| THE NEBRASKA INDIAN HEALTHY MARRIAGE PROJECT Join Us in Rebuilding the Foundation for Healthier Native American Communities. Our Mission is to instill positive values in Native American Families by providing the skills, knowledge and values necessary to form, preserve, and sustain healthy relationships. The project is organized so that the specialized needs of Native Americans are considered and utilized to develop the curriculum for this project. Materials developed from a Native American cultural perspective that take into account customs and values, will be more readily accepted and will have a better end result. The Indian Center received a grant award in September of 2006 from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) entitled - Nebraska Indian Healthy Marriage Project. The Nebraska Indian Healthy Marriage Project would like to Introduce “The Leading the Next Generations Healthy Relationship Curriculum” Chapters Introduction- Overview of the curriculum & wellness Historical Trauma, Drama & Wellness-Grow beyond the multigenerational impacts of historic trauma in our lives Hunters & Gathers-Gender Differences and recognize the strengths in our gender differences. Healthy Conflict Resolution-Practice healthier conflict resolution Healthy Communication-Improve our current communication skills Coming Together as a Couple-Bring two people closer together as a couple Better Sex-Discover healthy intimacy Living in Balance-Creating the Relationship you want NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTHY MARRIAGE INITIATIVE (ANA) Administration for Native Americans, within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), recently created an initiative which is focused on strengthening relations and families in Native American Communities. This program is geared towards adults, married and unmarried couples. "The strength of marriage and relationships in Native Communities is not only in the personal commitment of the partners, but in the commitment of the community to celebrate the commitment of married couples and their relationships." -Quanah Crossland Stamps, Commissioner, ANA The Administration for Native Americans (ANA), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), created an initiative to promote culturally suitable strategies that strengthen Native American families and communities. The goal is to ensure that relationship and marriage services are traditionally and culturally appropriate; foster healthy relationships and marriages; work to improve child well-being and increase the percentage of Native American women, men and chi;Children in home that are free from domestic violence. NAHMI Goals
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| ::THE NEBRASKA INDIAN HEALTHY MARRIAGE PROJECT :: |
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| "ADMINISTRATION FOR NATIVE AMERICANS" |
Strengthening Marriages
And Relationships in Tribal
and Native Communities.
And Relationships in Tribal
and Native Communities.
The Nebraska Indian Healthy
Marriage Project logo was
created by Mr. Bear Merrick, a
Native American Artist of the
Omaha Nation from Walthill,
Nebraska. Mr. Merrick did a
magnificent job in recreating
the two wedding bands of
marriage into a double ring
symbol for a Native American
Traditional Wedding. The
feathers were added to
indicate the blessing of a
Traditional Wedding and the
four colors represent the four
directions of life.
We would like to express our
gratitude and appreciation to
Mr. Bear Merrick for creating
the Healthy Marriage Logo.
We wish you luck in your
future in continuing your
education as an artist.
Marriage Project logo was
created by Mr. Bear Merrick, a
Native American Artist of the
Omaha Nation from Walthill,
Nebraska. Mr. Merrick did a
magnificent job in recreating
the two wedding bands of
marriage into a double ring
symbol for a Native American
Traditional Wedding. The
feathers were added to
indicate the blessing of a
Traditional Wedding and the
four colors represent the four
directions of life.
We would like to express our
gratitude and appreciation to
Mr. Bear Merrick for creating
the Healthy Marriage Logo.
We wish you luck in your
future in continuing your
education as an artist.
| "THE NEBRASKA INDIAN HEALTHY MARRIAGE LOGO CREATED BY MR. MERRICK" |
| MR. BEAR MERRICK Omaha Nation |
| Pam & Gordon James are authors of Leading the Next Generations Healthy Relationships Curriculum based on their book "Coming Together in a Good Way: A Native Path to Finding Love". Their goal in creating this curriculum is "to create healthy relationships with ourselves, our partners, our families and our communities by balancing the teachings of our ancestors with the world of today". Pam and Gordon, are consultants providing Native American perspectives into healthy, loving relationships. Their company “Culture2Culture” provides workshops to Indian and non- Indian groups, anyone wishing to improve personal relationships and becoming healed in a holistic, Indian way, through heal of mind, body, spirit and community. Pam hails from the Colville Tribe, Gordon from the Skokomish. Very happily married for many years, they have four children. |
| Pam & Gordon James |
"In 2005 Arlie Neskahi was asked to compose a song for the Native Wellness Institute. This
song represents the work we do and is a gift for the People. Much thought and spirit went into
the creation of this song and it is Arlie's wish as well as the Native Wellness Institute that you
will use this song in a good way."
song represents the work we do and is a gift for the People. Much thought and spirit went into
the creation of this song and it is Arlie's wish as well as the Native Wellness Institute that you
will use this song in a good way."
| “Our People lived a simple existence. The families lived together. The people cared for one another. The elders were respected and cared for. The aunties, uncles and grandparents all helped to watch over the young ones. Life’s teachings were passed from one generation to the next. The young ones were raised to be productive members of the village, ready to lead the next generations…” -From the play, Humpie Season. By Pam James |
| Click on the Native Wellness Institute box to visit other web sites. |
| Leading the Next Generations Among the many Native peoples, our traditional teachings were a source of strength and survival. These teachings helped us to understand who we are, how we fit into the world and how we relate to the many things in the world around us. These teachings came in many forms. Some were teachings from an ancient time when the world was a very different place-before is changed in the world we know today. Some were teachings of the natural world-lessons from the animals, birds, fish, plants and many other "people" who were the original teachers. And some were the lessons of the life experiences of previous generations-what they lived through, what they learned and how they pass this knowledge forward to help us survive and thrive today. Examining Native Cultures and the many traditional teachings about establishing and maintaining healthy, committed, long-term relationships-what may be called "marriage" today-we find their are many teachings still available to us and many remain just as valuable and beneficial to our couples, our families and communities of today as they were in keeping the lives, families and communities of our ancestors whole and healthy. How a Relationship Should be There were many ceremonies, teachings and practices that taught and reinforced the importance of healthy relationships; they also taught what happens when relationships were unhealthy. If we raise healthier individuals-physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and otherwise-they are better able to maintain healthier couple relations. A couple with a healthier relationship is better able to raise children in a healthy family. Healthier families would contribute to a healthier community, with people seeking to live in better balance with each other and with the world around them. This results in a community where people are watching out for each other-making sure each other's needs are being met; nobody goes without; all children are kept safe; everyone shares the same stories, the same lessons and the same consequences; the community draws together to collectively face the challenges and hardships of life; and the community shares in the benefits of a cohesive extended family caring for each other. Information taken from the Native Wellness Institute Leading the Next Generations Healthy Relationships Curriculum Manual, Flyers, & Brochures. |