In this article by Jeanette Armstrong, she had told her view of the Okanagan nation. She mentions everything you do ties into a community or your community. Your thoughts, your emotion, your physical and spiritual self connects into a community. Armstrong mentions that a community forms through emotional responses and those who are heartless lose ties to everything. Without the main four capacities, connection, community, land, and protection, then you would not survive. 

Armstrong, Jeanette. 1996 ¨Sharing One´s Skin: The Okanagan Community.¨ Pp. 460-470 in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eas), The case against the Global Economy, San Francisco, CA: Sierra Book Club. 

Joe Suina´s article, he talked about the ways he followed into the white man's way and life then realizing life will never be the same again. From a young age Suina states that he grew up with his grandmother learning his cultural ways. When he started his educational journey at boarding schools, things changed for him. Speaking his native language Keres resulted in punishments forcing him to learn English. Joe realized that the white man's way of life was the only way of survival and realizing that his life will never be the same as it was when he was younger. 

Suina, Joe (1985). And then I Went to School: Memories of a Pueblo Childhood. New Mexico Journal of Reading, 5(2). 

In the Santa Fe New Mexican article “DA’s Controversial DWI Policy May Be Ending in First Judicial District” was about a controversial policy taking place in dismissing misdemeanor DWI charges and refiling them later. Defense Attorney Sam Ruyle is stating that while the charges are being dropped, theres a risk of innocent lives being in danger by those who have already picked up a DWI misdemeanor charge. While District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies is the one who is dismissing misdemeanor DWI charges and refiling them later so it can allow her office more time to gather evidence without missing court deadlines. Those who were previously arrested and charged with a DWI had all charged dropped but later get charged with the same exact misdemeanor due to the evidence being the same. The controversy of dismissing and refiling charges restarts the “6 Month Rule” which creates problems like the state creating uncertainty for defendants, forces repeated appearances, burdens defense counsel and court, undermines confidence in the criminal justice process, delays resolution, strains judicial resources, and erodes trust that cases will be handed fairly and efficiently. About 80 DWI cases were filed in 2024 and are still pending while dozen of cases that were dismissed in 2024 were refiled in 2025. 

Haywood Phaywood@sfnewmexican.com, Phaedra. "Da's Controversial DWI Policy May Be Ending in First Judicial District." Santa Fe New Mexican, 9 Jan. 2026. 

The article Alcohol-Induced Deaths Among American Indian and Alaska Native Individuals- “Drinking Was What I and Other Just Did” was about the way a Alaskan native patient Spillane Et Al had the mentality of being Native meant it was always about drinking. Being a “Drunk” always came with alcoholic affects like liver disease or being in a car accident. Underscoring the challenges of accounting for racial misclassification in death certificates were cause by alcohol induced deaths. He states that the hardest part of being an alcoholic is the acceptance that alcohol is inevitable and denying the harmful consequences of drinking. More then 72% of American Indian and Alaska Natives (AIAN) live in urban or suburban areas. About 78% of AIAN participants Alaskan-based had completed detoxification from alcohol. 

Alcohol-Induced Deaths Among American Indian and Alaska Native Individuals, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/full article/2761539. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026. 

On November 10, 2025, My first Action Plan took place in the PPWC with the 7th Period Weight Training Class. Guest Speaker Elmer Garcia talked amongst his experience with alcohol and working at SFIS. Students from 10-12 grade listened to his story of the way alcohol tore his family apart. 

“WHILE ALCOHOL ABUSE HAS NOT CHANGED MY FAMILY, I'VE SEEN IT CHANGE OTHER FAMILY'S. I SEE IT CREATES TENSION AND A SENSE OF GUILT BETWEEN THE FAMILY AS THEY SHOULD'VE DONE SOMETHING TO HELP THE PERSON WITH ADDICTION.” - UNKNOWN

On February 24, 2026. My second action took place in the middle school academics. It involved a night of painting with expression. Throughout the night I asked questions to get their feedback on a middle schoolers thought of alcoholism within their community. Some stated that when a person drinks, alcohol makes that person different and uncomfortable to be around. With the help of my mentor, the kids ended the night off with paintings they got to keep, pizza, and a drink from ‘Brave Bros.