How to Facilitate Wellbriety Training Institute Programs

How to Facilitate Wellbriety

Training Institute Programs

White Bison, Inc./Wellbriety Training Institute Visions

About White Bison

White Bison, Inc., is an American

Indian non-profit charitable organization

operating under the provisions of 501(c)3

of the Internal Revenue Code and is based

in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Through

White Bison, it’s Founder and President

Don Coyhis, Mohican Nation, has offered

healing resources to Native America since

1988. White Bison offers sobriety, recovery,

addictions prevention, training and

wellness/Wellbriety learning resources to

the Native American community nationwide.

Many non-Native people also use White

Bison’s healing resource products, attend its

learning circles, and volunteer their services.

The Wellbriety Training

institute Vision

Vision: We are an internationally recognized,

Native American operated training institute

and center of excellence. We provide

culturally based training for professionals

and grass roots activists who work directly

with individuals, families and communities.

The Wellbriety

Movement Vision

A sustainable grass roots Wellbriety

Movement that provides culturally based

healing to the next seven generations of

indigenous people.

Wellbriety teachings

1. Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps-

Men/Women

2. Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps-

Boys/Girls

3. Mending Broken Hearts

4. Mending Broken Hearts- Youth

5. Understanding the Purpose

6. Fathers of Tradition

7. Mothers of Tradition

A Resource Guide

for Facilitators,

Recovery Coaches,

and Firestarters

“The Elders have told us

that we have entered the

“Coming Together Time” in which a

great healing can occur among

individuals, families,

communities and nations.”

Table of Contents

Visions P.1

Implementation P.2

FAQ's P.3

Reminders

P.4-5

Essential Processes P.6-9

Mindmap

P.10

Fidleity

P.11

Four Laws of changeP.12

talking circles

P.13

Mindmapping

P.14

Culture is Prevention

P.15-16

The Cylcle of Life

P.17

Foundations

P.18

Our Youth

P.19

Healthy Thoughts P.20-22

Notes

P.23

CheckList P.24

Lesson pLaning 25

ONline Registration P.10

Circle REgistration

P.26

Tracking the Circle

P.27

Attendence Roster

P.28

Participant Contact info

P.29

Pre-Program Survey

P.30-31

Post-Program Survey

P.32-33

Program Analysis

P.34-40

Milestones/Resources

P.41-42

Wellbriety Programs P.43

Circles of Wellbreity

Once trained, Certified Facilitators conduct Circles

of Wellbriety in their communities. Circles of

Wellbriety address many different recovery issues:

intergenerational trauma, alcoholism, drug addiction,

dual diagnosis, domestic violence, mental health,

etc. Wellbriety can involve individuals, families,

couples, teens and elders. This is why communities

frequently start Circles of Wellbriety for many areas

of dysfunction. Circles of Wellbriety can evolve

into a team committed to bringing healing to their

communities as well as themselves. This creates a

“Healing Forest” where all family and/or community

members can begin the healing process.

Facilitators find other individuals who share similar

experiences and make an agreement to meet on a

regular basis. The meetings are not about “fixing”

other people. They are about creating new thought

patterns, new attitudes, and new feelings about

yourself. The Programs are designed in a series of

modules that foster this process. Participants watch

a video that explains the teachings and how to apply

them. In addition, participants share their insights

and experiences in a talking circle. They also learn

how to mind map their own innate knowledge around

these teachings and then apply that knowledge to their

daily lives and decision making processes. For those

working in Circles of Wellbriety, strong social and

emotional bonds are created that help the participants

to develop trust, autonomy, and other healthy feelings

and thought patterns. These lead to emotional,

mental, physical, and spiritual growth and balance.

Depending on the community, the culture, or the

group, various additional experiences are added.

Drum groups, sweat lodges, singing, learning

traditional dances, learning traditional language, and

listening to local Elders can be part of the Program.

The framework allows for the program to be adapted

to fit the cultural and spiritual preferences of the

participants. Also, materials are designed for men,

women, youth and family members who may have

gender- or age-specific issues.

Continuous communication with Facilitators

and with communities using the programs

provide the nudging and nurturing that keep

volunteers enthusiastic. White Bison instituted

several methods of keeping the communication

pathways open with volunteer facilitators:

• Ongoing assistance and support for new Facilitators

through communication with White Bison and other

members, via Facebook – Wellbriety Technical

Assistance Center.

• White Bison, Inc. website at www.whitebison.org

and Facebook.

• Dedicated staff members reach out to and follow-up

with Facilitators to address their needs and to gather

their feedback; and

• E-mail blasts are sent and published regularly to

keep people informed about outreach efforts, new

resources, and to highlight new training events and

conferences.

Implementing Circles of Wellbriety

Circle

Choose a Name:

After your Circle has met a few

times, it is time to choose a name

for it. Your Circle should choose

a name that means something

significant to them.

Circle:

Once you choose a name, then

you can register your group at the

Wellbriety Training Institute website.

Go to www.wellbrietytraining.com,

then click on Wellbriety Circles drop

down menu, then click Wellbriety

Recovery Meetings; there you will

find a link to register your circle.

Or fax the Register Your Circle

document at the back of this

manual.

Materials for

your Circles/

Groups

Once you have attended a training

you will have the knowledge to

facilitate this program in your

community or organization. You

will receive materials to facilitate at

the training, Participant manuals

for your circles/groups can be

purchased through Coyhis

Publishing and Consulting, Inc. at

www.coyhispublishing.com or

1-866-518-5275.

Q: I was trained to facilitate

one of the 12 Trainings

programs. Can I facilitate others

without being certified?

A: Each training is different.

You will need to become

certified to facilitate the specific

program that you want to

implement. Please check the

Wellbriety Training Institute

website for available Trainings

events or call to coordinate one

in your community.

Q: There is so much to learn

in the Training Program; I feel

that I am not ready to facilitate

this program. How can I get

prepared?

A: Remember, your job as

a facilitator is to make the

material available to the people

in your group. You do not have

to memorize the concepts, nor

do you have to present them.

The videos will do that for you.

Q: I am not Native American.

Can I still hold groups/circles?

A: Yes! One thing to keep in

mind, the gatherings and the

circle are not yours. It belongs

to the individuals who attend.

The videos are the teacher.

You are coordinating a safe

environment for people to meet

and share. It is said we don’t put

information/teachings in, we

pull information teachings out.

Q: I really wish the training

had been longer. Why do you

have it for only three days?

A: The purpose of the

facilitator certification

is to provide you with

the skills and knowledge

that you need to facilitate

the program. All of the

trainings are designed to

be implemented over a

number of weeks. When

you begin to facilitate your

own Circle, you will find

that each session, you learn

more and more. The Circle itself

becomes the teacher.

Q: What is the typical length

of each session?

A: Depending on the

curriculum. However, usually

2 hours.

Q: How often do the circles

meet?

A: At least once a week.

However, twice a week is better.

Q: Should my meeting be

gender specific or is co-ed

alright?

A: It is best to have gender

specific circles. However, due

to the nature of the program

and logistics of your community

the circle may need to be co-ed.

One thing to keep in mind for

co-ed circles is the necessary

boundaries for participants and

facilitators. Much is shared

during the circles and close

bonds are created. We are here

to get well.

Q: How can I get questions

answered as I begin

implementing the program?

A: There are several areas

for assistance. Contact the

White Bison office directly,

go to the Facebook site or

page (Wellbriety Technical

Assistance Center “group” and

White Bison, Inc. “page” and

connect with others that have

gone through the program or

e-mail the office at any time for

assistance 1-877-871-1495 and

[email protected].

Q: I am not Native American,

can I still hold groups/circles?

A: Yes! One thing to keep

in mind the gatherings and the

circle are not yours. It belongs

to the individuals who attend.

The videos are the teacher,

you are coordinating a safe

envoirment for people to meet

and share.

Q: I wanted to implement

one of the youth prevention

programs at our local school,

but the principal wanted to

know where the training came

from and who developed it.

What materials can I use to

explain this program?

A: You are able to download

information brochures from the

Wellbriety Training Website

www.wellbrietytraining.com go

to the particular training you

are interested in and click on

“learn more”. You are welcome

to use these to help promote

your program to community

leaders and local organizations.

Q: Why is it important to

the website?

A: Many people may want

to learn if there is a Circle they

can join in their own community.

Others might want to share ideas

with someone who is actually

facilitating a Circle. Posting the

information allows people to

connect with one another.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Getting

Ready...

• Take the time to think

through and plan how

your meeting will go; use

the themes below to plan

what you will do; they will

help to keep you on track.

• Review each part of the

curriculum: The videos;

facilitator’s manual,

workbook, syllabus,

activity book, posters, etc.

(Each curriculum has a little

different set of curriculum).

The facilitator’s manual

should give you useful

resources and tips for

planning the lessons and

setting up the Circles.

• Review the video tape

for the session and think

through what you could

do to help keep people

involved in the material

on the video and in the

workbook. Remember

that the tapes provide the

teacher. The facilitator

makes sure that everyone

has a workbook and that

they keep focused on

the topics for the day.

• Your goal is to make

sure that people hear

the instructions and

teachings in the video.

Show them how to mind

map the material. Some

of the work will be done

in group, other times

there will be homework.

• For each of the following,

think through what

themes, instruction,

materials, or activities

you need to have in mind.

(Not all of the items will be

relevant for each session).

REMINDERS FROM

YOUR TRAINING

SESSION!

It is our hope that you will

set up Circles in your own

community. This guide should

help you do that. It includes

instructions, resources and

suggestions for implementing

the Wellbriety Training

programs in your community.

It has tips and reminders from

the material that you learned

at your certification training.

There are several pointers to

help you get oriented.

1. All Wellbriety Training

Institute trainings are part of the

Wellbriety Program Community

Curriculum. Each program is

designed to implement a vision

of Wellbriety: a sober life that is

balanced emotionally, mentally,

physically, and spiritually.

In addition, the programs are

designed to address prevention,

treatment, intervention and

recovery. There are programs

for individuals, families, youth,

adult and communities.

2. All White Bison trainings

are spiritually grounded.

People are spiritual beings.

All healing takes place at the

emotional, mental, physical,

and spiritual levels. Traditional

teachings tell us that wellness

is state of being in which the

person is in harmony with

natural law, principles and

values. Opening ceremonies

with a moment set aside for

reflection and prayer are

encouraged.

3. All Wellbriety Training

Institute trainings are

culturally based. This means

that they all share the same

Native American principles,

laws and values. Each program

is based upon the Teachings of

the Medicine Wheel that were

shared with White Bison by

Elders and Clan Mothers of

many different tribes. Cultural

stories, knowledge, practices,

ceremonies, language, music,

dance, and artifacts all play a

part in learning. It is important

that the cultural practices

and traditions of your own

community be included in

the activities, discussions,

and approach of the various

sessions.

4. All Wellbriety Training

Institute trainings reflect the

Healing Forest Model and the

traditional teachings of the

Cycle of Life. The teachings

and principles of these

approaches are very important

for the success of the various

trainings.

5. All White Bison trainings

are video based. This means

that the teacher is the video

(DVD). It is not necessary for

the facilitator to know all of

the teachings at the beginning.

The video provides what is

needed for each of the sessions.

The important part for the

facilitator is to use the videos

as the primary way of sharing

information.

6.All Wellbriety Training

Institute trainings rely on the

concept that education means

to “draw out.” In other words,

each person has knowledge

within himself or herself. The

purpose of the video tapes and

the workbooks or activity books

is to awaken that knowledge.

The process of mind mapping

helps people to organize and

relate information to their

own lives. Thus, learning and

practicing your own mind

mapping skills is very helpful.

The Sacred Hoop was

assembled in a Sweat

Lodge after 100 Eagle

feathers were sent

from all over the

country and canada.

The Elders blessed the Hoop and put in it four gifts:

hope, healing, forgiveness and unity.

COMMITMENTS

1. Everything that you say, hear,

or see in the Circle meetings is

kept confidential.

2. Nothing is shared outside

the meeting.

3. These meetings are

designed for learning, sharing

and healing.

4. Each person is to be

responsible for his or her own

choices and behaviors.

5. The Creator is involved in

the Talking Circles and will help

to create new thought patterns,

new attitudes and new feelings

about ourselves.

6. The meetings are voluntary

and self-supporting.

MORE HELP

VIDEO

Be sure you review the

videos included with this

Facilitator’s Manual!

More Teaching Videos

can be found at

http://www.youtube.com/

user/WBDonC

7.All Wellbriety Training

Institute trainings include the

talking circle process in one

form or another. This is an

important resource to use for

helping people (a) get to know

each other; (b) share ideas; (c)

learn to listen; and (d) build

trust among themselves and

within the Circle.

8. The suggested size for

the Circle for these training

materials is between 8 and

15 people. The program

will work with one or two,

but the dynamics of the

talking circles and the mind

mapping processes work more

effectively when there are a

number of people sharing. It

is also important to remember

that talking circles take time.

The more people in the

circle, the more time it takes

to go around the circle in a

meaningful way.

9. There is an opportunity

to share ideas with other

facilitators by visiting

Wellbriety Technical

Assistance Center on Facebook.

In this environment, you are

welcome to post questions,

share experiences and

approaches to implementing

any of the trainings. Also,

if you have questions about

implementing the trainings,

you are welcome to contact

the office.

10. A very helpful resource

is the Red Road to Wellbriety:

In the Native American Way

published by White Bison,

Inc. in 2002. Copies may

be obtained through the

Coyhis Publishing website at

www.coyhispublishing.com.

11. Those who participate

in the White Bison certification

trainings to become facilitators

receive a set of materials

for the curriculum and a

DVD with the curriculum.

Participant manuals for

your circle can be obtained

at Coyhis Publishing website,

www.coyhispublishing.com.

12. The more you work

with the materials and the

videos, the greater your

comfort level will become.

The Sacred Hoop was assembled in a Sweat Lodge

after 100 Eagle feathers were sent from all over the

country. The Elders blessed the Hoop and put in it four

gifts: hope, healing, forgiveness and unity.

The Sacred Hoop traveled four journeys for

25,000 miles between 1999 and 2003, bringing the

message of the Wellbriety Movement.

In 2009, for the Wellbriety Journey for

Forgiveness, the Sacred Hoop Traveled 6800

miles to visit sites of Boarding Schools across the

United States.

The Sacred Hoop

Wellbriety Training is Culturally Based

(Read the story at http://www.whitebison.org/wellbriety-journey/NewsStories.htm).

Processes or Approach

needed for success

Description

How it is implemented

Mind mapping

Each of the programs includes the

teachings of the Medicine Wheel, the Cycle

of Life Teachings, the Four Laws of Change

and the Healing Forest Model.

These critical teachings form the

foundation of the Wellbriety Movement

programs developed by White Bison. The

teachings have come to us from Elders in

various communities over many years. Our

goal has been to make them accessible and

applicable to people of all ages.

In many traditional cultures these

teachings were passed from one generation

to the next by the Elders. They had many

different names: Teachings of the Good

Mind, Teachings of the Elders, Teachings

of the Medicine Wheel. (Different

designations in different cultures).

Each training program will

have a video presentation about

the teachings and there will also be

sections in the training manuals that

explain these teachings. Participants

are urged to “work with them” in

their own lives as a way to experience

their usefulness and power.

Some of the teachings have been

recorded as sayings in the journals, or

in the books written to accompany the

trainings. Others have been captured

in posters and in power point slides

that accompany the trainings.

It is important for facilitators to

understand the significance of these

teachings and why they need to be

central to the White Bison Wellbriety

programs.

teachings

This is a cooperative learning

experience in which the facilitator draws

information FROM the participants. This is

based upon the teaching that the individual

KNOWS what is important and that with

prompting can find the answers within

himself or herself. The teacher presents

concepts, facts, or questions and the

learners respond with their understanding.

Mind mapping uses this approach which

is very similar to the traditional teaching

methods in which the Elder would ask

questions that would make the learner

think and apply what had been observed.

This is an important learning practice.

Mind mapping is used for learning

and applying many of the teachings

and concepts. It is used also as an

organization tool to capture

information in planning sessions,

for preparing lessons, and for

remembering important points.

Essential Processes and Approaches, Cont.

Processes or Approach

needed for success

Description

how it is implemented

Learning traditional

ceremonies, practices

crafts or lifeways

People who have “been there, done

that” have much strength, experience

and wisdom to share with others. Mentors

can be “peers” (i.e. others in recovery,

youth of the same age group) or they can

be older youth helping younger youth,

or caring adults helping youth, or caring

adults helping other adults.

Mentoring also occurs in social support

networks and in mutual support groups.

The mentoring process serves to help

those who are “searching” to find the path.

Those who want to learn how to work their

way through challenges will find many

opportunities through the mentoring

relationship.

Wellbriety programs are designed

to provide mutual support. All of the

programs were designed by Native

Americans in the recovery community,

for other Native Americans. Youth and

adult programs encourage the

development of “circles.”

The Circle itself is a powerful medium

for healing and for change. Learning

within a circle of peers can accelerate

healing and create a connectedness that,

in itself, helps people overcome barriers.

Facilitators are encouraged to seat people

in a circle so they can see each other.

Sharing and mentoring are very important

for the healing process. Being connected

to a community and being responsible

for others in a healthy way, brings about

personal growth and builds character.

Mentoring by peers

or by caring adults

Learning about local traditional

cultural and spiritual practices is

an important way for a person to “get

connected” to his or her culture. The

Wellbriety programs encourage facilitators

to work with local elders to incorporate

some of the traditional ceremonies and

spiritual practices (as well as those

connected to the local churches).

For many of the youth programs,

traditional crafts, such as beading, making

cradle boards, flutes, and powwow regalia

are encouraged. It is intended that these

be taught in the traditional ways, so that

the youth will understand the meaning

and the "ceremony" that goes into the

traditional arts and crafts.

Facilitators are encouraged to learn

how to conduct opening ceremonies.

Many tribes also have ceremonies for

age related rites of passage, for marriage,

for healing, for making relatives, and

for a variety of personal, family, and

community issues. Elders can also

provide cultural teachings and knowledge

about the traditional ways of living. It

is important to learn what these are in

the local community. Churches can be

another source of spiritual practices that

can help with healing

Many of the cultural traditions and

practices can be woven into the lesson

plans. Some of the practices, depending

upon local traditions, might include

sweat lodge, pipe ceremony, drumming,

or dance. Traditional sports can also be

appropriate, especially team sports. Local

cultural traditions can be very helpful in

the healing process. They also help youth

and adults reconnect to their cultural

heritage.

Essential Processes and Approaches

Processes or Approach

needed for success

description

how it is implemented

Journaling

Giving back to your own community

is an important part of belonging.

Healing occurs at the individual, family,

community, and nation levels. Community

involvement or learning through service to

others, is a way for those in recovery and

for youth to develop confidence, leadership

skills, and most importantly, to develop a

sense of connectedness to others. Those

who reach out to others find out that they

can learn from other people and that they

have something to share with other people.

For those in recovery and for youth, service

learning and community involvement can

be a stepping stone to gainful employment.

Community involvement and service

learning are integrated throughout the

Wellbriety programs.

Training of community members

as facilitators assures that they will

provide the teachings to others in their

community. Adults in recovery, and

youth who participate in the various

programs learn how to set goals,

plan and implement events, group

activities, coalitions, and community

change efforts.

Community

Involvement

( Service

Learning)

Writing down what you are thinking,

writing down personal responses to

what is seen, heard, or experienced and

then reading them back to yourself over

time helps to (a) learn how you react to

situations;(b) learn to read the "patterns"

in your thought processes;(c) practice

expressing feelings and describing specific

experiences; and (d) begin to identify what

to change in order to have a more healthy

life.

In the youth and adult programs,

"journaling" can take place using

writing, mind mapping, or drawing,

depending upon the exercises and the

age of the participant. Journal notes

can be used as prompts in talking

circles, or they can be private. They

can be used by participants who

work with a partner, or in a small

group, to sort out a problem and find

alternatives to a pattern of thinking

and reacting.

Journaling can be used to help youth

"draw out" their own thoughts and

understanding about specific issues.

Working through each of the 12 Steps

also uses a mind mapping journaling

process.

Essential Processes and Approaches, Cont.

Processes or Approach

needed for success

Description

How it is implemented

Opening ceremony

The major teachings and instructions

for each step of the learning process are

contained in the DVD'S for each of the

Wellbriety Training Institutes Training

Program.

Some of the videos are designed as

instructional resources for facilitators.

The videos (DVDs) for these

programs serve as the “teacher.” Use

them as described in the curriculum

manual. Each time a video is shown, it

should be followed by a talking circle

in which participants describe their

thoughts, feelings and experience with

the content of the video. Participants

should also be encouraged to write about

these experiences in their journaling

exercises.

Videos/DVDs

Learning and particpatin in cultural/

spiritual practices; learning about prayer.

The agenda for each session begins

with the opening ceremony. In the

beginning, the facilitator would invite and

Elder or Clan Mother to explain how the

ceremonies work. Some circles may also

choose to use those spiritual practices

associated with their preferred faith.

Each time the ceremony is performed

it is explained. After a time, youth and

adults will be able to conduct the opening

ceremony themselves.

Talking circles

”The circle provides healing.” Talking

Circles are traditional in Native American

communities. They have been used for

centuries as a learning format a decision

making process, conflict management

process, and general healing process.

There are specific rules for participating

in the circle and for initiating the circle.

One of the rules is that people cannot be

interrupted; only one person speaks at

a time. This particular rule encourages

validation of the individual and helps

him or her to realize that the thoughts,

feelings, and opinions of others are to

be valued and acknowledged. For those

who come from dysfunctional families

(“Don’t trust. Don’t Talk. Don’t Feel.”)

This knowledge and experience can be

healing in itself.

How to conduct talking circles

can be found at:

http://youtu.be/3RdIX7UM4ks

Talking Circles are a part of almost every

session in every program. Facilitators are

taught how to implement them and they,

in turn, teach the participants the rules

of the Talking Circle. Talking Circles are

used to debrief the videos, to explore

concepts, teachings, issues, feelings,

and experiences. Participants learn to

express themselves emotionally and

mentally. Spiritually, participants learn

to experience the healing that being a

part of a community (i.e. the circle)

brings.

The mutual support networks (webs)

that are formed are often lasting.

Parents, families, youth, couples,

co-workers, community agency workers

are encouraged to apply talking circles

as a resource for solving problems,

making decisions, addressing specific

issues, manage conflict, sort out feelings,

develop solutions, ideas, and uncover

important values.

Essential Processes and Approaches

(Read the story at http://www.whitebison.org/wellbriety-journey/NewsStories.htm).

MIND MAP WILL GO HERE

Mind map for starting cirlces

Website

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Bison, Inc.

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the Wellbriety

Institute training

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dates, discussion

board, Technical

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Center,access

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Fidelity

(mAKING SURE THE PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL)

Some people have asked, “How can I be sure

that implementing this program will work?”

Success in any effort requires that you follow

the “Natural Order” of the task. Determining

whether a program works or not depends upon

implementing it the way that it was intended.

One of the most important things to remember

about Wellbriety Training programs is that

they each have a “natural order.” This means

that certain topics are scheduled before other

topics. In the Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps it

is important to complete Step 1 through Step

12. Some teachings and concepts have to be

understood before a person can get the most

out of what comes later. In the youth and

family programs there is also a natural order:

Individual, Family, Community, and Nation.

One must learn about one’s self before trying

to understand the family, or the community,

or the nation.

Because we are trying to determine the

effectiveness of the White Bison programs,

it is important that they are implemented as

they were intended. The main processes used

to develop understanding and to learn how to

implement the teachings include the videos,

talking circles, and mind mapping. These

teaching processes were used by our ancestors

to share the principles, laws, and values that

create the “Good Life.”

In the youth programs, the key elements

are the teachings, talking circles, mentoring,

service learning, and character development.

Youth also need a great deal of “hands on”

and “interaction” in order to learn. To help

the youth get the most out of these videos, it

is important to talk to them about how the

Elders passed along teachings in the days of

our ancestors. Elders spoke, youth listened.

After the video is completed, hold a talking

circle to have the youth share their experience,

thoughts, and feelings about what was in the

video. This time of processing the information

is essential for the learning to be complete.

The charts on the previous pages provide the

context and the processes that are essential for

the White Bison programs to work effectively.

Ensuring that they are followed will ensure

that the program that is implemented retains

“fidelity” with the way that it was intended to

be implemented.

FIDELITY

THE FOUR LAWS OF CHANGE

The Elders have told us that

in order for any change to be

successful, there are four laws that

must be followed. Understanding

these Laws can help us succeed in

our Journey to Wellbriety.

Change is from Within

Remember to tell the people they must change

themselves from within. Making changes must come

from an internal desire to make a difference in our

lives. We must make a conscious effort to change

our intent, our choices, our behaviors, and even

our feelings and assumptions about who we are as

spouses, parents and family members.

Becoming a healthy person requires a commitment

from within ourselves. Becoming a healthy family or

community also requires a commitment

Teaching: Inside of every human being is the

innate knowledge of your own well-being.

Teaching: All permanent and lasting change

starts on the inside, then works its way out.

Teaching: To ensure permanent change for a

person, it must happen on the inside first.

#2 In order for development to

occur, it must be preceded by a vision.

Once a person/family starts to grow, they need to

create a vision/pictures that they will use to develop

themselves. It is important to develop a vision of the

role that a healthy family plays and the values that

a healthy person displays in his or her relationships

with family and community members. The Wellbriety

Movement helps each person take the steps to create

a better life for self, family and community.

Teaching: You move toward and become like

that which you think about. If you move toward and

become like that which you think about, then it is

important to think about what you are thinking about.

Teaching: The law of vision ensures that your

future will not be an accident. Once you develop

the vision, the spiritual world will then give you a

development plan and guide your actions to move

towards the vision you just created.The Wellbriety

Movement Vision

#3 A Great Learning must take

place

Everyone needs to be a part of the change in order

for a change to occur.

Teaching: In order for change to occur, the

whole cycle must be involved in the change: baby,

youth, adult, elder; individual, family, community,

nation. If children are to change, then the parent,

relatives, family, elders must be changing themselves

also.

#4 You must create a Healing Forest

• The healing forest model is illustrated below.

The idea is that a forest, like a community, is

only as healthy as its roots and environment.

Unless individuals, families and communities are

provided with a means of overcoming the impact

of the unhealthy, dysfunctional root system (anger,

guilt, shame and fear), they will find themselves

participating in unhealthy behaviors.

• Traditional cultural practices (ceremonies,

teachings of the elders, understanding of one’s place

on the Mother Earth and understanding of the

meaning of spiritual and cultural practices) can

enable individuals to make positive and healthy

choices about their lives.

• It is our role as parents and grandparents,

community leaders and Elders to create a healing

forest for our children grounded in love, respect,

forgiveness and acceptance.

• If the community is to change, the new change

must occur at the root level. Values, culture,

spirituality, teachings, and ethics must replace the

anger, guilt, shame and fear.

Set-up Circle

Arrange Chairs in a

circle

Identify an item that can

be used as a talking tool

(i.e. feather, stone, stick)

Open the Talking Circle

by asking for guidance

from the Creator

(using your own

spiritual tradition).

Review the rules for the

Talking Circle:

Everything said in the

talking circle stays in the

talking circle.

Everything heard in the

talking circle stays in the

talking circle.

Everything seen in the

talking circle stays in the

talking circle.

Only one person speaks

at a time. (i.e. the person

holding the feather)

Show respect to others

by not interrupting.

Listen very carefully

to what each person is

saying.

Speak from your own

strengths, experience

and hope.

Go around the circle

clockwise

(If it is your community’s

custom to go

counter clockwise, then

use that approach)

(Read the story at http://www.whitebison.org/wellbriety-journey/NewsStories.htm).

The talking circle is a way

of communicating that is

designed to have people sit in a

circle. The universe is designed

to function in a circle. The

planets travel in a circle, the

moon travels around the earth,

the seasons are circles, the

cycle of life--baby, youth, adult,

Elder-is a circle; and electrons

travel in a circle. Energy also

travels in a circle. The universe

is interconnected. When

people sit in a circle, they will

naturally connect with one

another. It is difficult to

connect when sitting in rows

because energy does not travel

in straight lines.

Where did the

Talking Circle

come from?

In the old days, Native

American people lived their

entire lives in harmony with

the universe. Their teepees

were round, the villages were

constructed in a circle and the

ceremonies were conducted in

a circle. Circles were a way

of life. People lived their lives

and conducted themselves

according to the principles,

laws and values which were

given by the Creator. One

of these values was to be

respectful. Whenever people

sat down to talk, they would

form a circle and would talk

one at a time. Everyone would

have his or her say. People

would not interrupt and people

would not be passed over if

they wanted to speak.

When is the

Talking Circle

used?

Whenever you desire to have

people talk from their hearts

as well as from their heads.

There is a saying: “The whole

is greater than the sum of its

parts.” Having the group sit

in a circle and take the time to

connect with each other, will

connect each person’s mind to

form “one great mind.” This

connecting of the minds will

create solutions and ideas that

will be far more useful than

the results of only one person

thinking alone.

How does the

Talking Circle

work?

1. Have people sit in a circle.

2. The circle has four

directions: east, south,

west, north. The facilitator

should sit in the east.

3. Each time the circle meets,

the facilitator needs to

explain the principles

for the talking circle:

Principles

• The circle is sacred. It

was given to us by the

Creator. This is one of

Creators many gifts which

we are to use according

to Creator's instructions.

• The circle represents life

and everything that is

good. The circle represents

harmony and balance.

It is to be respected.

• Please respect the

following guidelines: The

circle is sacred. “ Who you

see here, what you hear

here, when you leave

here, let it stay here.”

1. Arrange chairs in a circle.

2. Identify an item that can

be used as a talking tool

(i.e. feather, stone, stick)

3. Open the Talking Circle by

asking for guidance from

the Creator (using your

own spiritual tradition).

4. Review the rules for

the Talking Circle:

Everything said in the talking

circle stays in the talking circle.

Everything heard in the talking

circle stays in the talking circle.

Everything seen in the talking

circle stays in the talking circle.

Only one person speaks at a

time. (i.e. the person holding

the talking tool)

♦Show respect to others by

not interrupting.

♦Listen very carefully to what

each person is saying.

♦Speak from your own

strengths, experience and hope.

♦Go around the circle

clockwise (If it is your

community’s custom to go

counter clockwise, then use

that approach)

What happens

as a result of the

circle?

Because the circle is in

harmony with the universe,

there are certain gifts which

will be given to the group,

providing that the guidelines

are followed. The first gift will

be the feeling of belonging

and the second gift will be the

sense of trust. It is these two

gifts that enable the group

(and the individual) to grow in

effectiveness.

Having individuals sit in a

circle each time the group

meets will help them tap into

their innate knowledge of what

is right and what is healthy.

The Talking Circle

Mind Mapping

Building Mind Maps

Mind maps are designed to draw out innate knowledge

from the individual or the group. The way that the

mind mapping process is approached can make the

difference between gathering meaningful information

or superficial words. Building a mind map is a process

that has several steps. These steps can be described as:

Creating the Picture, Identifying Trigger Words, Going

to the Next Level, and Reflecting on the Whole.

Creating the Picture

Mind maps begin with a picture. This picture is best

drawn--even if the drawing looks pretty “primitive!”

Stick figures, symbols or shapes can be used. The best

pictures come from the person or the group. The way

to get to the picture is to ask the following questions:

• What images do you see when we talk about this

idea?

• What symbols do you know of that could represent

this idea?

• What are you SEEING in your mind when we talk

about this idea?

The goal is to try to get to the “essence” of the idea; the

bottom line of what it means. When people first begin

using mind maps, there is the tendency to want to put

a word in the center. Pictures access the creative and

emotion focused part of the brain. Words access the

logical part of the brain, so it is better if pictures are

used; also pictures can express more in a small space

than words can. It is also a good idea to use colored

marking pens -- the colors and the pictures will bring

forth emotional responses more readily than pencil and

words. (In this curriculum, many of the mind maps

have words in the center of the circle. These words are

only there to provide a theme. The participants should

draw a picture or cut out a picture to put in the center

of the mind map. They can just paste it on top of the

circle).” You are always encouraged to build your own

mind maps with your own pictures in the center.

Trigger Words

Once the picture is developed and drawn (or pasted

on the circle), then it is time to begin identifying

trigger words. A trigger word is a word that comes as

an immediate response to the picture. “What do you

think of when you look at this picture and think about

this concept?” These are generally random and may be

different for each person. It would help to put several

lines around the picture in the shape of spokes on a

wheel. The posters vary. The purpose of the line is to

get the brain to respond by wanting to “fill in the blank.”

(One of the principles of the way the brain works is that

it is always trying to complete things. It doesn’t like

blank spaces, lack of closure or missing information.)

The actual number of lines will depend on how many

trigger words you and your group identify. The phrase

“anything else” and adding another blank line might

draw out a few more responses if there ideas seem to

be missing from the trigger words. Trigger words, are

just words, not sentences. It is best to use only one

word on each line; however, sometimes the word is

accompanied by defining term. Other clarifiers can be

place on new branches that extend from the word.

Going to the next level

After constructing the trigger words around the picture,

then choose one to start with and expand it using a

phrase like: “What does this make you think of?” “What

about this word?” “What is it related to?” Going to the

next level and then to the next level after that is very

important. The first trigger words may be superficial--

things that everyone says. When you start going down

deeper and deeper, you get to the REAL issues and

the REAL words that the person or group thinks is

important. Continuing to probe with “What else?” A

blank line is a good way to keep the group moving on

the issue.

In the example above, the bold words are the “trigger

words.” The branches extending from those words are the

words that are the answers to “so what about this?”. The

could be verbs, nouns, or adjectives. They can be written in

different colors. They could be pictures too. For instance

Happy Face or a Sad Face could be substituted for “happy/

not happy.” Not only are the words or picture chosen here,

but there is freedom for discussion and description of what

various people mean. There is no hurry. Remember to ask

at each level: “What about this?”

Reflecting on the whole

Once the group has exhausted its “drawing out”

process, it is time to look at the big picture. Look for

relationships, patterns, or themes. Use colored markers

to draw arrows or circles around things. Get the

participants to summarize what they have learned, what

teachings are “hidden”in the themes and words.

CULTURE IS PREVENTION

Culture is Prevention

Our ability to see the issues of the children can be

clouded by our own experiences growing up in an

family with alcohol or drug addiction.

Often adults who grew up in families with these

issues have unacknowledged anger, guilt, shame, and

fear. These responses have become internalized to

the extent that they filter every interaction and every

decision in one’s life.

Experiences of neglect, emotional, physical, even

sexual abuse, the lack of support, the need to “be the

adult” the need to take care of other siblings because

parents cannot, economic and spiritual poverty ....

all of these issues become “normal” to children who

grow up in a household ruled by alcohol or drugs.

In today’s environment, meth adds another layer of

dysfunction. Individuals who use meth can become

excessively violent; their hallucinations can result

in death for themselves and those around them. The

chemicals used to manufacture meth can have long

lasting physical effects on children.

For children life in a family affected by alcohol or

drugs, the experiences can leave lasting scars and

they can shape a young person’s world view, making

the dysfunctional behaviors appear to be normal. As

we become aware of the characteristics of Children

of Alcoholics and how those characteristics affect

us as adults, we can begin to see the importance

of healing ourselves first and then helping those

children in our care to learn new coping skills

and new ways of understanding themselves.

Flowing through the entire Families of Tradition

curriculum is the principle that Culture is Prevention.

Living within the context of a rich culture and

developing an understanding of the Natural

Principles, Laws and Values that our ancestors knew,

create pathways to prevention.

• People are either in harmony or out of harmony

with the principles, laws, and values. Living in

harmony is called culture. It is from understanding

and living in harmony with these principles, laws and

values that individuals develop the “Good Mind.”

• The natural state of the human being is to trust and

they only learn mistrust as a result of dysfunctional

environments and fear-based behavior on the part of

those who are supposed to care for them.

• The eight feelings and eight though patterns are

the source of positive (functional) behaviors.

• Changes must happen in the spiritual (unseen)

world before they can be observed in the behavioral

(seen) world.

• Families must learn to look within to develop

healthy boundaries and thought patterns.

• Looking beyond one’s self by helping others and

serving the Creator are pathways to creating meaning

in one’s life; cultural and spiritual traditions provide

the structure and the process for finding these

pathways.

• The more individuals learn to understand and

participate in traditional cultural and spiritual values

and practices, the more likely they will be able to

develop the feeling of meaningfulness that will guide

them in making healthy choices.

• Character defects are created as a result of a fear

based system. Personal assets develop as a result of

a love based system. By adding healthy principles,

laws, and values to the “soil” of the culture, the fear

based system will be replaced by a system of healthy

values: respect, harmony, unity, hope, and love.

Culture is reflected in the

behavior of individuals and

communities.

The chart that follows lists a variety of actions

that demonstrate commitment to the principle that

Culture is Prevention.

Culture is Prevention - Themes and Issues

Individual Family Community Nation

Emotional

Development of a

sense of trust;

Development of the

eight feelings for

healthy

living;

Self-identity with

Native American

Culture

Development of a

sense of trust, security,

and safety

Importance of family

network of relationships

(extended family);

Knowledge of clan

system

Creating community

systems and

leadership

for ensuring safety

and wellbeing;

Promoting

celebrations and

ceremonies

that create

interconnectedness

Identification of the nation

with the environment and

what that means as a "people"-

-enhancing the

sense of identity as a nation--

what it means to "be"

Physical

Development of healthy

behaviors and lifestyles

Learning traditional

practices and ways of

doing things

(ceremonies, crafts,

physical strength and

conditioning)

Transmitting the

traditional practices

such as ceremonies,

drumming, dancing,

singing, etc. from one

generation to another;

Including Elders as a

part of family problem

solving, celebrations,

and decisions. Making

sure that the voices of

the children are heard.

Healthy relationship

to environment;

attention to physical

surroundings;

Creating systems

that care for the land

and create a sense

of appreciation for

surrounding; Create

systems that link and

coordinate

community services

Creation of policies,

practices, cultural

centers, methods of

transmitting culture

using traditional and

technological means.

Establishing local

policies and practices

that demonstrate

respect for the Earth

and environment.

Mental

Ability to set clear

boundaries;

Knowledge of and

understanding of

traditional teachings;

Ability to apply them in

problem solving and

decision making in

everyday life.

Communicating

knowledge of language,

traditions, and cultural

practices; Development

of an understanding of

the role that language

plays in the Natural

Order

Developing

community

vision that defines

practices,

expectations,

and actions based on

traditional values that

support healthy

thinking

and relationships

Providing guidance and

systems for thinking

about and transmitting

and clarifying traditions,

ceremonies, cultural

and spiritual teachings

from one generation to

the next; Developing

strategies for

communicating with

other nations.

Spiritual

Belief in the Natural

Order (natural laws,

principles and values)

Participation in

cultural

practices and

ceremonies.

Application of

language, stories,

spiritual and cultural

traditions to one's life;

Applying principles,

laws and values of the

Natural Order; Living

within the values of the

community (i.e.

courage, humility,

interconnectedness)

Provide leadership in

preserving and

redefining spiritual

and

cultural traditions,

language, stories,

songs, ceremonies,

and

the Natural Order for

healthy living

Providing guidance and

systems for thinking

about and transmitting

and clarifying traditions,

ceremonies, cultural

and spiritual teachings

from one generation to

the next; Developing

strategies for

communicating with

other nations.

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMETGOUtq24

The Cycle of Life Teachings: Eight

Feelings and Eight Thought Patterns

The Healthy Path from Baby, To

Youth, To Adult, To Elder

Eight Feelings and

Eight thought patterns

The Cycle of Life teachings explain the development

of eight feelings and eight thought patterns. In

order for a person to develop in a healthy way, these

eight feelings and thought patterns must develop

sequentially. For many people, important stages of

development were disrupted or are incomplete due

to traumatic childhood experiences, illness, or as

the result of alcoholism or substance abuse. The list

below shows what individuals should have developed

by the time they become adults. But many people

who were raised in families with alcohol or drug

dependence and dysfunction there was another set

of experiences: “Don’t Talk! Don’t Trust! Don’t Feel!”

All White Bison trainings include the Cycle of Life

teachings.

Cycle of Life teachings

• Trust (feeling of security)

• Independence (feeling of autonomy)

• Initiative (feeling of being able to take a risk)

• Accomplishment (being good at something,

being good for something)

• Identity (feeling of knowing who I am)

• Intimacy (feeling that I belong somewhere,

connectedness)

• Generativity (feeling of being able to give back

what I have learned)

• Integrity (Feeling of confidence -- What would

you do when no one is watching?)

the cycle of life

“The human

being runs HIS

OR HER ENTIRE

LIFE BASED UPON

EIGHT THOUGHT

PATTERNS.”

Tips to

help start

a circle in

your family

Participate

Because this is a process

that involves all the family

members, it is important that

everyone participates

in setting up and designing

how the Family Talking Circle

night

will occur.

Specific Time:

Select a specific night/time

of the week that is designated

as Family Talking Circle time.

Everyone is

required to be there--especially

Mom and Dad. This might

mean some negotiation at

work.

use suggestions

Position a basket or a jar in the

room and some paper. Each

person in the family can write

down

dinner suggestions for Talking

Circle night. Each night one

of the suggestions would be

selected as the meal for the

event. Let people suggest

“interesting foods” --- banana

split, chocolate chip cookies,

hamburgers, pizza. If the

talking circle occurs at dinner

time, there is no reason why

a 4 year old can’t request ice

cream for the night’s ‘dinner!’

The goal is to make this a fun

occasion and to give each

person the opportunity to “be

in charge.” (Mom can put

vegetables and salad on her

suggestion slip!)

OUR YOUTH

We must change the way we think

and feel to change the way our

children grow.

The forest in the picture below represents the

communities in which we live. Many of the adults

are unhealthy. Some are alcoholics, some have

drug abuse problems, some abuse their children or

their spouse, some have been in prison. Some have

grown up in alcoholic families themselves and have

continued to teach their children what they learned

themselves as children. Some of our adults experience

depression and some have mental illnesses. Many

come from broken families, and many experience

the break up of their current family. Beneath this

community of adult “trees” are the children trees that

are trying to develop into healthy adults themselves.

Unfortunately, the nutrients in the culture in which

they are all growing are contaminated with anger,

guilt, shame and fear.

It is the goal of this program to help Native

Americans who work with children to learn new ways

of thinking and feeling about themselves and to learn

new ways of helping their children develop. On the

next couple of pages, the trees represent the issues

that children deal with in the community at different

ages. The video on the Cycle of Life provides an

in-depth overview of the needs and developmental

issues for each of the 8 feelings and thought patterns

that are described. As a mentor, teacher, guardian or

care provider you can help the children in your care

to master the healthy thought patterns and feelings

that will prepare them to be healthy human beings.

The healthy forest on page 20 illustrates how

the forest (community) will look when adults and

children have the ability to choose healthy thoughts

and feelings. This comes about through a spiritual

process of prayer, ceremony, learning traditional

values, cultural ways and passing those on to our

children.

The material on the pages that follow provide

information that is vital in the development of

healthy Native American parents and children. The

Four Laws of Change, the chart on previous pages

explain what has to happen in order for things to

change and illustrates healthy development and

unhealthy development of children. The Forest

pictures that follow describe these issues in relation

to the Cycle of Life and the Healing Forest.

FOUNDATIONS FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN

FOUNDATIONS FOR

HEALTHY CHILDREN

1. Children are unique and special human beings.

2. Children deserve to receive affection,

nourishment, and attention from their parents.

3. Children deserve to receive respect as individual

beings.

4. Children need to grow emotionally, mentally,

physically, and spiritually.

5. Adults are responsible for teaching children the

proper way to behave in society.

6. Adults must learn healthy ways of disciplining

children; hitting is not one of those.

7. Cultural and spiritual teachings can provide a

child with a healthy foundation.

8. Children require different responses at different

ages.

9. Children express their feelings emotionally,

physically, and behaviorally; adults have the

responsibility to guide their expressions in healthy

directions.

10. No one has the right to touch children

inappropriately; adults have the responsibility to

teach children that their bodies are their own.

11. Children learn from what they see and hear.

Adults and older children are their teachers.

12. Children are our future; adults must guide

children as they develop the values, behaviors,

beliefs, and attitudes of the new generation.

Five Promises for Parents:

1. Be the caring adult in a child’s life

2. Create a safe place.

3. Create a healthy start.

4. Develop skills for learning and literacy.

5. Develop a healthy emotional, physical,

mental, and spiritual foundation.

MESSAGES CHILDREN NEED

TO HEAR

• You’re not alone.

• There are safe, caring adults who will help you.

• It is OK to experience your feelings.

• Treatment helps; Recovery happens. Wellness

is Possible.

• It’s not your fault.

• Addiction and Alcoholism are health problems.

• It is important to talk about what you are

experiencing

Even if your parents continue drinking, you can

live a healthy life.

Children of Alcoholics Program Kit for Native

American Youth (published by SAMHSA/

NACOA and available at the SAMHSA National

Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information

http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/promos/coa

The Red Road to Wellbriety: In the Native

American Way (published by Coyhis Publishing

and available on the Coyhis Publishing website

www.coyhispublishing.com).

Seven Philosophies for Men: In the Native

American Way (published by Coyhis Publishing

and available on the Coyhis Publishing website

www.coyhispublishing.com).

Creating healthy thoughts and

feelings completing developmental tasks

The goal of achieving wellness is to replace the anger, guilt, shame and

fear based system with one based upon love. Spirituality and traditional

values provide the guidance. The vision of the healthy family and the

healthy community is based upon principles laws and values.

Recognize what happened to make them unhealthy and what must happen to make them

healthy again.

Acknowledge the secrets, the shame, the hurt feelings, the disappointments, the anger, the

need for new structures and processes, the experience of chaos, conflict and confusion.

Forgive self, others, the unforgivable, the hurts, the sense of loss

Change values, assumptions, beliefs, behaviors, expectations, responses, thinking, feelings

Forgive recognize

change

acknowledge

Creating healthy thoughts and

feelings completing developmental tasks

Encourage a

Healthy Identity

• Enroll youth in community cultural activities

• Participate with youth in community events

• Encourage service learning projects

• Help with household chores

• Mentor younger children (tutor, coach)

• Encourage participation in multi-generational

activities

• Discuss college plans (set expectations early)

• Listen to youth with eyes and ears

• Invite friends home to dinner

• Encourage skill development (sports, music,

art, crafts)

• Attend school functions with youth

• Know teachers, principal

• Give praise, rewards, recognition

• Many hugs

• Solution focus for conflicts

• Encourage part time work after school

• Participate in cultural and spiritual events

• Attend religious services as a family

• Participate in Family Talking Circle

• Create family traditions

Guide Youth to

Accomplishment

• Encourage goal setting

• Create opportunities to "stretch"

• Encourage caring for other children

• Encourage mentoring other children

• Help older adults and grandparents

• Help with household chores

• Attend religious services with family

• Schedule homework, reading, learning time

• Participate in cultural and spiritual events

• Help with community events

• Create servcie learning opportunities

• Take and interest in child's homework

• Talk about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, sex

• Get to know teachers, principal

• Participate in PTA

• Parents how up where youth hang out

• Give praise, recognition, rewards

• Encourage healthy activities for youth and

their friends

• Encourage daily exercise routines

• Coach youth in making choices and making

plans

Creating healthy thoughts and

feelings completing developmental tasks

Helping Children

Develop Initiative

• Encourage exploration

• Cultural and spiritual events

• Help with household tasks & projects

• Coach child

• Set a time to help with school work

• Enroll child in sports, projects

• Help prepare for ceremonies

• Use language skills

• Have child tell stories and sing songs

• Have child set up a schedule

• Have child describe how something will be

• done, step by step

• Encourage projects with several steps

• Give praise; rewards; recognition

• Listen carefully to your child

• Learn dance, drumming

• Observe how your child uses free time

• Continue routines, schedules, boundaries

• Learn about values, compassion

• Participate in family talking circle

Helping Children

Develop

Autonomy

• Set routines and boundaries (when to do what,

what is acceptable when, outings, napping,

assign chores, clothing, eating, )

• Provide opportunities to interact with other

children (day care, Cousins, relatives, friends)

• Provide opportunities to spend time with

grandparents and other Relatives (visits to the

reservation)

• Create a safe environment (child proof,

emotional and physical safety)

• Ensure proper nutrition (food choices

• Lots of Affection and holding; Lots of praise

and acknowledgement

• Anticipate new places, activities, events by

explaining them to child

• Allow child to make mistakes

• Be silly with your child

• Encourage exploration, testing, learning

• Participate in appropriate cultural and spiritual

events

• Use of Native Language when ever possible

• Help child learn new skills, nature,

prayers, outdoor exploring, picnics, colors,

drawing, coloring, painting, playing,

patterns, words, spelling, names, stories,

songs, musical instruments (drums,

flute, piano), running, jumping, dancing,

Set the Stage for

the Development

of Trust

• Avoid alcohol and drugs during pregnancy

• Be sure to include spouse/father in baby’s care

• Learn the childcare customs of your culture

• Parents learn traditional roles of men, women,

relatives (involve

• grandparents, aunts & uncles in child’s life)

• Create a safe environment

• Create a routine (feeding, changing, napping,

outings)

• Ensure proper nutrition

• Lots of affection, holding, reading stories,

songs, music, baby

• “athletics”

• Lots of praise and acknowledgement

• Healthy relationship between parents

• Participate in appropriate cultural and spiritual

events (take baby

• along also)

• Use of Native language when ever possible

• Help baby learn words, phrases, sitting,

crawling, walking, running, playing

NOTES

•

Checklist to help start your meetings

♦ Make arrangements for the Circle Meetings

♦ Find a convenient location. This could be a room at the community center, at a church, or even

at someone’s home.

♦ If you are going to work with youth at a school, church, shelter, detention center, or community

center, you may want to work out an agreement with those in charge.

♦ Recruit people who have an interest in and invite them to come a meeting.

♦ If you are working with youth, you will need to explain the program to parents to make sure that

they give permission (for Daughters of Tradition and Sons of Tradition, parents/relatives could be a

real asset as helpers and mentors!)

♦ Once you make a commitment to a time and place--SHOW UP & Be Consistent!

♦ The first few meetings you might have to contact people to remind them about the meeting.

Remember building the Circle is about creating relationships.

For each meeting you will need:

■ a coffee pot and coffee (tea, juice or water) and have people alternate in

bringing snacks.

■ a TV/ DVD player or Laptop screen & projector

■ a circle of chairs

■ sage or cedar

■ a Talking Stick or equivalent

Lesson Planning

Lesson Date: ______________________

Lesson # : ____

This is a resource to help you in planning the lessons for each week.

The sessions should be around 2 hours.

There are some general things that should always be done:

1) Pray for the people and for yourself (that you will be sensitive to them during the time you spend with them).

Be sure that you review the lesson materials, including the videos, prior to the meeting; the material and

facilitation process should be fresh in your mind.

2) Be sure that the room is set up in a circle and that all of the video equipment is working properly.

And if possible, make sure that refreshments of some kind (even if just coffee or water) is available.

Tissues should also be available!

For each of the following categories, think through the approach you will take and make some notes:

• Introduction: Think about how you will introduce the theme of the lesson, answer any questions,

have participants sign the attendance sheet at this time; then, review the agenda for the day, noting

anything that might be different from last time)

• Opening Ceremony: (What will the focus of the opening ceremony be for this session; who will do it?

It might be that as the participants get more comfortable with this, they can lead it, as appropriate for

your culture.)

• Video: (How does this video provide a framework for the teachings today?....what are the significant

topics for these participants? Be sure to include the time for each of the videos—that time will frame

the rest of the lesson!)

Talking Circle: (Given the topics presented in the videos, how will you introduce the Circle to the

Talking Circle Theme?)

Mind Mapping and other Exercises: (How might you frame to exercises to make sure that the

participants get the most value from them?)

Lessons Learned: (This is actually a short closing circle; have the participants go around the circle

and tell one or two things that they will put into practice right away.)

Closing Prayer (If you lead this, think through what you might emphasize for this particular session.

Or consider how to coach one of the women so that they can take turns leading the closing prayer.

Remember to hold hands.)

Information Needed to Complete

the Online Circle Registration Form

Complete this Information for the Registration Form

You can write the information that is needed for the online registration process.

Facilitator Name: (If you are partnering with someone else in your community, please include all

facilitator names)

A. B.

Facilitator Phone Number:

A. ( ____) B.( ____)

Community Meetings are conducted in:

(This could be a tribe, town, community center, etc. We will be putting this information on a

large map to show all the areas where there is a circle. This will be available on our website. )

Particular Emphasis:

(Are you targeting a particular group such as women, men, youth, prisoners, Medicine Wheel and 12

Steps, Mending Broken Hearts, etc.)

Group Meeting Schedule: _____________________________________________

Please include the day and time the meeting will take place.

Name Your Group has chosen: ____________________________________________

This will be displayed on the White Bison Website at www.whitebison.org/fire_list.html.

Group Address:________________________________________________________

City: ___________________________ State:______ Zip: ________________

Group e-mail: ________________________________________________________

Group Availability: ฀Open meeting ฀Closed meeting

(Please indicate whether this group meeting is open or closed to new members.)

E-mail - [email protected] Fax: 719-548-9407

TRACKING THE CIRCLE

Please help us in keeping track of the progress of your Circle

by completing this form and mailing, faxing or e-mail to the White Bison office

Fax: 1-719-548-9407

Mail: 701 N. 20th Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80904

info@whitebison.org

Today’s Date: ___________________________________

Name of Circle: ______________________________________________________________

Location of Circle: ____________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________

City: ___________________________________________ State: _______ Zip:___________

Name of Contact person: ______________________________________________________

E-mail for Contact person: ______________________________________________________

Phone for Contact person: _____________________________________________________

Beginning Date of Circle: ______________________________________________________

Date the Circle Ended: ___________________________

If the Circle is ongoing, how many sessions have you met? __________________________

Was this Circle: ฀open ฀closed

(open means that anyone could enter at any time; closed means that after the first few sessions,

new people had to wait until a new series started)

Number of people who regularly attended (approximate): ____________________

Number of people who completed the entire series: ________________________

Number who started their own groups after completing the series: ____________

What was your experience like as a facilitator?

What did people tell you about their experience with the materials?

Remember building the Circle is about creating relationships.

Attendance Roster

Please write in the name of each participant and check each session that is attended.

Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Registrants Contact Information

Date Session Began: _____________

Name Phone E-mail

Married;Widowed;

Single; Divorced;

Domestic Partner Tribal Affiliation

Pre Program Survey

(Pre-surveys are completed the first or second week that the Circle is in session for a new person. The post-

survey is completed when participants have completed the entire series. The same form is used for both).

Please mail, fax or e-mail the following forms to the White Bison office.

You may save a copy for your records. These forms will help us to track outcomes and success of our

programs and is very helpful for the sustainability of White Bison.

Fax: 1-719-548-9407

Mail: 701 N. 20th Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80904

info@whitebison.org

Today's Date:

Focus of this Circle:

Name (use only first name and initial):

(we need to have a way to match the pre test with the post test--so you can choose a “handle”

if you wish)

How many sessions have you attended as of today?

Please circle the response for each of the following questions:

1. Rate your experience with doing Program work in the past:

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

(lifechanging) (interesting) (one more resource) (conflicts with my values) (felt out of place)

2. Rate your experience with mutual support groups:

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

(lifechanging) (interesting) (one more resource) (conflicts with my values) (felt out of place)

3. Rate your current participation in spiritual practices

(i.e. prayer, religious services, sweatlodge, sundance)

5 4 3 2 1

Daily weekly occasionally very seldom never

4. Rate your current use of traditional Native American teachings for healthy and sober living:

5 4 3 2 1

Daily weekly occasionally very seldom never

Pre Program Survey (continued)

5.Rate your current comfort level with your family (i.e. parents, siblings, foster parents, grandparents,

aunties):

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

6. Rate your current comfort level with personal relationships: (i.e. spouse; life partner)

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

7. Rate your comfort level with making healthy choices (i.e. choosing sobriety):

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

8. Rate your comfort level with helping others in their Wellbriety journey:

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable don’t ask me to do this

9. Rate your level of trust in other people.

5 4 3 2 1

excellent most of the time sometimes not often not at all

10. Rate your level of knowledge about your own culture.

5 4 3 2 1

POST Program Survey

(Pre-surveys are completed the first or second week that the Circle is in session for a new person. The post-

survey is completed when participants have completed the entire series. The same form is used for both).

Please mail, fax or e-mail the following forms to the White Bison office.

You may save a copy for your records. These forms will help us to track outcomes and success of our

programs and is very helpful for the sustainability of White Bison.

Fax: 1-719-548-9407

Mail: 701 N. 20th Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80904

info@whitebison.org

Today's Date:

Focus of this Circle:

Name (use only first name and initial):

(we need to have a way to match the pre test with the post test--so you can choose a “handle”

if you wish)

How many sessions have you attended as of today?

Please circle the response for each of the following questions:

1. Rate your experience with doing Program work in the past:

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

(lifechanging) (interesting) (one more resource) (conflicts with my values) (felt out of place)

2. Rate your experience with mutual support groups:

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

(lifechanging) (interesting) (one more resource) (conflicts with my values) (felt out of place)

3. Rate your current participation in spiritual practices

(i.e. prayer, religious services, sweatlodge, sundance)

5 4 3 2 1

Daily weekly occasionally very seldom never

4. Rate your current use of traditional Native American teachings for healthy and sober living:

5 4 3 2 1

Daily weekly occasionally very seldom never

POST Program Survey (continued)

5.Rate your current comfort level with your family (i.e. parents, siblings, foster parents, grandparents,

aunties):

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

6. Rate your current comfort level with personal relationships: (i.e. spouse; life partner)

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

7. Rate your comfort level with making healthy choices (i.e. choosing sobriety):

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable awful

8. Rate your comfort level with helping others in their Wellbriety journey:

5 4 3 2 1

excellent good okay uncomfortable don’t ask me to do this

9. Rate your level of trust in other people.

5 4 3 2 1

excellent most of the time sometimes not often not at all

10. Rate your level of knowledge about your own culture.

5 4 3 2 1

Program Completion Analysis

Today’s Date: _______ Name _______________________ Location: ____________

Biographical Data:

A. Were you ever in prison/jail? ___________

B. What were you convicted of? ___________________

C. Have you been on Parole before? _____ How many times? _______

Were you successful? _______

D. Were you ever in treatment? ____________

E. What is your date of birth? __/__/__ (month/day/year)

F. What is your occupation? ______________________

G. What is your tribal affiliation? __________________

H. What is the highest grade (including college) you completed? ___________________

I. When was the last time you held a full time job? ______________________________

J. Please check your marital status:

__married __separated __divorced __widowed __partner (living with someone)

K. How many children do you have? _______

L. What are their ages? _______________________________________________

M. How often do you see them?

__ every day __weekly ___monthly __every so often __once or twice a year __ never

Survey Questions:

1. Have you ever been involved in a Wellbriety program? Yes: _______ No: _________

2. Do you consider yourself to be in recovery? ____yes ___no

If yes, what is your recovery “date?” ______________

3. Which program are you currently attending?

Name of Group ___________________ Location ___________________________

a.) What trainings have you participated in since you have been participating? (Please check each

one).

__MW12 Steps - Adults when: __/__/____ __Mending Broken Hearts when __/__/____

__MW12 Steps - Youth when: __/__/____ __Mending Broken Hearts-Youth __/__/____

__Families of Tradition when: __/__/____ __ Understanding the Purpose __/__/____

__Fathers of Tradition when: __/__/___ __ Sons of Tradition when __/__/____

__Mothers of Traditon when: __/__/____ __Daughters of Tradition I & II __/__/____

b.) What was important to you about participating in these trainings?

c.) What suggestions would you have for other trainings?

4. Employment:

a.) Did you have a job when you entered the Wellbriety program?____yes ___no

If yes, what job were you doing? _________________________________

If no, did your participation in the Wellbriety program lead to you finding a job? ____yes ___

b.) Were the Wellbriety team members helpful for you in finding and/or keeping your job? ____yes

___no

If yes, please describe in what way they were helpful.

If no, please explain.

5. Services:

a.) What recovery support services connected with the Wellbriety programs have you used or

participated in?

√

Activity/Service

√

Activity/Service

√

Activity/Service

Rides to

meetings

Help creating

a supportive

network

Help finding

a job

√

Activity/Service

√

Activity/Service

√

Activity/Service

Referral to

Elders/spiritual

advisors

Help with

family

resources

Help getting

into school

Help with

recovery plan

Help with

children’s

resources

Help finding a

place to live

Help getting

driver’s

license,

insurance,

identification

Assist with

relapse

prevention

Referral to

mental health

services

Referral Sweat

lodge

Finding a

sponsor

Referral

to family

counseling

services

Referral to

family services

resources

Talking Circles Wellbriety

Recovery

Coach

Referral to

religious

services

Participate in

Drum Group

Other:

6. Spirituality:

a. ) Have you connected with a spiritual advisor as a result of your participation in this program?

____yes ___no___don’t know

b.) If yes, what are the qualities about this person that makes his/her assistance valuable to you?

c.) If no, please explain ( Are you looking for a special spiritual advisor? Do you need help finding

this person? Do you not wish to have one?)

d.) Please identify the type of spiritual practices that you include in your life.

e.) To what extent has this program helped you to reconnect with your spirituality? Check the word

that applies)

5 4 3 2 1

________________________________________________________________________

__greatly __very much __somewhat __not so much __not at all

f. Explain

7.Relationships:

a.) To what extent have your relationships (with spouse, partner) have improved as a result of your

participation in this program? (check the word that applies)

5 4 3 2 1

________________________________________________________________________

__greatly __very much __somewhat __not so much __not at all

b.)Explain

c.) To what extent has your relationship with your children has improved as a result of your

participation in this program? (check the word that applies)

5 4 3 2 1

________________________________________________________________________

__greatly __very much __somewhat __not so much __not at all

d.) Explain

e.) To what extent has your relationship with your extended family has improved as a result of your

participation in this program? (check the word that applies)

5 4 3 2 1

________________________________________________________________________

__greatly __very much __somewhat __not so much __not at all

f.) Explain

g.). To what extent has this program helped you to reconnect with your family? (check the word that

applies)

5 4 3 2 1

________________________________________________________________________

__greatly __very much __somewhat __not so much __not at all

h.) Explain

8.Community:

a.) To what extent has this program helped you to reconnect with your community? (check the word

that applies)

5 4 3 2 1

________________________________________________________________________

__greatly __very much __somewhat __not so much __not at all

b.) In what way have you reconnected?

c.) What would you tell others about the importance of community?

9.Culture:

To what extent has this program helped you to reconnect with your culture? (check the word that

applies)

5 4 3 2 1

________________________________________________________________________

__greatly __very much __somewhat __not so much __not at all

b.) In what way have you reconnected to your culture?

c.) Please describe which aspects of your culture are important to you now.

.10. Personal Growth:

a.) To what extent has this program helped you to reconnect with your personal character? (check the

word that applies)

5 4 3 2 1

________________________________________________________________________

__greatly __very much __somewhat __not so much __not at all

b.) Please describe one or two aspects ofyour character that have changed for the better.

11. If you were to tell someone about your experience in this program, what would you say?

12. In what way has this program been specifically helpful to you?

13. What might make it more helpful?

14. What would your family (i.e. spouse, children, parents) say about your participation in this

program?

15. What would your probation/parole officer say about you since you have been participating in this

program?

16. What volunteer activities are you doing to “give back?”

17. What activities have your family members participated in through the program you are involved

in?

18. In what way has this program had an impact on your ability to continue your recovery journey?

19. In what ways has this program helped you to avoid re-offending ( if applicable)

20. What plans do you have for your life?

(Read the story at http://www.whitebison.org/wellbriety-journey/NewsStories.htm).

White Bison Mission

We are a Native American operated 501 (c)

3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to creating

and sustaining a grassroots Wellbriety

Movement that provides culturally based

healing to the next seven generations of

Indigenous People.

The Wellbriety

Movement Mission

A sustainable grassroots Wellbriety

Movement that provides culturally based

healing to the next seven generations of

indigenous people.

Wellbriety Training

Institute Mission

We are an internationally acclaimed,

Native American operated training institute

and center of excellence providing culturally

based training for professionals and

grassroots activists who work directly with

individuals, families and communities.

In support of the Wellbriety Movement

and those focused on the healing of the next

seven generations of indigenous people, we

will constantly strive to provide increasingly

higher quality and more easy to implement

Wellbriety training programs.

National Gatherings

• 1994: Gathering of the Elders

(Janesville, WI) Dedication of the

Sacred Hoop

• 1995: Women’s Leadership

Gathering (Denver, CO)

• 1996: Men’s Gathering (Florissant,

CO)

• 2012 Women in Wellbriety

Sacred Hoop

Journeys

(Video documentaries -- www.

coyhisconsulting.org)

• 1999: Healing the Nations: Visits to

32 Tribal Colleges

• 2000: Wiping of the Tears (3800

mile walk from Los Angeles to

Washington DC)

• 2002: Healing Native Women and

Children (19 urban and reservation

communities West of the Mississippi)

• 2003 Healing Native Men and

Children (17 urban and reservation

communities East of the Mississippi)

• 2006: Sacred Hoop Journey to Sitka,

Alaska, to support the raising of the

Wellbriety Totem Pole

• 2007: Sacred Hoop Journey to

Montana--13 stops (tribes and

prisons)

• 2008: Sacred Hoop Journey to

Minnesota-- 9 stops tribes and

prisons

• 2009: The Way Home Tour--

Forgiving the Unforgivable Legacy of

the Boarding Schools

Principles

• The circle is sacred. It was given to us

by the Creator. This is one of Creators

many gifts which we are to use

according to Creator's instructions.

• 2011: Journey to Forgiveness -

Documentary

Wellbriety

Conferences

• 1999: Strengthening Individuals

(Colorado Springs, CO)

• 2001: Strengthening our Families

(Rapid City, SD)

• 2002: Strengthening our

Communities (Billings, MT)

• 2003: Strengthening our Nations

(Albuquerque, NM)

• 2005: Healing the Hurts: The

Grassroots Speaks (Denver, CO)

• 2006: Taking a Stand Against Meth:

Recovery is Possible (Denver, CO)

• 2006: Wellbriety in Motion--Youth,

Families and Suicide Prevention

(Denver, CO)

• 2008: Healing the Hurts, Youth and

Families Speak--Intergenerational

Trauma (Minneapolis)

• 2013: Intergenerational Healing

for Families - Celebrate NANACoA

Denver, CO

Wellbriety

Initiatives

• 2002: Wellbriety for Youth

(prevention and leadership

development for Native American

youth)

• 2002: Wellbriety for Prisons (a

recovery support system for those

returning from prison)

• 2005: 100 Drums -- Communities in

Healing

• 2007: Fatherhood Initiative

• 2007: Wellbriety Indian Center of

Colorado Springs

• 2008: Wellbriety Leadership

Training Institute

• 2012: Wellbriety Advocacy Office

-Washington, DC

Wellbriety

Principles

• Four Laws of Change and the Healing

Forest

• Teachings of the Medicine Wheel

(Circle Teachings)

• Innate Learning

• Cycle of Life

WELLBRIETY MOVEMENT

MILESTONES AND RESOURCES

(Read the story at http://www.whitebison.org/wellbriety-journey/NewsStories.htm).

Wellbriety

Trainings,

Books and

Curriculum

• 1990: Natural Path

to Growth (personal

development program)

• 1993: Meditations with the

Native American Elders by

Don Coyhis

• 1993: The Healing Forest

Program (culturally based

community development

program)

• 1998: Medicine Wheel

and 12 Steps for Men and

for Women (videos and

workbooks are provided)

• 1999: Firestarter

Certification Training

(Peers helping peers in

recovery)

• 1999: Understanding

Native American Culture:

Insights for Recovery

Professionals by Don

Coyhis

• 2000: Wellbriety!

Online Magazine (www.

whitebison.org)

• 2000: Daughters of

Tradition: Prevention

Curriculum for Girls age

8-12

• 2002: Sons of Tradition:

Character Building and

Prevention Curriculum for

Boys age 13-17

• 2002: Medicine Wheel

and 12 Steps for Friends

and Families & Adult

Children of Alcoholics

2002: Red Road to

Wellbriety: In the Native

American Way

• 2003: Families of

Tradition: A Recovery

Support Curriculum

for families that have

experienced substance

abuse

• 2003: Seven Steps to

Systemic Community

Change

• 2004: Daughters of

Tradition II: Character

Building and Prevention

Education for Girls age

13-17

• 2004: 7 Trainings: A

strategy for delivering

the Grassroots Wellbriety

Curriculum in a 3-day

conference format

• 2004: The Positive

Warrior: Native American

Approach for Therapeutic

Communities in Prison

Settings

• 2004: Coalitions using

Clan Knowledge: Creating

Coalitions thru Storytelling

• 2005: Warrior Down:

Families in Recovery

• 2005: Warrior Down:

A Relapse Prevention

Support Program for

Native Americans

• 2005: Warrior Down:

Youth Suicide Prevention

Program

• 2006: Alcohol Problems

in Native America: The

Untold Story of Resistance

and Recovery:

• The Truth about the Lie

by Don L. Coyhis and

William White

• 2007: Fathers

of Tradition: An

Intergenerational

Parenting Approach

• 2007: Medicine Wheel

and 12 Steps for

Adolescent Boys and Girls

• 2007: Meditations with

Native American Elders -

The Four Season by

Don L. Coyhis

• 2008: Understanding

the Purpose of Life: 12

Teachings for Native

Youth by Don L. Coyhis

• 2009: Understanding

Native American Culture

2nd. Ed. by Don L. Coyhis

• 2010 Mothers of Tradition

Training Curriculum

• 2011: Wellbriety

Movement Comes of Age

by Don L. Coyhis

• 2012:Mending Broken

Hearts Curriculum

• 2013: Mending Broken

Hearts for Youth

Curriculum

WELLBRIETY MOVEMENT

MILESTONES AND RESOURCES, Cont.

Websites/Social

Media Links

www.whitebison.org

www.wellbrietytraining.com

www.wellbriety.com

www.wellbrietyconferences.com

www.coyhispublishing.com

Facebook

White Bison, Inc.

Wellbriety Technical

Assistance Center

Twitter

@Wellbriety

WELLBRIETY TRAINING PROGRAMS

MEDICINE WHEEL AND 12 STEPS - MEN

Purpose: The Medicine Wheel and 12 Step program was developed to provide a culturally

appropriate 12 Step program for Native American people. This program was developed by

White Bison, based upon Teachings of the Medicine Wheel, the Cycle of Life and the Four

Laws of Change.

MEDICINE WHEEL AND 12 STEPS - WOMEN

Purpose: The Medicine Wheel and 12 Step program was developed to provide a culturally

appropriate 12 Step program for Native American people. This program was developed by

White Bison, based upon Teachings of the Medicine Wheel, the Cycle of Life and the Four

Laws of Change.

MEDICINE WHEEL AND 12 STEPS - YOUTH

Purpose: Given the different concerns that boys and girls have, separate programs have

been developed for each. Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps for youth is specifically designed

for youth (age 13-21). The focus of the program is to get behind the symptoms of alcohol

and drug misuse and focus on the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual foundations

that cause young people to begin using alcohol and drugs in the first place.

MENDING BROKEN HEARTS

Purpose: Develop the capacity of the community to heal from unresolved grief and the

losses created by the legacy of Historical and Intergenerational Trauma, especially the effects

of the Boarding School era.

MENDING BROKEN HEARTS - YOUTH

Purpose: Develop the capacity in our Youth to build healthy communities by helping

them recogonize, acknwledge, forgive and change to help them to heal from unresolved

grief created by Historical and Intergenerational Trauma-direct effects of the Boarding

School Era.

uNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE TO LIFE

Purpose: The Elders’ wisdom forms the basis for this program. All living beings have a

purpose. Young people are warriors-in-training. Our communities form a Forest. When all

the “trees” in the forest are healthy, we are living in a Healing Forest.

Fathers of tradition

Purpose: Fathers of Tradition is a culturally oriented educational program that develops the

fathering skills of Native American men. This is a cognitive, behavioral and spiritual program.

Life skills are embedded in each of the sessions. Ceremonial activities such as sweat lodge

and smudging, drumming and singing may be included as part of the local cultural practices.

Teachings of the Elders provide the foundation for the curriculum. Specific processes include

talking circles, mind mapping, mentoring, experiential learning, traditional story telling,

cultural practices and service learning make up the core elements of the curriculum.

mothers of tradition

Purpose: Develop the skills and knowledge to live a healthy life as a traditional, spiritual

Native American woman. Increase awareness of how intergenerational trauma interrupted

the culture, language, family ties, and parenting practices among Native people. Learn how to

apply the cultural teachings to bring healing to children, relationships and community.