SWANCIRCLE
Presents:
Suicide Prevention:
The Spiritual Connection
Integrating Spiritual/Creative Approaches into School and Mental Health Counseling for Native Americans
St. Aloysius Parish
330 E. Boone Ave. (and Astor)
Spokane, Washington, 99202
Monday, March 15th, (12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Tuesday and Wednesday, March 16th and March 17th, 2010
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(Doors open at 8:15 a.m.)
The goal of this three-day training is to share ideas, research, and activities to deepen the spiritual and creative process for Suicide Prevention when serving the Native American client.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
· Explore the concept of Mercy from Cultural viewpoint
· Explore research and the importance of spiritual/creative approaches
· Explore Relationships and Communication
· Explore the effects of alcohol on spiritual development and suicide
· Explore the Healing Power of Nature through use of Photo Therapy
· Discover the power of art and resiliency and integrate it into counseling
· Explore the importance of creativity and culture for healing
· Explore the importance of prevention in the school setting and community intervention through parent and organization involvement
· Integrate music into counseling (research conducted by Josh Thom)
· Integrate symbol into counseling
· Discover the value of community as a way of prevention and healing
· Explore the importance of spirituality in its relationship to suicide prevention and for grief work
· Learn why humor are powerful interventions
· Explore the importance of the work place for suicide prevention
· Explore the importance of animal stories and the intervention of Voice Dialogue
About the Presenters
Dr. Catherine Reimer , an Inupiaq, originally from Alaska, has worked with Native Americans and multicultural groups for over 30 years. She is an independent consultant for businesses, universities, schools, and mental health agencies. She received her doctorate in counseling/psychology from George Washington University. Her book called "Counseling the Inupiat Eskimo" is used by the University of Alaska. Recently she researched another Inupiat project for NIAAA and the University to understand the relationship between suicide, spirituality, and alcoholism. She has been an advisor, counselor, and community planner for Suicide Prevention. She has taught and counseled at all levels of education, including University students. She owns SwanCircle and does Creative/Spiritual Training all over the U.S.A.
She is currently being trained as a Spiritual Director and is part of the National Faith Base Community.
Josh Thom is an Inupiaq Eskimo who received his A.A. degree from Haskell Indian Nations University and his B.A. degree from Fort Lewis College. He has served as a counselor's aid, voice dialogue facilitator and is interested in pursuing Music Therapy. He has helped in all SwanCircle's conferences as presenter, technical advisement, and designer of materials. He is also a composer, musician and piano teacher with an interest in music for healing purposes. He has been involved with gathering information for music healing with Native Americans in the form of stress reduction, self-esteem improvement, spiritual connection, impact of drum circles as a cultural preservative as well as the negative impacts of other music (i.e. alcohol/drug abuse, gangs/violence, and loss of cultural values/spirituality).
John Reimer , an Inupiaq, received his Masters in Education and completed all course work for his Doctorate except for his dissertation in Indian Education from Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Reimer has taught at all levels in education, been a principal, superintendent, and for 25 years worked in BIA. The last 10 years he was Education Line Officer for Education for the Portland Region of the Bureau, supervising 12 elementary and secondary schools as well as the JOM Program, Higher Education vocational education He has worked in American Indians and Alaska Native education his whole career. Most recently, In Barrow, Alaska, he assisted his wife with interviews, interventions and collaboration for suicide prevention.
Nora Numkena is a Spokane Tribal member who obtained her Bachelor and Masters degrees in Social Work at Eastern Washington University. She is licensed as a mental health and chemical dependency counselor in Washington State. And has obtained extensive training in Co-Occurring disorders for youth and adults. She has worked primarily with Native American youth for 14 years. She shares how culture and spirituality have strengthened the healing process through her personal experience with suicide.
Bill Sowers has been a leader in for-profit, non-profit, and governmental organizations, involved in behavioral health, health services research, and biomedical research. He led development of multicultural training institutes for substance abuse prevention, including the Gathering of Native Americans (GONA). He has presented for the University of Oklahoma's Native American Wellness Conference on "Spirituality and the Workplace." His MBA focused on organizational development. He currently works for Advocates for Human Potential, where he is marketing a behavioral health workforce development program.
Father Armand Nigro S.J. has been a Jesuit since 1944 and has taught Philosophy, Sacred Scripture, and Theology for over 40 years in Jesuit Universities and Seminaries in the United States and Africa. He has directed retreats from 1-30 days for clergy, religious, laity and parish missions for vive continents. The late Mother Theresa of Calcutta, India asked Father Nigro to provide retreats for her sisters. Moreover, he has served the Native American Communities in the Northwest and Alaska and supports their traditional ways. What has been noticeable about Father Nigro is his charismatic presence in his love for people, kindness and gentle compassion. He embodies the Lord's mercy. He loves being a Jesuit priest and sharing the good news of Jesus. He is still available for retreats and parish missions anywhere as he enjoys God-given health and has lots of energy. His home base is : Jesuit Community of Gonzaga University. East 502 Boone Ave.; Spokane Washington, 99258-001. 509-313-6072.
Schedule
Monday, March 15th
12:00 p.m. Welcome and sign in
1:00 p.m. Overview of conference and Mercy Theme (Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer)
2:00 p.m. The Mercy of Healthy Relationships (Nora Numkena)
3:45 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. The Mercy of Sobriety and its Spiritual Connection (Josh Thom)
Tuesday, March 16th
8:15 a.m. Sign In
8:30 a.m. Spirituality and Creative Activity (Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer)
9:00 a.m. Research on the Relationship between Suicide, Spirituality, and Alcoholism (Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer)
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. The Mercy of Cultural Ways and Creativity for Suicide Prevention (Josh and Nora Numkena)
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. The Mercy of Creativity and Art and its impact on Resiliency (Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer)
2:30 p.m. The Mercy of Community including schools, churches, and Tribal government (John Reimer)
3:30 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. The Mercy of Nature and Photo Therapy (Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer)
Wednesday, March 17th
8:15 a.m. Sign In
8:30 a.m. The Mercy of the Workplace (Bill Sowers)
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. The Concept of Mercy from the Creator's Point of View and the Problem of Suicide. (Fr. Armand Nigro, S.J.)
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. The Mercy of Song, Drumming, and Music in relationship to Suicide
Prevention (Josh Thom)
3:30 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. The Mercy of stories of animals as a way of intervention and Voice Dialogue
(Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer)
4:45 p.m. Closing, Evaluations, and handing out of 'Documentation of Attendance'
Verifying attendance and noting the CE credits earned
Please bring a joke you can share.
Who Should Attend?
This conference is appropriate for psychologists, counselors, school counselors, substance abuse counselors and social workers who work with Native Americans.
Enrollment Fees
$295.00 before March 1, 2010
$275.00 for groups of three before March 1, 2010
$350.00 after March 1, 2010
Please note: We are able to host 70 participants only. Register early to insure a space for this conference.
Continuing Education Credits
This conference qualifies for 2.5 continuing education credits. Full attendance and completion of an evaluation form at the conclusion of the conference are required to receive CE credits. Partial credit will not be awarded; participants arriving late or departing early will not be awarded CE credits. Credits will be given by Salish Kootenai College and are free.
Refund Policy
Refunds will be honored with written notice received a minimum of 48 hours before the date of the conference, and processed within thirty (30) days.
Special Needs Assistance
Persons with special needs are requested to contact Dr. Reimer at 509-935-0928, a minimum of ten (10) days before the conference date to allow sufficient time for special arrangements to be made on the day of the conference.
Driving Directions to St. Aloysius's Church Basement
Take Division and turn East on Sharp and then South on Aster. It is on the corner of Aster and Boone Ave.
Parking
You may park your car in any one of the spots marked 'Visitors' or 'For St. Aloysius Church. Since the Church is on Gonzaga University property. Please exercise caution to avoid towing.
Out-of-state participants may contact Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer at Cathreimer@aol.com to obtain a list of hotels in the proximity of St. Aloysius's Church at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
To register for this conference
Please contact:
Dr. Catherine Swan Reimer
P.O. Box Chewelah, WA. 99109
cathreimer@aol.com
