Wellbriety and Tribal Leadership

by Susan Matsen

The key to prevention of alcohol and drug abuse and domestic violence lies within our communities, our families, and tribes and starts with each of us. We must have respect for self and others in order to begin to heal, trust and love again. It is through healing and self empowerment that we can walk as examples of wellbriety for all. As a tribal leader and a national leader I take this personal commitment very seriously, as we never know when we might offer encouragement to others through our words and actions. I believe that the Creator tested me on many occasions through many challenges so I could learn humility, compassion, understanding, and patience. I believe, also, the Creator has placed me in this national position at this time for a purpose: to be a part of the journey of our people to a great healing.
The past 500 years have left most of our people still living in substandard housing with high rates of unemployment, plagued with drugs and alcohol abuse. Our people are still dying from preventable diseases such as tuberculosis and diabetes and we are all aware our children are suffering the most. It is our children who are being abused, neglected, and taken away from their families—and this must stop. As our children are the future for our people, it is our responsibility to provide a safe and supportive environment for them to grow and succeed. As tribal leaders we must ensure that we provide our children with the necessary tools to resist drugs, alcohol, and violence. We must provide them with self-confidence through higher education, and strength through knowledge of who they are by teaching them our language, our traditions, and our culture. We must provide courage through the support of family, community, and tribe. Tribal leaders must become role models who are examples of wellbriety, free from addiction and violence, which is not always easy with the battles that we face to protect our resources, traditions and culture for future generations.
Tribal leaders need to identify and secure the resources to assist the creation of a vision for wellbriety which includes prevention, rehabilitation, aftercare, and job opportunities so that our families can be provided for. We must work hand in hand with Congress and federal agencies, such as the Department of Justice, Indian Health Services, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and of course, the Department of Commerce. We work to find creative solutions, identifying ways to overcome obstacles to funding so we can assist our communities with their visions for a healthier life style.
Let me talk for a moment about the importance of Wellbriety. As you are all aware, the substance abuse and violence in Indian Country is a symptom of institutionalized racism, boarding schools, oppression and the injustice which has occurred against our people. That is why it is very crucial that those in Indian Country respect themselves and those around them. Wellbriety is a challenge of success in sobriety and wellness within—so stay sober and live life as an example for others. Pass on this lifestyle to all by living as a positive influence in your community.
Our people need to understand the importance of tribal sovereignty and self governance in this journey for healthy communities. Tribal sovereignty is at the heart of every issue facing us in Indian Country, including substance abuse and domestic violence. This is because of our unique political and legal relationship with the U.S. government as outlined in the U.S. Constitution, numerous treaties, and Federal Statutes which are reaffirmed in diverse Supreme Court cases. Tribal self-government serves the same purpose today as it always has. It empowers our nations to remain culturally and economically viable as distinct groups of people. Tribal governments working with our communities know best how to meet the needs of our people.
The status of Indian nations as a form of government is at the heart of nearly every issue that touches Indian Country, which is why we must make the commitment to create healthy communities. If a great healing is to occur for our people, the U.S. government needs to apologize to the First People of this land for their actions through public policy since original contact. The outcome of such policy has left many scars on each generation. This public policy has included the Manifest Destiny which brought death and disease from war and massacres; broken treaties and unfulfilled trust obligations; assimilation, which brought relocation of our people to cities hundreds of miles away from their communities and families; boarding schools, where our children were taken at the age of six years old, where they were beaten for speaking our language and singing our songs, and where they were abused, physically, sexually, and mentally, creating a loss of identity, parents, community, and cultural values. It also includes sterilization of our women, the testing of drugs on our people, the Allotment Era which made it easy to steal our land away through forced-deed patents or through the BIAís mismanagement. And the list goes on.
I believe this apology is necessary for a great forgiveness to occur for our people so that we can rid ourselves of the generations of pain that we each carry. I am committed to this and have already talked with one of the presidential candidates regarding this matter. This candidate realizes that a healing needs to occur and has made a personal commitment to me that if he is elected he will work closely to ensure that this occurs. I will be talking with the other candidate in the very near future regarding this very same issue.
But today there is still a movement by members of Congress and by the Governorís Association, which is looking and working aggressively to limit or eliminate our sovereignty. And at the same time there is movement to push statesí rights to be supreme over tribal rights. In times like this it is even more important that we have national organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians which can call tribes to action. With these ongoing attacks, tribal leaders must become involved in national issues in order to protect our way of life at home. NCAI provides the forum for tribal leaders to set priorities on a national scale. I will work with you to carry your message of wellbriety to the leadership at the National Congress of American Indians.
Our people have endured death, sickness, cultural genocide, relocation, assimilation, and boarding schools. Let the suffering of our people end here today with our commitment to continue the Hoopís Journey to create a great healing throughout Indian Country by uniting our efforts for Wellbriety. Thank you for the important work that you are doing, for your commitment to our people throughout Indian Country, and especially for your sacrifices of time away from your home and families during this great journey.
As president of the National Congress of American Indians, I stand ready to assist in this effort to break the cycle of abuse and addiction. I ask that you keep me and your elected officials in your prayers so that we may bring honor to all of our people and so that we may have the strength and courage to walk in wellbriety and assist in bringing a vision for healthy communities free of addiction and abuse. I pray that each of you has a safe journey home to your families.

Susan Masten, is president of the National Congress of American Indians and the Tribal Chair of the Yurok Tribe of Northern California. This talk was given on July 10, 2000 in Washington, D.C.