Warner School Beading Group for Native Youth

Hi, my name is Minda Streamer and I am the school social worker at Warner Unified. Warner Unified is located in rural northeastern San Diego County, and serves the youth from the Los Coyotes, Santa Ysabel, and Mesa Grande Reservations as well as its surrounding communities. Warner Unified is a preK-12th grade campus and has a total enrollment of less than 250 students. I am an enrolled member of the Los Coyotes tribe and an alumni of Warner Unified. Through my work at Warners, I teach SEL lessons, provide individual and group counseling, as well as provide students with psychoeducation on trauma.

 

In an effort to tie culture and healing into my work, I am starting a beading group for the Native students on campus. I believe it is important for them to be a part of something that encourages them to participate in their culture and to create a space of healing. School is more than just academics. There needs to be a sense of belonging, community, and support.

 

While only 1.3% of the total US population identifies as Native American, of those over 19% reported experiencing a mental illness. Additionally, the suicide rate for Native youth is over double the rate of White youth. Furthermore, the reservation communities have been impacted hard by COVID-19 and this has brought on additional hardships to the ones they have already been facing. I would like to provide a space where the Native youth can take a break from the daily distress of their lives and take some time for themselves to heal. My goals for the group are to create a space of healing and community in hopes that this will boost the participants' self-esteem and foster a greater sense of identity and belonging.

 

Any donation would be greatly appreciated. For supplies I would like to get: beads, needles, thread, leather, felt, glue, earring hooks, storage containers, jewelry end clamps, and bags/boxes to package their things.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read and support.

 

Áčama! (Thank you!)