The Native American Children's Association (NACA) was formed to fill an urgent need statewide.  We are on the Statewide Green Sheet for donations of the Knights of Columbus and survive on personal donations and grants. The tribes we work with are the seven reservations of Montana, and twelve tribes including the Sioux, Crow, Assiniboine, and Blackfeet.  The children are the ancestors of great leaders like Crazy Horse, Two Medicine and Plenty Coups.  We work with elders to connect them to their spiritual heritage. We do cross cultural events to share this heritage and help children relate to each other.  We work to mentor all children because this kind of intervention is simple, economical and extremely effective.  Children of domestic violence (a great problem nationally) are 54% more likely to enter the Juvenile Justice System without intervention.  By intervening with art and cultural heritage programs of positive people and esteem-building projects that number is reduced.  With regular mentoring, and a local mentor to come to, up to 99% of children do NOT use drugs, become truant, commit crimes or commit suicide.  Suicide is the highest cause of death for Native youths 15-24 today.  Crime is twice as high on the reservations. We help address these problems with the help of local leaders.  There is shrinking federal support and much great need-our focus is on Critical Poverty areas with Third World conditions. We often bring food and clothing, too.  Hope and love are always welcome but I have worked hard to build this trust over 6 years of working with the Tribes.  We enjoy sharing good works, such as the Northern Cheyenne Drum Group we brought, with the Boys and Girls Club of Red Lodge and will return with more art therapy and fun!  Our contact is artbyeleanor@aol.com, and we are headquartered in Red Lodge.  We are a 501 (C)(3) and welcome donations (NACA 24 East Palisade Basin Red Lodge, MT 59068).   Eleanor J. Guerrero, J.D., Exec. Director, NACA

 

The Boys & Girls Club of Carbon County. 2009