Community promotes healing through inspiration

The Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation continues to work on improving things for the next generation.

Over a year ago, the community was rocked by a number of suicides.

The leadership opted to take a proactive approach to the situation.

In March 2013, former NHL player Theoren Fleury was invited to the community to speak about his experience with abuse, drugs, alcohol and suicide.

At that time, Chief Rodger Redman said he hoped Fleury would inspire the young people and leave them with a sense of hope for the future. The plan was to continue to work on healing the community through education and awareness.

And those efforts continue.

On Thursday, the leadership invited Jim Miller founder of the Dakota 38 Plus 2 Unity Ride to share his story about drugs, alcohol and suicide.

Rod Isnana, Standing Buffalo councillor, said it’s important to bring positive people and messages into the community.

“We wanted him to be (here) to show strength to our community and show his strength to our kids at the school that no matter what you overcome in your life, it could be drug and alcohol abuse, you could have tried suicide once, but you are there you are alive and there is a reason for you being here,” he said.

In 2005, Miller, a Vietnam veteran, envisioned a series of horseback rides that would bring the Dakota people back together and raise awareness about their shared history. The annual winter horse ride is to remember the Dakota people who were subject to a Minnesota mass hanging on Dec. 26, 1862.

The ride honours the men, women, and children who were forced to march across the cold winter prairies, either to the mass hanging site or to a large concentration camp of Dakota families at Fort Snelling, Minn.

Isnana said upon hearing Miller was in Manitoba, the leadership decided to contact him.

“This gentleman has been on the road for the past three weeks going to different Dakota communities talking about suicide prevention, drug and alcohol addictions and trying to get to the children and the community members that we have to start living our lives in a better way,” he said. “What better way to do it then to get back to your culture?”

The entire community pulled together and within a week made Miller’s appearance at Standing Buffalo a reality.

“We all realize that everybody struggles with their daily lives, it’s not just drug and alcohol addiction, but every one struggles,” said Isnana. “We wanted to bring a positive presence to our community.”

He said that things are getting better, but the work to build a stronger and healthier community will continue because it’s important to build a strong foundation for the next generation.

“We want to build that community growth, by learning to trust one another, learning to build off one another,” said Isnana. “When you bring positivity into your community it’s going to hopefully latch on to some of our community members who are going to use that in a good way.”