by Peter Twitchell
As far as I can gauge alcohol, it’s general abuse by people who drink alcohol like fish drink water, the poison which it is, in high amounts kills physically, emotionally, mentally and blocks the mind spiritually. I can intelligently say that alcohol the way it is consumed in native country kills the mind, body and puts a damper on our values.
Outside coping skills for alcohol abuse do not work in native country. Let’s put things in perspective here. First, it is the voice of our Ancestors we must vocalize while we have some sanity left in us. They told us who we are, and the important part we play in all of God’s creation.
Nature teaches us about our Native Culture and our Native and Ancestral Traditions. Nature is what gives life because that is where creation and life begins. We should honor this fact of life, just like our Elders give life to our Traditional values and not leave these important teachings on the wayside and forgotten.
Life today is full of stresses and problems. We have to quit blaming everybody for everything we’re not happy with in our lives and own up to our place on this difficult path we’ve been on. Own up to our source of stress and work on it. Fixing our anger, letting go of resentments and disappointments in life.
It boils down to one thing really, owning up to problems in our lives. That way we can do something about them. This will lead us to sanity and freedom to begin to feel right within ourselves. To maintain our newfound sense of who we are, native people who are healthy, lets tap into the wisdom of our Elders. They will help us stay on the right track on our way to wellness.
