There have been several recent deaths on my reservation, and others, of young people in their teens and 20s. The tragedy at Tulalip got me thinking about solutions or, at least, attempts at solutions. I didn’t want to state the question negatively but rather positively. What can we do? What can be done about suicides, homicides, rapes, assaults, gangs, drug trafficking, abuse, neglect, bulling stealing, domestic violence, physical abuse and mental abuse, to name a few?

I think that the "focus" should be on the community and what the community teaches its children "by example” and by instruction. Every reservation has its bad stuff which is very, very visible. But we also have an undercurrent of good that runs under the surface. It needs to run on top. The answer to improving our communities is in our community. Community is not just a place. It can be a people. It has so many connotations in the context of Tribalism. It means belonging and taking ones place in the Tribe and helping others learn their place in the Tribe. Outward manifestations are great but internal manifestations (values by which we conduct ourselves) is the true core.

What is it about the way we are raising our children? (We, meaning tribes in this context, and not just Indian parents.) that he/she would turn to violence against others and themselves to settle an issue, an argument or a slight? Why does the choice of intimidation and violence seem to be the first choice and not the last choice?