University of Washington

PROMISING PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES (formal and informal) •Healing of the Canoe Program •Motivational Interviewing — especially the one adapted for Native communities out of University of New Mexico (Kamilla Venner). •Mentor program (Jamestown S'Klallam) For youth 1013 years old, they learn about job skills, life skills, dating violence, respect, work ethics, and includes activities. •Tribes Program (urban setting implemented in an elementary and two middle schools) — Native students did extensive research on their own tribe, as well as on issues such as sovereignty. •Indian Youth Leadership — evidence based urban program implemented with middle and high school youth). Based on mentoring and the four directions — Warrior, Nurture, Scholar, Community Activist. The best aspect is that it is inter-generational. Youth come out of the Tribes Program and into the Indian Youth Leadership program and serve as mentors for younger youth, as well as help plan the high school camp. Best case scenario is when they graduate from college and come back to work for the program. •Indian Youth Leadership — Yakama. Do different activities with youth ages 5-18. •Camp Chaparral — Yakama. Different age groups go each week during the summer and parents are invited. •Natural Helpers. •ART Program (Anger Reduction Therapy) — was evidence based but needed culture integrated into it. •THRIVE Program through NW Portland Area Indian Health Board — youth receive texts about health and wellness. •OWL Program (Our Whole Selves) from pre-school through high school and parents are part of it. •Summer jobs programs with mentoring — they provide mentoring to younger youth. PA R T I C I PA N T Q U O T E "This is the critical age. If they don't feel it here, it's going to create an opening and we all know what happens with a vacuum. That vacuum's going to get filled with something. And usually it's the things that you've spoke about, with gang activities that aren't isolated to urban environments or communities. That's •Digital storytelling — making videos, sharing with community, teaching others. •Tracking Project — using at NATIVE Project in Spokane, developed for use with Indigenous communities world-wide. It is curriculum-based. •Talking Circle, used in tribal courts. Rather than a single person (judge) saying "you need to..." the group decides together what is best for everyone via the Talking Circle. •Canoe Journey/canoe racing. •Traditional ceremonies, naming ceremonies, potlatches. Connects youth to community, tribe and culture. •Mentoring, older youth mentoring younger youth. •Culture — language, practices. •After school programs that offer snacks, help with homework, access to physical activities. •Women's and Girl's camp — includes storytelling and acting out scenes (not sure which community). •Block watches — parents concerned about drug dealing in their communities organized to keep youth safe. •Having local schools take field trips to the tribal center so students learn about the tribe and culture. •Quarterly overnight events with youth. Bring parents in for part of one day and provide information relevant to parenting children at this age: tobacco prevention, chemical dependency, mental health, suicide prevention, domestic violence, healthy life skills, etc. everywhere. It's penetrating all of our communities. And the only way to push that out is to make sure that all of those good things we want our children to have and embrace are there for them." Summary Report: April 4-5, 2012 17

• Cover