NEWSLETTER

An Interview with My Daughter 2  BIPOC Resources 2

Face Coverings 3A Poem     4

New Faces 5Moving Forward 5

Be in the Know   6Congrats/We're Hiring! 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

Here at Wallowa Valley Centerfor Wellness, we care about thepeople of our community andbeyond, and this includes themany identities any one personmay hold. This includes race, asocial construct that is oftenmistaken for biology, but dueto disparities put upon people ofcolor, is something that has beenproven to affect one’s health (1).Health includes mental andphysical. For example, people whoidentify as Black Americansexperience much higher rates ofheart disease, and ultimately thecause has been found to comedown to the daily stressors ofracism (1). It is important toacknowledge thesedisparities, and that they are aresult of historical adversity. Thismeans that ultimately, policychanges and identification of thisadversity will help lessen thesedisparities. Simply suggesting self-care tips without acknowledgingthe broader issue would benegligent, and suggest that theresponsibility is on BIPOC peoplethemselves, but we do want toprovide some imperative self-care

ideas here, because your health isimportant. In mental health we usemany natural aspects of peoples’lives to help support their well-being,such as:

b ipoc (black , ind igenous ,people of color) mentalhealth awareness month

W A L L O W A V A L L E Y C E N T E R F O R W E L L N E S S

Bringing Health, Wellness, Dignity and Hope to Our Community

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B Y C E L I N A T A Y L O R

Additionally, when taking care ofyourself in this time, you may need toshut off social media and the news,and practice mindfulness.Mindfulness looks like focusing oncurrent things and feelings to helpfeel safe, such as closing your eyesand feeling your feet on the ground,or listening to the sound of carspassing by outside. Whatever wayyou choose to take care of yourself,we support you in caring for yourmental health, and are here if youneed additional assistance.

Being surrounded bycommunity       ExerciseRecognizing your personalstrengths Focus on the future

During this time of COVID-19, someof these are more difficult than usualto engage in. We want you to knowthat we are here for you, and thatservices such as counseling andassistance accessing resources arestill available.

Mental Health America isrecognizing July as BIPOC mentalhealth awareness month, andaddresses racism, while providingtools for those struggling withmental health. Two of their main tipsare taking care of yourself, andidentifying future goals. We knowthat the past can be hurtful, and thatyou may need help in the future, butlooking towards goals and utilizingstrengths can allow us to see thelight at the end of the tunnel.

Kaplan,J. 2010. When Socially Determined Categories Make Biological Realities: UnderstandingBlack/White Health Disparities in the U.S. The Monist, 93(2), 281-297. Retrieved June 26, 2020,from www.jstor.org/stable/41418992

1.

With all that is happening today (and has been for hundreds ofyears, sadly) I wanted to check in with my daughter to see whather observations are. Her diverse background, dark beautiful skinand curly black hair definitely make her an individual in herschool and in this community.  She is mostly Nez Perce, Black, andMexican, with a couple other Indian tribes and even a smidgeonof white (but they don’t talk about that) I wondered, does she feelracial tension? She’s never said much about it, but does sheexperience racism without even knowing what it is yet? Have weprotected her innocence enough, have we sheltered her toomuch? What does she know??? Are we doing the right thing???

J U L Y N E W S L E T T E R

BEAM is a training, movement buildingand grant making organization dedicatedto the healing, wellness and liberation ofBlack and marginalized communities.https://www.beam.community/

P A G E 2

BIPOC MENTALHEALTHRESOURCES

an interview withmy 12-year Old,multiculturaldaughterB Y J O C E L Y N H A T C H

beam (black emotional andmental health)

Continued page 3-Interview

So, I asked her some questionswhile on a family fishing trip. Ithought the opportunity wasperfect, because we were goingto be participating in a veryimportant cultural activity.Fishing for Chinook Salmon atRapid River, Yawinma in NezPerce, is an opportunity for her tobe amongst her people, watchingthem harvest salmon to fill theirfreezers and feed their familiesfor the year. And she was finallyold and big enough to brave the swift, cold, water and try dip-netting for the first time. I wonderedif she even knew what a privilege it is for her to be able toexercise these rights today that so many Native people have lost.

Me: “So, babe. Do you have any idea what is going on today inour country with the violence against black people, the BLACKLIVES MATTER movement and all of that?”

Her: “Um……”she paused, “they’re protesting because a black manwas killed by the cops?”

Me: “Well, do you think if it was just one black man that waskilled, everyone would be so angry?”

I handed her the recent copy of TIME Magazine, with all of thenames of black people who were murdered framing the coverphoto, and photos of the protests going on all over the world. Itold her to just look at it for a while and we’d talk again. WhenI asked her again if she knew what the people in the BLACKLIVES MATTER movement were talking about she had this to say:

“The black people are mad because they are getting killed andno one cares.” Yup. That pretty much sums it up.

national queer and transtherapist of color networkNational Queer and Trans Therapists ofColor Network (NQTTCN) is a healingjustice organization committed totransforming mental health for queer andtrans people of color (QTPoC). Theywork at the intersection of movementsfor social justice and the field of mentalhealth to integrate healing justice intoboth of these spaces. Their overall goal isto increase access to healing justiceresources for QTPoC.https://www.nqttcn.com/black mental wellnessBlack Mental Wellness provides accessto evidence-based information andresources about mental health andbehavioral health topics from a Blackperspective, to highlight and increase thediversity of mental health professionals,and to decrease the mental healthstigma in the Black community.https://www.blackmentalwellness.com/therapy for black girlsSo often the stigma surrounding mentalhealth issues and therapy prevents Blackwomen from taking the step of seeing atherapist. This space was developed topresent mental health topics in a waythat feels more accessible and relevant.https://therapyforblackgirls.com/

Here's a start

of a few

find more resources at https://tinyurl.com/yarvg6lh

Me: “And how do you feel aboutthat?”

Her: “People do care, but it’s thepeople that care, that no one caresabout.” How’s that 12-year-oldlogic for you?!! “There’s a handfulof white people that do care, butnot enough to make everyone elselisten.” That’s right, folks. She saidhandful.

Me: “Beautifully spoken, babe. Ok,so have you experienced racism, orhas anyone ever said anything toyou about what you look like orwhere you are from that upsetyou?”

Her: “Not really, no.” (Insert tearsof joy here.) “I’ve had people who

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cont. interview

COVID-19 FACECOVERING FACTS

Visit cdc.gov for more information on how to stay safe OR visit Oregon Health Authority https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19 - for up to date information on COVID-19 in Oregon.

We all know that people spread respiratory droplets bycoughing and sneezing. But did you know that we alsospread respiratory droplets by talking, laughing, andsinging?

These respiratory droplets are why the Oregon HealthAuthority strongly recommends that Oregonians wearcloth face coverings and why face coverings are requiredin many public settings.fact: we wear face coverings to help slow the spreadof covid-19.Face coverings help us keep our respiratory droplets toourselves, which means people who wear them preventspreading the virus to others. (1) There are many types offace coverings, scarves, bandanas, and homemadecoverings with loops that go over the ears.

fact: face coverings don’t cause dangerous carbondioxide to build up.Face coverings don’t cause enough carbon dioxidebuild-up to cause ill effects in otherwise healthy people.(2) In fact, masks have a tighter seal than facecoverings, and farm workers, custodial staff, andhospital employees all wear them to stay safe in theirworkplaces.

fact: cloth face coverings do not increase yourrisk of infection when used properly in publicsettings.We wear cloth face coverings to help protect otherpeople in case we have the virus—but no, wearing acloth face covering doesn’t raise your risk of infection.(3) Be sure to wash your hands before and aftertouching your face covering and wash it daily.

fact: face coverings do not cause the virus to“reactivate.”Once you have a viral infection, wearing a face coveringdoes not make it worse or make it last longer. It does,however, help you keep from spreading or passing it onto others. (4)

1. Chu DK, Akl EA, Duda S, et al. Physical distancing, face masks, and eyeprotection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 andCOVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis2. Derek K Chu, Elie A Akl, Stephanie Duda, Karla Solo, Sally Yaacoub, Holger JSchünemann, on behalf of the COVID-19 Systematic Urgent Review GroupEffort (SURGE) study authors* Physical distancing, face masks, and eyeprotection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 andCOVID-19: a systematic review and metaanalysis3. Jessica J. Bartoszko, Mohammed Abdul Malik Farooqi, Waleed Alhazzani,Mark Loeb. Medical masks vs N95 respirators for preventing COVID-19 inhealthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials4. Staymates, Matthew E. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Continued page 4-Interview

didn’t believe me when I said I wasIndian, but I didn’t even reallycare.”

Me: “Do you feel safe in yourhometown? Would you feel safetraveling around in this country?”

Her: “Yes.” And then a very casual“Yah” to the second question.

Me: “Did you know that many non-native people get upset that youhave fishing and hunting rightsthat they don’t have? Andsometimes they fight to take thoserights away from you? What doyou think about that?”

Her: “I didn’t know that. I did knowthat people were upset that we getto do that.”

A POEM Me: “What would it mean to you if someday those rights were takenaway?”

Her: “It would be very upsetting, and that wouldn’t be fair becausewhite people have been fishing a lot more different, and for them totake away our right to fish wouldn’t be fair.”

Me: “What do you think your future looks like? What parts of yourculture do you see yourself practicing when you’re older?”

Her: “I still think we will fish the way we do. I don’t think we will stillsweat because no one will take the time to build their ownsweathouse.”

Me: “I think you hit on something very important there. It takes time,knowledge, and dedication to continue to practice your traditions.How will you keep your culture alive?”

Her: “Well, just doing what Dad shows me. Teaching my kids how tofish, how to hunt. I have a dress, I just need someone to show mehow to dance. I don’t think white people will be able to take thingslike powwows away from us because even if they tried to I don’tthink we would listen.” Ah…that beautiful, defiant spirit. I hope itserves her well, but fear for her safety as she defends herself andher people as she grows. 

Me: “What do you think the answer to all of this is? What should wedo as a family? What about you as an individual. What do you thinkyou could do to change the way people are treating each other?”

Her: “I don’t want to say this as a bad thing, but if someone sayssomething racist to you, don’t be so accepting, don’t let them pushyou, don’t be afraid to show who you are.”

As I sit here thinking about the unknowingly profound things my 12-year-old is saying to me, I feel conflicted. How do we keep her safelyinformed, but not perpetuate hate? She knows there is “bad” in theworld. She has seen a little of it, but is still very innocent and naive.She obviously feels safe and supported here in Wallowa County,which for a direct descendant of Chief Joseph, I pray to God shewould. But there is hate here too. We have experienced this in localbusinesses, on Facebook, etc. But it hasn’t reached her yet. And forthat all I can do is be grateful, yet prepared. I think we will becontinuously finding a balance between giving her information, andnot perpetuating racism or stereotypes. There are going to bedifficult and even scary times. But all we can do is take her advice:“Don’t be so accepting, don’t let them push you, don’t be afraid toshow who you are.”

What I hear when I can’t hear? During time offI took my hearing aides out In the middle of the dayObserving myselfBecoming more calmIn a meditative state Born with a hearing lossGetting worse through the yearsTests at Corvallis Hearing4 years agoStating I hear 18 % out of my left ear,53 % out of my right They have saved my life. But when I’m out in the woodsOr at home in the eveningJust me and my dogI remove my hearing aidsTo help me relax Block out worriesCalm my racing mindListen to my breathSlow my heartbeatObserve my existenceConnect with my soul

cont. interview

J U L Y N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 4

B Y K A T EF O R S T E R

Catie is a Licensed Professional Counselor who enjoys working adults, – specificallyindividuals who are going through life transitions and acute situations such as a job,relationship or lifestyle change.  In addition, her insight offers real life tools for toleratinglong term distressful situations with individuals who suffer from trauma.  Catie also is acertified treatment provider for individuals with various addictions and are involved inthe criminal justice system.

Everybody goes through ups and downs in their lives, and sometimes it is difficult to getthrough those times without support. Catie works with you to understand what is causingthe adverse symptoms and assists you in gaining perspective to change. Through varioustreatment modalities and creative types of therapy, Catie can increase your coping skillsand offer tools to decrease or manage your negative symptoms.  The goal is that aftertherapy, you can finally achieve a sense of insight and perspective in your life.

Continued page 6-FutureP A G E 5J U L Y N E W S L E T T E R

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new facesD . C A T H E R I N E J O H N S O N , “ C A T I E ”   L P C , C A D C 1 , C A S O T P .

W I L L I A M W E I S Z , C A S E M A N A G E RWilliam Weisz is the new part-time case manager for EASA and supported employment(SE) for the ACT team and works with both teenagers as well as with adults. William is veryexcited and happy to be able to serve the community by helping individuals overcome theirpersonal obstacles and struggles in order to fulfill their dreams and goals. William is veryhumble, easy-going, and has a very deep and profound respect for allindividuals. Instead of judging individuals, William takes a very pro-active approach to findthe root cause of the problem while showing empathy and compassion for all of his clients.

moving forward, looking backand imagining a new futureB Y A N N A B I R D

As somebody who grew upmixed-race white andIndigenous, I’ve been thinking alot about how my perspectivecould be of some use at thismoment.  My dad is Blackfeet and Haida,and he grew up on the BlackfeetReservation in northernMontana. My mom is a mix ofScotch, Irish and Dutch, and shegrew up in Wallowa. I carry bothof their stories and bloodlineswith me as I, too, grew up on thebeautiful and stolen lands of theNez Perce.

When I ran for student bodypresident at Joseph High Schoolin 2009, my opponent made asign and hung it in the hallwaythat said, “Bird just wants her

land back.” At 17, I was too blindedby anger in that moment to explainthe differences between the treaties,histories, and traditional homelandsof the Blackfeet, Haida and the NezPerce.

Growing up, my brother and I neverknew how to handle racist “jokes”about us when our peers typicallyfollowed them up with, “But you’renot a real Indian, you can’t be thatoffended.”  At 28 and 31, we’re still trying tolearn the language of our identityand our place in these stories. Thefact is, no matter what we look liketo others or how we measure up topeople’s ideas of what it is or isnot to be a “real” Indigenous person,we carry these histories andexperiences inside of us.

It’s this mix of perspective that hasshaped the way I see and experiencethe world, and even when it hurts or

leaves me feeling like the odd oneout, it has opened my heart to peoplewho don’t look like me, who don’thave the same experiences as me,who have different challenges ordreams than me.  All of us, in different shades andcontexts, carry the stories, legaciesand DNA of our ancestors—for betteror for worse. All of us exist in thiscountry, in our rural and urbancommunities, red and blue states,with a history that has yet to fully restin the past.  But I think we have an opportunityright now to open our eyes, listen toand see each other, share our stories,and try to imagine a new futuretogether. One where everyone hasthe opportunity to be who they are,live in their skin and find love andbelonging.

In some elaborate joke of theuniverse, maybe 2020 is the year we

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cont. futurestart to see clearly—that is, if we hold on and choose not to lookaway.  Because when I look at my own mixed-up history, I see the conflictand the trauma, but I also see the resiliency of my ancestors onboth sides, and I see the beauty of love across cultures. I hear thecommon language in our laughter. And I see that each generationhas struggled, sacrificed and overcome obstacles so that those ofus who came after would have it a little easier.

That’s what I hope to do.

behavioral health support, crisislicensed marriage & family therapistlicensed professional counselormental health therapistpain clinic directorresidential staff reserve teamcaregiversmed aidesbehavioral health workers

J U N E N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 6

WALLOWA VALLEYCENTER FOR WELLNESS

M E E T I N G S

Contact  Kimberly Candrila at541-426-4524, 

hr@wvcenterforwellness.org or onour website to learn more

wvcenterforwellness.org

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THE ANNEX301 W Main Street

Enterprise, OR 97828541.426.0801

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Be In theKnow

L O C A L A C T I V I T I E SVirtual Summer Fishtrap, July 5-12,fishtrap.org

Wallowology Discovery Walk, July 18,9am-11am, wallowology.org

H O W V A NRoutes to Imnaha and Troy currentlysuspended. Stay tuned when operationsresume.

Now offering extended hours between8am  and 7pm at various locations

Staff available at Winding WatersMain Clinic on Saturdays

HOURSVisit wallowacountychamber.com for morelocal activities

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