Prevention. Intervention. Respect.
Tipis in a field

Navigating Life the S'Klallam Way

Summary
Healing of the Canoe

The Navigating Life the S'Klallam Way curriculum is an implementation of the Healing of the Canoe that is based on S'Klallam culture and includes important cognitive-behavioral skills training and weaves in tribal specific cultural teachings, and information about alcohol and drugs.

"The Navigating Life the S'Klallam Way curriculum consists of 11 sessions plus an honoring ceremony. Each of the sessions includes important cognitive-behavioral skills training and weaves in tribal specific cultural teachings, and information about alcohol and drugs. All topics were approved or recommended by an advisory board made up of S'Klallam community members. Traditional S'Klallam stories were collected from tribal archives, Elders and other community members and included as a way to convey and reinforce session information through the messages and values found in the stories. Elders and tribal leaders volunteer to come into the sessions to share their experiences and perspective, and to talk to the youth about various topics such as drug and alcohol use, S'Klallam spirituality, cultural values, and S'Klallam traditions and history.

These guest speakers provide an opportunity for youth participants to meet with community members who can serve as mentors and resources. The youth also participate in culturally related activities such as food gathering and preparation, traditional introductions using S'Klallam language, genealogy research, traditional storytelling, digital storytelling, and gift preparation (including beading, weaving, cedar gathering, carving, etc.). Participants are also involved in a number of other community activities."

Retrieved from http://healingofthecanoe.org/navigating-life-the-sklallam-way/

Contact
(360) 297-9688
Details

An assessment of Healing of the Canoe appeared as:

Dononvan, D.M., Thomas, L.R., Sigo, R.L.W., Price, L., Lonczak, H., Lawrence, N., Ahvakana, K., Austin, L., Lawrence, A., Price, J., Purser, A., & Bagley, L.  (2015).  Healing of the Canoe: Preliminary results of a culturally tailored intervention to prev . American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research, 22(1), 42-76. doi: 10.5820/aian.2201.2015.42

This preliminary report remarked on the need for additional research with larger samples, but suggested that the “community-derived, culturally grounded prevention curricula represent promising practices. Integrating evidence-based components of positive youth development and tribal-specific culture, traditions, and values, the curricula have the potential of reducing substance use; increasing hope, optimism, and self-efficacy; and facilitating cultural identity” (p. 67). Retrieved from:  http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/PublicHealth/research/centers/CAIANH/journal/Documents/Volume%2022/22(1)_Donovan_Healing_of_the_Canoe_42-76.pdf

Canoe Journey Life’s Journey: A Life Skills Manual for Native Adolescents (LaMarr & Marlatt, 2005), served as the foundation for the cultural and tribal-specific adaptation by the Suquamish and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribes in the Healing of the Canoe. The Suquamish and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribes both identified the prevention of youth substance abuse and the need for a sense of cultural belonging and cultural revitalization among youth as primary issues of community concern.  The Healing of the Canoe partnership has sought to address these issues through a community based, culturally grounded prevention and intervention life skills curriculum for tribal youth that builds on the strengths and resources in the community.

Tribally created
  • Child
  • Community
  • Family
  • Tribe
  • Child perceived as problem by parents
  • Child temperament or behavior
  • Exposure to stress
  • Low self esteem
  • Mental health problems
  • Social isolation
  • Substance abuse
  • Build trust and confidence in community
  • Community support when faced with challenges
  • Involvement in positive activities
  • Positive social connection and support
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Relational skills
  • Safe community focus
  • Social and emotional competence
  • Community involvement/participation/contribution
  • Connecting with cultural resources
  • Connection to land, access to cultural sites
  • Cultural community gatherings
  • Cultural identity/sense of belonging to cultural group
  • Cultural teachings
  • Ethnic pride/self-esteem
  • Expressing Native identity
  • Family commitment, safe and healthy relationships
  • Focus/determination
  • Happiness
  • Healthy lifestyles/activities
  • Hope/looking forward/optimism
  • Kinship/elders/community connection/ties
  • Life cycle events/traditional activities/practices
  • Native language
  • Physical health/fitness
  • Spiritual practice/knowledge/ceremony
  • Spiritual values/well-being
  • Support (family, friends, community)/interdependence
  • Traditional foods/subsistence
  • Traditional healing practices
  • Wairua (spirit)
Agent