Embrace Your Sacredness: 3rd Intertribal Youth Suicide Prevention Summit

THIS EVENT HAS REACHED CAPACITY (If you click register and there are spots available, please register. That means someone has canceled)! Please email aubrey.aihc@gmail.com to be added to the wait list! If you have any questions please contact Aubrey.

If you cannot attend this event, PLEASE let us know immediately so we can release your spot!

The American Indian Health Commision and the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe are honored to invite Native youth (ages 13-24), mental health supervisors, Tribal/UIHP program staff, tribal elders and other concerned community members to the 3rd Annual Intertribal Youth Suicide Prevention Summit: I Choose Life; Embrace Your Sacredness.

NATIVE YOUTH WILL:

• Hear and meet Native leaders, experts, and other guests from around the Nation to learn how to support one another and understand the impacts we all face together.
• Create a space to share hope and love through understanding and development of cultural protection and skills building.
• Participate in open conversations about the impacts of suicide in tribal communities and ways to fight back against it.

Suicide continues to haunt our Native peoples, and it affects our communities more than any other race in the U.S: The rate of suicide among Native Youth is more than double the rate of any other ethnic population.

Among Native peoples, suicide rates peak during adolescence and young adulthood and then decline later in age. This trend is opposite from other racial and ethnic groups. That’s why it is important for our Native youth to come together now and become leaders on this issue for the future.

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WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Attendance is currently limited to 160.

SUGGESTED participation: Up to 4 youth and 3 adults (one adult chaperone will need to stay with youth throughout the event). As we realize there may be calendar conflicts, not all tribes will participate: exceptions may apply!

Other attending adults should include program staff, elders, and other concerned community members to participate in plenary, adult breakout sessions, and group activities. It is recommended one of the adults be a behavioral health professional if possible.

**We do ask that if you are unable to attend the summit, that you let us know as soon as possible so we are able to release the spot to another tribal youth who would benefit from attending!**

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Honorary Chairs: Jeromy Sullivan, Chairman, Port Gamble S'Klallam; Andy Joseph, Vice Chairman, Confederated Tribes of Colville

FEATURED SPEAKERS:

Dyami Thomas and Becca Lynn Thomas will serve as the Masters of Ceremony

Dyami Thomas, American Indian actor Dyami "Eagle" Thomas is an enrolled member of the Klamath tribes in Oregon and descendant of the Leech Lake Anishinabe in Minnesota. He is also a recipient of the National UNITY organizations prestigious 2016 class of "25 under 25" award and international model and actor.

Becca Lynn, an enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes and a descendant of the Leech Lake Anishinabe. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she is currently based in Seattle, Washington employed by the Red Eagle Soaring Theatre Company as a music teacher and children's acting mentor. She is the co-founder of the nonprofit “Native Youth Leading Native Youth,” which is an organization that uplifts and supports up and coming Native youth leaders.

1st Keynote: Redefining Cultural Identity through Trauma Resolution

Jeremy Fields a descendant of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Crow Tribe of Montana and the Chickasaw Tribe of Oklahoma. Over the past 18 years, Jeremy has worked extensively as a leadership trainer throughout Indian country. He is passionate about empowering tribal communities, specializing in facilitating internal (mental, emotional, psychological) healing for youth and adults. Presently, Jeremy is spearheading an initiative focused on bringing awareness to the lasting effects of historical/intergenerational trauma and its implications upon the Native American family structure. Along with his focus on leadership, his work combines traditional Native design motifs with contemporary techniques and aesthetics as a visual means of communicating cultural values and teachings. He has conducted numerous workshops and community mural projects, utilizing creative expression as a catalyst to teach leadership and life skills.

2nd Keynote: Emma Elliot Groves "Sacredness of Life": Talking about Losses and suicide as a community issue

Dr. Elliott-Groves is an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and the Initiative for Research and Education to Advance Community Health at Washington State University. She holds both a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington. Her long-term goal is to acquire the necessary training and skills to become an independent mixed methods investigator to address health disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. Dr. Elliott-Groves is currently evaluating the performance of multiple cognitive assessments for use with American Indian participants, with consideration of social and cultural factors. Her dissertation study explored the meanings and explanations of suicidal behavior from the perspective of Cowichan tribal members. By employing a strengths-based approach to recovery, Dr. Elliott-Groves’ research rigorously engages youth, families, and communities in the development of integrated behavioral health interventions to address complex social issues. The interdisciplinary intersections of her research include contemporary Indigenous issues; culture, learning, and human development; and trauma, prevention, and recovery.

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CALLING FOR RAFFLE DONATIONS:

During the event, we will have drawings for Youth and other participants to win prizes.

We need donations for the raffle! If you have something you are willing to contribute, we welcome it! Just let us know by contacting Aubrey at aubrey.aihc@gmail.com

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LOGISTICS/DIRECTIONS AND LODGING:

Below you will find information about lodging, parking, links to ferry information, objectives and a draft agenda.

Hotel information:

Point Casino & Hotel (site link)

7989 Salish Lane NE • Kingston, WA 98346 (directions via maps)

• Email info@the-point-casino.com
• Phone Number: (360) 297-0070
• Toll-Free: 1-866-547-6468

Hotel: A block of rooms has been reserved at The Point Casino & Hotel (block held until August 20, 2018). Please contact the hotel directly to make room reservations using "YSP 2018."

Additionally, the AIHC will pay for a one room per Tribe/UIHP for the night before the event, Monday, Aug 27 and Tuesday, August 28. However, you will need a valid credit card to reserve your room using code "YSP 2018." For groups who are unable to travel due to distance the second night of the event, we will have a small block of rooms available on Wednesday, August 29. You must live more than 50 miles from the event to qualify for AIHC to cover the room.

Rooms must be reserved with your own credit card by calling (360) 340-9700 (If you will not be attending the summit, be sure to cancel within 24 hours or you will be charged.)

Check in time is after 4 pm and check out is 11 am. Be sure to check out the morning if of the second day before departing for Summit location!

Hotel Address: 7989 Salish Lane NE • Kingston, WA 98346

From the north, you will take either the Edmonds or Bainbridge Ferry and from the South, you may take Tacoma Narrows bridge, WA-3 or US-101. A link to ferry fares is here.

Parking:

Parking is available at the location, however, it is still recommended to make arrangements to carpool from the hotel which is only a 5-minute drive from the longhouse.

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GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:

GOALS:

• Create a safe environment to raise awareness, develop knowledge, and skills about youth suicide prevention.
• Raising HOPE by Creating momentum to “I Choose Life-Embrace Your Sacredness”
• Leave motivated and inspired!

OBJECTIVES:

Listen and Raise Awareness

• Listen to youth about the best ways to communicate about risk factors and suicide ideation
• Raise understanding about the meaning of embracing your sacredness
• Raise awareness about suicide behaviors as a community issue
• Raise awareness about cultural protective factors
• Raise awareness about “generational clarity” and the connection between historical trauma, Neuroscience, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Cultural Resiliency from a Native perspective
• Raise awareness about Healthy relationships

Build Prevention Skills and Strategies

• Learn how to recognize the suicide warning signs
• Develop coping and conflict resolution skills
• Learn stress reduction strategies and activities
• Learn about youth programs and vulnerable youth

Increase Knowledge

• Gain knowledge about data on Native youth suicide and risk factors specific to Washington State

Promote Cultural Activities

• Promote culturally grounded youth leadership
• Participate in designing/decorate capes that will be on display as part of a fashion show in October. “Wrapping our youth with cultural protection”
• Participate in PGST Canoe family activities
• Participate in Traditional Games and Activities

Utilize Existing Resources

• Provide traditional support for participants
• Establish connections to existing youth suicide prevention resources (e.g., WeRNative, Pulling Together for Wellness Facebook page, instragram, etc.)

ADULT SESSIONS:

• Provide a forum for tribes to discuss strategies and begin sharing
• Learn about the Pulling Together for Wellness framework and Seven Generation Strategies
• Learn how to reduce fear and stigma and open discussions about suicide prevention strategies in communities
• Share comprehensive tribally-driven models in Indian country
• Provide QPR training and become certified
• Discuss what is working, what isn’t, what should be done (future work).
• Discuss the role of Natural Helpers
• Discuss learnings and takeaways and how to implement in communities

Resources:

• Tribes/UIHPs initiatives
• Highlight access to existing resources

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DRAFT AGENDA:

AGENDA: Monday, August 27

4:00 p.m. - Check into hotel

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Evening Activity

AGENDA: Tuesday, August 28

7:00 a.m. | Registration Opens

7:30 – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast

8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Introductions (Welcome AIHC Leadership and Port Gamble, Invocation, Witnesses, MCs)

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. | Opening Remarks (Leadership from Tribal Councils)

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | ICEBREAKER

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Keynote address from Keynote 1

10:45 p.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Please use this time for snack/break and be in place ready to start on time

11:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Breakout Session 1

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch with special guests

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Choice of 2 group activities

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. | NPAIHB Youth Delegates

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. | Please use this time for snack/break/stretch. Please be at Breakout 2 on time

2:45 – 3:45 p.m. | Breakout Session 2

3:45 – 4:15 p.m. | Resource Tables

4:15 – 5:15 p.m. | Storytelling

5:15 – 6:00 p.m. | Dinner

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Coastal Jam with PGST Canoe family

AGENDA: Wednesday, August 29

7:30 – 8:15 a.m. | Breakfast

8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Welcome

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. | Opening Circle, MC’s Icebreaker

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. |Keynote address from Keynote 2

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Please use this time for snack/break/stretch. Please be at Breakout 3 on time

11:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Breakout Session 3

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Choice of 2 group activities

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Panel

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. | Please use this time for snack/break/stretch. Please be at Breakout 4 on time

2:45 – 3:45 p.m. | Breakout Session 4

3:45 – 4:15 p.m. | Storytelling/Activity

4:15 – 5:15 p.m. | Closing Circle/DRAWING

Thank you for joining us and your participation in this continuing work.

Please reach out to us if we can help any further or answer any questions.

For questions about the 3rd Annual Intertribal Youth Suicide Prevention Summit, please contact:

Aubrey Gamble, aubrey.aihc@gmail.com