Warriors Against Meth to present conference at BCC on March 30
By John McGill
Wednesday, March 28, 2007 2:33 PM MDT
One of the most troubling problems facing Blackfeet Country today will be the main course at a conference slated to run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 30, at Blackfeet Community College. "Warriors Against Meth" is a group begun in 2003 by Tana Fleury as a way to get people together who wanted to make a dent in a problem recognized by many but thus far solved by no one.
The conference begins with welcomes from BCC President John Salois and emcee Marvin Weatherwax, as well as a ceremony featuring Blackfeet Chairman Earl Old Person. Steve Juneau, director of Lamar Associates, will deliver the keynote address, "Preparing for Success - Defeating Meth," followed by Kathy Masis, MD, who will discuss the "Effects of Methamphetamine."
After a break, Peg Shea, executive director of the Montana Meth Project, will speak about her organization's efforts, and Darcy Blanchard, MD of Blackfeet Community Hospital, is lined up to present "Meth, Pregnancy and Meth Babies."
In the afternoon, separate sessions are slated to run concurrently, with Christy Horn, Debbie Bullshoe, Steve Juneau, Ron Kemp, Lorraine Mancha and Wayne Dusterhoff slated to speak in individual classes starting at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., Ken Poteet, Mike Connelly, Frank Kipp and Geri Baker will make their meth-related presentations.
At 3 p.m., reps from Crystal Creek Lodge will speak in individual sessions, along with Malveena Malatare, Myra Magee, Gerald Wagner and Connie Bremner.
Finally, at 4 p.m. a panel consisting of Amy Sure Chief, BIA Officer Patrick Iron Pipe, Ryan Parson, Cynthia Baker, Irma Skunkcap and Patricia Fleury will address the issue of "what are we doing and where do we go from here."
"We have lots of educational pamphlets for information we will be glad to email or fax to anyone," said Fleury, "and we're looking for more input from the community and for more agencies to join." The conference will be the first of its kind held in Blackfeet Country, "but it's the last question that's the most important," said Fleury of the 4 p.m. panel discussion, "because that's where the planning comes in."
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