We are
excited for our partnership with
Native American Children's Association!
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
