Personal stories illustrate effects of drugs, alcohol

By Stan Bindell
For The Independent

POLACCA, Ariz. — Five panelists gave eye opening accounts of how drugs and alcohol impacted their lives during the April 4-6 drug and alcohol summit on the Hopi Reservation.

More than 200 attended the speeches and panels each day at Hopi Jr/Sr High School.

The five on the panel varied from well-known older Hopi craftsmen to a high school student, and a couple in between.

Michael Kabotie, who is known internationally for his Hopi art, told the audience that he is an alcoholic who drank for 34 years before going into recovery. Kabotie said he was a reservation kid with great parents, grandparents and community, but he started drinking even before he went through his Hopi religious initiation in 1967.

His Hopi name means one who walks in harmony. "But I never was able to walk in harmony because of my addiction," he said.

Kabotie recounted how he became a great con artist so he could sell his crafts for a lot of money to spend on drugs and alcohol. He also remembers that friends would be happy when he was coming to Phoenix for an art show because that meant "it was time to party."

"I went through 34 years of lying and hurting other people. The power of alcohol was so strong in me that my sister had to nurse me back to work at times," he said.

Kabotie tried Buddhism, a white healer and other healing possibilities, but nothing worked until he had a car crash and received a DUI in California.

"But as soon as I got out of the drunk tank, the first place I went was to the bar," he said.

Spirit of Spiderwoman
It was soon after that when he accepted the Spirit of Spiderwoman and turned to Alcoholics Anonymous. He said the turning point to stopping drinking was accepting that there is a higher power.

Rainy Naha, known for her pottery, also admitted to being an alcoholic.

But Naha said she is a stronger and better person for being in recovery because she no longer judges others or criticizes their drug and alcohol problems.

Naha said she grew up as a Utah Mormon so she was raised with high standards.

"I had high standards, but by the third drink it was 'just lay me down'," she said.

Naha said after she gave up drinking she had to relearn standards.

When she began drinking, she didn't have a husband or children; so there was nothing stressful in her life. "I just drank," she said. "I no longer have my youthful figure, but I'm alive and sober."

Naha is an elder, but she considers herself to be 17 years old because that's how long she has gone without drinking. Although she hasn't drunk for 17 years, she knows that the same bootleggers are still in business. Naha has tried to keep a sense of humor about alcoholism.

"We think we hit the bottom each time we go to jail. We pray. We pray the judges will be in a good mood that day," she said.

On a more serious note, Naha said alcoholics need to pray for themselves.

Naha also questioned how the Hopi culture will carry on when they are all dead from alcoholism.

Breaking the chains
Melissa Ami, an 18 year old senior at Hopi High School, said she has been drug and alcohol free for four years.

Ami, an outstanding student in drama and radio this year, said she initially became involved in drugs and alcohol in order to fit in. Ami and her friends started attending hip hop dances at the Hopi Civic Center. They would be the first ones there and they would see people coming in drunk and high.

"They looked like they were having a good time, so be thought we would try it," she said. "But I would go to the dance and wake up in jail. I never remembered who I was with. I would be mean, and I would hit people."

Ami said it impacted her schooling as she should have graduated one year earlier. She had to go through rehabilitation three times and she had her stomach pumped at least three times. She played volleyball in here earlier years, but gave it up when she turned to drugs and alcohol.

"I wish I could go back to that time and do it right," she said.

Ami said she gave up meth in October 2002 and emphasized that the Hopi Teen Drug Court helped her through.

Family support
"If not for the program, I would not be here, and I probably wouldn't be listening to others," she said. But, she also had family support.

"My parents were there for everything I did, even though they were mad at me. I want to thank them," she said. "Right now, I feel good to be drug free. I don't have to worry about my parents looking for me, or cops coming after me, or waking up not knowing where I am. "" Ami said she no longer hangs out with friends who drink.

Elgene Joshevama Jr. said he's in beginning sobriety. He feels he got caught in a vicious cycle and that he loses something whenever he goes back into his addictions.

"I could have the good life," he said. "I pray because I don't know what will happen next, but at least I'm sober. I'm not drinking at this moment; so I'm okay. I never imagined I would be an alcoholic, but I accept it and I have to work through it."

Timothy Pavatea said he is now drug and alcohol free and thanks all those who helped him through it. "It took me a long time to realize it and ask for help," he said.

Pavatea said he had no problem talking to white people so he could sell them his arts and make money to spent it on drugs and alcohol.

But life is looking better for Pavatea as he is studying to become a mentor so he can help alcoholics.