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August 23, 2021
Spirituality is the lifeblood of every NativeAmerican’s life, tying the disparate elements of the world together into aninterwoven fabric that connects the natural world to the world of the heavens.The Lakota, in particular, believe that there is a spirit alive in everynatural being, from humans to rocks to trees to rivers.
The concept of all harmony and balance beingfitted into a Medicine Wheel is one that links the self and the community withthe cosmos, finding hope and meaning within the comforting family of thecircle.
Addiction to alcohol, however, has caused acondition that Native Americans refer to as the “broken circle.” When thecircle is broken, the ancient teachings are being ignored. Harmony is notachieved, as the world, where drugs and emptiness reign supreme, is out ofbalance.
A ten-week program centered around Lakota cultureand traditions on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, however, has helped inmates fix their circle and moveon to an empowering life free of drugs and alcohol.
The class incorporates traditional tribalteachings and practices into the healing process and allows the individuals to“findwithin themselves who they are as Lakota people to get that strengthback again,” according to director Chissie Spencer.
The program has done more than refocus theinmates’ consciousness away from drugs and alcohol - it has returned them to anidentity they felt like they had lost. And it has had incredible results, withonly 15% of graduates returning to jail as opposed to the 67% that end up backin jail nationally.
The prairie-covered Pine Ridge IndianReservation, site of the 189 Wounded Knee Massacre, remains one of the poorestcounties in America, and one of the most heavily affected by theepidemic of substance use disorder.
The class cuts through layers of generationaltrauma and gets to the heart of addiction, what causes it, and how one can moveforward in a healthier way while connecting to the past. It seeks to mend thebroken circle through a three-pronged process: the Sweat Lodge, the Red Road,and the Recovery Medicine Wheel.
The Sweat Lodge is a traditional ceremony thatreminds the individual of their connectivity to every living entity and takesplace in total darkness, representing a return to the womb and a rebirth oftheir spirituality. The Red Road seeks to repair the four realms of theMedicine Wheel - the mental, the physical, the emotional, and the spiritual -through a path towards purity. The third element of the recovery process is theRecovery Medicine Wheel, a 12-step approach to sobriety that, unlike the 12steps of AA, has no beginning and no end but is an ongoing reminder ofconnecting to the source of human existence for guidance moving forward.
Lakota traditions focus on strength as the wayout of dire circumstances and hail from the tradition that every person is madeup of the body, spirit, and a purpose, or destiny. Their ancient medicine mencared for both the physically ill and emotionally upset, implemented song anddance accompanied by a variety of herbs, roots, and leaves, and practiceddetoxifying purification rituals to cleanse the body and spirit.
Some clinicians have begun to adopt nativehealing practices as a more holistic form of treatment that not only promoteshealth and well-being but also connects one to the physical land. An AA programmay be relevant for tribal members who are well-assimilated into the dominantculture, but this may clashes with Lakota culture in that the Lakota believe inthe sanctity and power of words. If a person says that he or she is analcoholic, then he or she is and will be, an alcoholic.
Recovery for Lakota people also includes theSeven Sacred Rites, which are:
Reminding oneself of cultural roots andbeginnings can be a fascinating step in rediscovering who you are.Traditionally, native diets, harvest ceremonies, and the use of native herbsand plants have been used to contribute to the health and well being of nativecommunities.
Younger generations have largely abandoned thesetraditions while experiencing an uptick in diabetes and other forms of poorhealth. Others, however, are learning to connect with these healthy lifealterations inspired by the Lakota, including running each day at dawn, takingtime with ceremony and prayer, and telling stories that reinforce positivebehaviors and warn about going up against the laws of nature.
Finding new ways to identify with one’s cultural,religious, and spiritual practices can be rewarding ways to cope with healthproblems. Getting in touch with symbols and relating them to bigger themes inone’s life can empower you to see more clearly while vibrating at a higherfrequency.
At Ethos Structured Sober Living, house membersattend nightly dinners together and meet weekly to discuss issues as acommunity. We encourage creating an environment that promotes cohesiveunity, accountability, and brotherhood between our community members thatenables them to find the power and meaning in their lives.
Contact us today at (323) 942-9996 for moreinformation to schedule a tour.