Transcripts

RUDY PACHECO: The attitudes have changed, that it's not OK to be drunk anymore.

KATE SMITH: Rudy Pacheco is a chemical dependency counselor at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. He says the all-weekend Indian Powwow combines traditional ceremony with modern-day intervention, a so-called "Alkathon." For three days, those who are recovering from alcohol or drug use can enjoy traditional Indian music and food while getting support in their battle against addiction. Pacheco says there will be help for people in every phase of recovery.

RUDY PACHECO: There has to be a lot of them that just sobered up last month that just came through treatment. That's just an example. But myself, I've been in recovery 12 years. And that's an important event for me. It gives me something to do over the holidays.

KATE SMITH: Over the three-day event, there are 25 presentations planned from a variety of agencies. They cover subjects, including treatment options available, support groups in the area, and especially this year inhalant abuse by young people. Marlene Hardy is also a counselor at the Minneapolis Indian Center. She says the importance of this weekend event is that it combines celebration with Indian spirituality and education.

MARLENE HARDY: The spirituality and the culture is very crucial in a person's recovery and in maintaining their sobriety. And how people define their spirituality, that's up to them. And you need to search and find that for yourself until you feel comfortable with that. But I really feel it is important.

KATE SMITH: The weekend events include a concert to benefit local activities by the American Indian Movement, or AIM. Clyde Bellecourt, chairman of AIM's neighborhood watch patrol, says support for this drug-free event became obvious after last year when more than 3,000 people showed up. He expects to see some of the same faces from last year, but hopes they are people with new stories to share.

CLYDE BELLECOURT: Just from last year's event alone, there was hundreds of Indian people that were reached that come to us or call us, say, hey, we're at the Alkathon last year and I've been sober ever since then. And we're going to come back now, and they want to come back and share what they have gotten out of it back with the community.

KATE SMITH: While alcoholism affects all people, the illness has had a more deadly effect on the Indian community. Bellecourt says this year, all major Indian groups and organizations in the Twin Cities and around the state signed on in support of the second annual New Year celebration, the three-day Alkathon and Powwow takes place at the Minneapolis American Indian Center and runs through New Year's Eve. I'm Kate Smith reporting.