ALASKA NATIVES COMMISSION
JOINT FEDERAL-STATE COMMISSION
ON
POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING
ALASKA NATIVES
4000 Old Seward Highway, Suite 100
Anchorage,
Alaska 99503
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Witness List | Exhibit
List
| PDF Version
Native Health:
Group A
COMMISSIONER BOYKO: Okay. The next issue will
be Health Issues, and Father Sebesta has graciously agreed to
volunteer to chair
them. Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: We move now to the
section of health issues, and we have quite a group of people
that are going to testify;
and I think we should move right along. The first person that
is on the list is Melinda Peter. Maybe we could have the -- is
it Group A --
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON: Group A.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA:
-- who should come up to the table, and introduce themselves.
(Side
conversation)
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: And I understand that there
are two members of this panel that need to make planes, and so
I would -- if
you would just make a brief introduction of yourselves, and then
we'll ask Melinda Peter to lead the comments.
MS. PETER: Hi,
my name is Melinda Peter, and I'm a youth from Fort Yukon, I
want to talk about concerns the youth of Fort Yukon
and the other villages have. It's something that I experienced
also, and it's teenage pregnancy. I have a son that was born
this year on January 29. He's five months old now. I know that
the youth have already heard a lot about it, but are they really
trying to prevent it? Are they practicing safe sex? I know that
I heard a lot about it all the time; but I never did anything
about it. I thought teenage pregnancy was something that would
never happen to me. I was pretty sure of that; but I was wrong.
It did happen to me. Something that I never expected. I can't
even begin to tell you how hard, and how much frustration there
is in raising a child. It really changes your life. You have
to grow up real fast and start taking a lot of responsibility.
You're bringing another human being into the world, and you have
to raise that baby the best that you can. I wanted to go to college,
but I don't know if I'll be able to do it now. I still have one
more year of high-school; and it's so hard to try to raise a
baby and do homework at the same time. But I'm lucky to have
my family and my friends helping me out. But even with their
help, it's still hard at times. A lot of girls don't even have
anyone to turn to. Their boyfriends, or whoever got them pregnant,
might not even care.
I'm not saying that this is only a girls'
problem; it's also a boys' problem. I really urge the youth and
any others who may
be sexually active to use condoms and practice safe sex. They
not only prevent pregnancy, they also protect against HIV and
a lot of other sexually-transmitted diseases. Both boys and girls
should carry condoms, even it they're not sexually active, 'cause
you never know what will happen. Tell your friends and family
to use them, too, 'cause they're easy to get. Some people think
it's too embarrassing to buy or ask for them; but would you rather
be embarrassed for a few minutes, or have HIV? Go to the store
and buy them, or go to your local health clinic, and you can
get them free.
Oh, I think that the schools in Alaska need more
sex education classes. People always laugh, or make jokes about
condoms, and
I think that that makes teenagers and other people not want to
use them. They need to know that it's okay to use them, and that
it prevents a lot of diseases. Condoms should be available in
schools, or maybe teen centers where they're easy to get without
them having to ask for it.
I hope that the youth will learn from
my experience with teenage pregnancy and use some type of birth
control during sex; and
I hope that there could be more sex education in school, 'cause
I think they really need it. Thank you.
(TESTIMONY OF MELINDA
PETER ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT #[8])
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Thank you,
Melinda I think that what you bring up is a very important problem,
and it's one of the ones
that we're asked to address very seriously. And it's something
which a great deal of thought has to be given to and a lot of
input on the part of you, and just generally across the spectrum
of people that are affected by this. I think we should move on,
and we' ll have questions at the end. Cindy Adams I'll ask to
testify next.
MS. WIEHL: Hi, my name is Cindy (Adams) Wiehl,
and I'm from Beaver. I'm a Water Treatment Plant Operator, I'm
an Alternate Health Aide, and I'm also the Second Chief of the
Beaver Tribal Council. And the main thing I wanted to talk about
today is the water sanitation facilities. You know, as a resident
of Beaver, I know what it's like to live without a water and
sewage system. We did have a safe water before; but it failed
due to the fact that -- well, I'm nervous.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON: Relax, take your time-
MS. WIEHL: We didn't have any qualified
operators; and our village council didn't have the funds to train
operators. And, therefore,
just one by one, everything broke down; and there was just an
entire loss. And during this time that we didn't have a water
facility, we had no alternative but to go back to drinking the
Yukon River water. And during this time of consuming contaminated
water, there was a lot of water-borne illnesses going around
the village; and we had a case of salmonella, and that is a bacterial
infection from consuming drinking water with animal and human
feces in it.
And so now we have a laundromat, and a place to
take showers, and everything's looking pretty healthy; but I
think a problem
that we're still having is maintaining the facility. And the
Beaver Village Council is responsible for the electrical, the
fuel, the operators' wages, and parts when repairs are needed
and everything. And we just don't have the funds for that. And
we don't have funds to send operators to training. And I, myself,
thanks to TCC's Remote Maintenance Workers Program, have just
completed and passed the operator and training course, so I'm
not certified by the State for that* But that's just way down
there. I want to learn more about it, but we need more training
programs; and we need -- 'cause this is really important. This
is the only facility in our village with running water, and it's
-- and I think people -- and that we need to train the operators
and everything to keep it going, 'cause it's essential.
RECORDER: I'm sorry, your last name was not Adams?
MS. WIEHL: I just got
married. It's Wiehl.
RECORDER: Okay, thank you.. Congratulations.
MS.
WIEHL: Thanks. So, with that, I'd like to thank you. And I have
a plane to catch. I was supposed to check in at 4:30.
I see you guys are running on Indian time here.
(Laughter)
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Well, maybe before you leave,
we should ask the panel if they have any questions of either
of you.
COMMISSIONER BOYKO: Do have a question of Cindy.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON: She -- they both have planes
to catch.
COMMISSIONER BOYKO: Yeah, just a very quick one.
Have you folks learned anything from the Point Hope experience
not
to put any
junk into your drinking water?
MS. WIEHL: Could you, explain
some --
COMMISSIONER BOYKO: The fluoride death --
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Well, that was Hooper.
MS. WIEHL: Oh, I test all that
daily, so -- like I said, we're all healthy right now. (Laughter)
COMMISSIONER BOYKO: Do you add fluoride to your
water?
MS. WIEHL: Yes, we do.
COMMISSIONER BOYKO: You
need to read some more on recent scientific reports on toxicity
of sodium fluoride.
MS. WIEHL: Well, see, I need more training,
too.
COMMISSIONER BOYKO: Have a good trip. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Congratulations, and thank you for your testimony.
COMMISSIONER BOYKO: Hooper Bay, yeah, that's right.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: And now if we could have the next person. Let's see, Donna Galbreath?
DR. GALBREATH: Correct.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Would
you introduce yourself and give your testimony.
DR. GALBREATH: Hi, I'm Donna Galbreath. I'm from Mentasta (ph.), Alaska. I'm
a physician, and a family practitioner at Chief Andrew
Isaac. I work for Tanana Chiefs. I know all of us are a little
frustrated here. This is kind of -- form, having to summarize
all of this stuff, and for everybody else -- like asking a woman
to birth a baby in less than nine months.
(Laughter)
DR. GALBREATH: You know, it's almost impossible.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON: Let me say, before she starts,
she's one of our first and only Alaska Native physicians working
in our
region. So we're very, very proud of Donna and glad that you're
here.
DR. GALBREATH: Thank you. Alaska is known as a
Great Land. The indigenous people of Alaska have always known
the land was
great,
in terms of size and resources. As with many indigenous people,
Alaska Natives have lived in harmony with the land. With the
advent of the fur traders, this balance ended; and from that
point on, others learned of Alaska's greatness and its vast resources.
The furriers, the gold rush, timber companies, fishing industry,
oil companies, and others have always flocked to Alaska, and
continue to. As a result of that, we've become a boom-or-bust
lifestyle.
Alaska has a richness that is a two-edged sword,
between needed resources and the blatant rape of the land. Unfortunately,
Alaska
Native people have been trapped in between. The cultures have
gone from self-sufficient nomadic peoples to being thrown into,
quote, "modern civilization," unquote. In the name
of progress, religion, and assistance, Alaska Natives have been
stripped of parts of their culture,
self-sufficiency, and heritage.
Alaska's isolation created a
group of people unexposed to many diseases that are now common.
As a result, when other people
came to Alaska, vast epidemics swept through the state. Smallpox,
measles, mumps, influenza, TB, and other illnesses swept through,
resulting in widespread death.
Early on, the anglo influence
also included the introduction of tobacco and alcohol. At the
turn of the century, the health
care of Alaska Natives was appalling. This poor health status
was eventually recognized and accepted as a problem. Gradually,
many changes were made. The health of Alaska Natives have markedly
improved. Alaska Native people were placed on a roller coaster
ride, moving at great speed, with changes in culture and lifestyle.
This ride initially started with massive death, secondary to
the epidemics that occurred. Unfortunately, the roller coaster
still continues.
We have made great adaptations to a new way
of being, and continue to survive. Unfortunately, many of us
have become confused between
two different cultures, and drug and alcohol are common escapes.
For some, self-unity has been lost; and physical abuse, sexual
abuse, and suicide are common occurrences.
We cannot expect to
move beyond a certain point with health care, education, welfare,
and community development until self-abuse
in all its forms are addressed. Some of our people are caught
in a vicious cycle of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and abuse. All
are inter-related, and all result in numerous medical problems
and affect all aspects of community. Until these problems are
addressed, we cannot expect to move on. The situation is dangerous
culturally for our people. If changes are not made, the death
of unique cultures will occur. The problems are overwhelming,
and the causes are multi-factorial.
Much effort has gone into
discussion as to why abuse itself is so prevalent. Many programs
have been aimed at, quote, "curing," unquote,
the Alaska Natives. I do not think that knowing the exact cause
of this spiritual decline need to be discussed in great detail,
as there is not one cause, but many. All babies are spiritual
beings born in innocence. All are given foundations to live by.
Some of these foundations are stronger than others, but all have
the ability to crumble as the weight of more and more abuse is
piled on cop. Despite the overwhelming nature of these problems,
there is a solution and a starting point. That is the individual.
If each person were to say:
"From this point on, I will no longer abuse
myself or others,"
then drug abuse, alcohol abuse, sexual
abuse, physical abuse, and suicide would cease to be. This is
easy to say, but very
hard to implement. Programs need to recognize this point and
begin with rebuilding our individual foundation. Many communities
have already recognized this and have begun to teach traditional
values and our culture. Down's (ph.) groups have sprung up. Our
youth are involved with Native Olympics, moose hide tanning,
fishing, beading, and many more activities. Regional spirit camps
are commonplace. Our people are rising to this challenge.
If
the government wishes to help us in our self-healing, they can
assist from a resource point of view. Coming in with programs
for us is ineffective. The government needs to recognize this.
The programs have to come from within our own communities and
have to be run by our own people. The resources that we need
will be, initially,
financial in making available consultants for expertise in certain
areas. The financial part should not be an ongoing blanket sum
of money, as this contributes to the problem. Finances should
be allocated in plans that initial costs are met, and gradually
programs become self-sustaining. Problems have arisen in the
past from money being given; and when the money is gone, so is
the program. Planning for continuity is
of the essence.
In order to strengthen and/or rebuild our foundations,
we need to focus on self-development. This means physical, emotional,
spiritual, and mental well-being. As the cause of our abusive
problems is multi-factorial, so will be the solutions. But the
starting dace is with the individual and with self.
Once this
is addressed, then the pieces fall into place-Our families will
become strong; our communities will be strong; and, therefore,
our world will be strong.
There's a couple last little points
I'd like to make, just based on this Commission. I'm real pleased
that this Commission is
here. I think that each of you, as members, should be very honored
to be on it. But there's two points that I'd like to make. One
is that this Commission was set up by anglos; and, as a result
of that, despite, I'm sure, vehement denial, there is an inherent
bias in this Commission. Just be aware of it.
The Commission
is also a political vehicle, which it needs to be in order to
make any changes; but, because it is political,
this can be blinding of actual reality, because you have a focus
that's a different -- more of a government focus and more red
tape tied into it. So you need to be aware of that, so that you're
open to what people say, and you're open to solutions. Thank
you.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Thank you very much.
(Applause)
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: That was excellent, and your
comments are very deeply taken and listened to, including the
comments about
the Commission. I hope that we can incorporate them into our
recommendations, and maybe we could call upon you for a further
filling out of some of your ideas, 'cause I think they're very
good.
DR. GALBREATH: I'd like that, thanks.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Maybe we should move along to Lorraine Jackson.
MS.
JACKSON: Hello, my name is Lorraine Jackson, and I want to thank
you for the opportunity to speak of behalf of the Copper
River Native Association. Just a brief background of the Cooper
River Native association, of which the Native population is of
1,074; which makes as the smallest region of Alaska with a high
rate of health problems. It is sad to say that we had the highest
rate of fetal alcohol syndrome; and, needless to say, that we
have a tremendous need for services for families and children.
Alaska has managed to secure two treatment centers for Native
youth with subsistence abuse. However, we have young people who
have other problems, such as sexual abuse and who are currently
in suicidal stage. And these youth need long-term counseling
programs; and, as of now, we do not have any child advocacy center
or other referral programs which will help our children. The
criteria for the funds available for this type of program is
set up for our larger communities; so, therefore, CRNA is not
eligible.
Throughout the Indian Child Welfare Act’s
history in Alaska, funds for this program have not been fairly
or consistently
distributed
to the tribes. Programs which were funded one year were not funded
the ex; and, in general, it was difficult to provide consistent
services. This year, BIA is interested in contracting directly
with tribes, and it would be a competitive process. This program
should not be competitive, but be based on needs. For as long
as the ICWA have been around, we have not had a program in operation
to protect our children in the Ahtna Region.
But on the positive
note, I would like to compliment the statement to health for
its efforts on the suicide program. This program
is a community based, and is a step in the right direction; but,
on the other hand, mental health has allocated some money to
serve the seriously mentally ill adults. And we have just a small
number of clients in this category. And we are not allowed to
reprogram
this money to better suit the local needs. Community-based programs
seems to be more effective, because it is based on what the community
needs to help solve their problems. It will encourage the villages
to take the responsibility. Every village has different views
and ways to pursue their goals. In closing, I just want to say
that distribution of the funds should be based on needs and
not be competitive or based on population. And I want to urge
you to support community-based program.
And earlier today I heard
comments about the hearings should be held out in the sub-regions
of TCC. Well, I think it should
be equally, and be fairer, and be held in every region, so that
you will be able to hear from each of the region and understand
where we are coming from. And I was told there wasn't going to
be any held in the Ahtna Region, so we came up here to this hearing
today. And it would have been a lot easier for us if you would
have come to our region.
With that, I just want to thank you.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Lorraine, thank you very much. (Applause)
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: And we are aware of the fact that there are many people
to near from, and there may be some way of getting
into your area. And I think that the Commissioners will be very
seriously discussing that, because we do realize that. The best
suggestions are going to be coming from the grassroots, the people
who are there. And Any Jimmie?
RECORDER: Excuse me, off record.
(Off record to change tape)
(On record)
MR. JIMMIE: Thank you. Been waiting all day. (Laughter.)
My name is Andy Jimmie. I'm from Minto. I appreciate the opportunity
to testify. I am presently the President of Tanana
Chiefs Regional Health Board. I'll be speaking a little as a
health board member and a little as a village resident. When
I say "little," I mean short. (Laughter.)
First of all,
the Tanana Chiefs is working on expanding the Tanana I mean,
Andrew Isaac Health Clinic, and that really it's a must,
I think. We're shorn of space. In reading the IHS -- Indian Health
Service and the guidelines, it's 600 square feet for the clinic.
And it's -- what they're operating now is a little over 10,000
square feet; and with the amount of people -- 1,200 or so people,
this is not enough. We need to expand that clinic, and there
was a lot of us that, can drive in from villages net sick enough
to be admitted in the hospital, but sick enough to see a doctor;
and then come up here and have to wait three or four hours; and
you're pretty sick by the time you finally get to see the doctor.
So it is really important that we expand that clinic.
And, in
the villages, one of our main problems there is alcohol and drugs.
We do have, in. a couple of sub-regions, a alcohol
recovery camp, which is working very well, I think. It's helping
a lot of people, but we need a backup program; have a counselor
in each village, where they can go to after they leave the camp.
The way it is now, they stay at a camp for 30 days, and they
leave, and they can go right back into the same place. There's
a lot of them that I know of that's keeping pretty good, but
there's a lot going back; and if we have a counselor working
with these clients after they get out of this recovery camp,
I think we'll see a lot more progress.
And alcohol syndrome.
Every village have students, kids, with alcohol syndrome. And
what we need to try to do -- I've been
pushing this for a long time -- is to try to get the school district
to
recognize this, and they're just now, in our area, recognizing
that they have a lot of students with alcohol syndrome that couldn't
learn; and now they're trying to get special education for them.
In the past, they were just working with them as normal students,
and it's just not doing the trick. It's not. We need to have
these students counseled-I'm pushing for a counselor in each
school, But like everybody, say they're broke, they can't do
it.
The old people. There's a lot of them-up here like
in Denali Center. And we need a whole home care service, where
they can
stay at home. When you get 75 years old -- 75, 80 years old,
and live in a village all your life; and the only time you ever
left
the village was to hunt and fish, and they stick you in a place
like Denali Center, you wouldn't be very happy. And these people
I'm talking about just don't really need to nave a professional
working with them. All they need is some help; reminder taking
their medication; work with them; clean up their places; and
help them in any way. They need something like that so they can
stay at home. There’s a lot of unhappy people over at Denali
Center, and I wish something can be done about that.
Sanitation.
There's a lot of clinics in the state of Alaska, but not too
many in our region. There is some that don't have
running water. And that should be the first priority for everyone,
to try to get running water in these clinics. I don't think any
one of you guys would be very happy if you go to Fairbanks Memorial
or Providence in Anchorage and they don't have no running water;
and you'll have to run outside to use the outhouse. So there
is a lot of villages that don't have no running water. The State
did appropriate $500,000 last year; but it didn't even put a
dent in the problem.
The health aides in the villages, they need
counseling; they need help from different organizations. Out
there in the villages
-- to put out there meant that the stuff they have to go through
is pretty stressful. And a lot of 'em don't really have the training
that they should have, and it's pretty hard for them. That's
why, in some places, the health aides have a big turnover; and
they need to
have someone to talk to. And if we -- I don't know how to solve
that problem, but they do; and it was brought up to me several
times that the health aides just barely hang in there. It's really
stressful. And, again, I thank you for the opportunity to testify.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Thank you very much, Andy.
The points that you make are very good, and I think that the
health aide program
is one of the best programs I’ve seen, and I agree with
you. They do a wonderful job, and I know I've been personally
treated by them, and I appreciate them very much, and I Chink
they need to be supported. I think you're right. And I also think
the drug and alcohol, as you mentioned, is a very serious thing;
and there needs to be cooperation with the school districts.
And I agree with the points that you make. I thank you very much
for them. Are there any questions that the panel -- the Commissioners
would like to address this panel?
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON: I just
want to make a comment or two on what Andy said, and maybe, rather
than agreeing, we need to be
-- and we all tend to agree when we come up with some good points;
but I, too, want to echo his comments. Those health aides, and
other counselors -- now there's some suicide counselors, alcohol
prevention counselors that are being trained out there -- I
think, and doing a very good job. Those are very high-stress
jobs. They're low pay, They're long hours. You're dealing with
emergency situations with minimal skills sometimes. Not chat
they’re not dedicated; but the skill level that they have
to deal with some of the traumas that they deal with would overwhelm
most of us; and they really and truly are a cadre out there.
They're doing a great job.
And I appreciated your comments on
the recovery camps, because I know Tanana chiefs and others
have really done a great job
in getting these things going, and the fact that we need support
when the individuals leave the camp and go back home. And I
know, in some areas, there is some local concepts, or local ideas
being
put together. I visited a couple of communities where they're
developing community support groups; and I applaud them, where
they're -- if they see someone coming back, they have a group
of people who are trying to stay clean and sober themselves,
meet with that individual, and try to support him or her through
these times when they come back to the community. And that
s a community-base program, I think that Donna mentioned. I think
it has a lot of good ideas and, I know, good, solid support
in
the communities. So, it is the number one problem. I appreciate
the AFN and other groups with the Strong and Sober Blue Ribbon
Commission approach, and others that are taking place in the
region. I have no further comments, Mr. Chairman.
COMMISSIONER SEBESTA: Donna, I just was very impressed with the testimony
that you gave, especially the fact that programs
need
to come from the people and be run by the people. I really
appreciate that, and I'm very happy to see you, a Native
person as a doctor
among Native people; and I think that it's very encouraging.
I would like to talk with you more about some of the suggestions,
so that we can make good recommendations to the governments,
both state and federal.
DR. GALBREATH: Okay.
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