will make your own hope. You will make your own life. I did it and I couldn’t wait to get out on my own. I found out so much about myself with a little help from my grown up friends and am very grateful for it. I ask you to live and stay. We all want you to stay and live your life. We care about you all.
I know why they are killing themselves. It is because they are depressed, with no hope for a future. It’s happened to our family on numerous occasions. It is all tragic and preventable. I make a point to keep in contact with my nephews and nieces, to let them know that they are not alone. That we aunts and uncles are there if they need us. I feel extremely fortunate that I survived my own ordeals and want to share this knowledge with whoever is interested in knowing.
My mother is from the Rosebud Reservation. I just happened to catch this on the front page of Youtube. I have one question: ‘when will the Lakota march against alcoholism on all of it’s lands’? For a people who are closely tied together, why aren’t the elders speaking to the younger generations? The elders wisdom is only as good as they are sober is the other side of the equation. Talk to them and let them know that you hear them. They don’t want to hear about God. Just talk to them.