TULALIP — As their communities continue to recover from tragedies both historic and recent, the Tulalip Tribes hosted a Gathering Of Native Americans to “Stand Together, Build Together” Feb. 25-27.

Teri Nelson, executive director of youth services for the tribes, explained that Tulalip was one of eight tribes in the United States nominated by Indian Health Services, and funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to receive intense training and technical assistance.

Nelson cited U.S. Census statistics indicating that suicide rates are more than double in Native American communities, whose teens experience the highest rates of suicide of any population group in the nation.

Although the three-day event at the Don Hatch Gymnasium was driven by community members sharing songs and stories, as well as engaging in team-building activities and affirmations, preparing for its presentation required the input of the Tulalip Tribal Board, the Tulalip Youth Services, Child Advocacy Center, Behavioral Health and Prevention, plus the Marysville Family YMCA and Marysville School District.

“The community will set goals for how we address issues related to mental health and substance abuse within our own community,” Nelson said. “We will take the information we receive from the community at the GONA and develop a strategic prevention plan.”

Nelson elaborated that the tribes’ oversight panel will meet to develop its Youth Strategic Prevention Plan, based on all the input received from the GONA and its participants.

“Some of the ideas were about how can we have intergenerational activities, connecting youth with our elders,” Nelson said. “We can have more opportunities to be involved in cultural activities.”

Nelson expects to implement some of those ideas by the end of the year, with funding provided by SAMHSA, after which the panel will devise a plan to sustain those activities.

Tulalip Tribal Chairman Mel Sheldon Jr. deemed such gatherings important to both the tribal and surrounding communities because they present the issues in an accessible way, that people can connect to.

“Not only that, but the process engages our citizens, and utilizes their expertise and wisdom, to find ways to heal,” Sheldon said. “That’s the amazing part; because the solutions are coming from our citizens, we have their buy-in when it comes to implementing those strategies. It’s a powerful process, and almost overwhelming to hear all the stories and feelings of our people.”